The Dead Zone Multi-Cache
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A short multi that illustrates some points of interest in the area. BE EXTREMELY CAUTIOUS IF NIGHT CACHING! THERE ARE DEEP HOLES YOU MAY NOT NOTICE IN THE DARK AT THE FIRST FOUNDATION.
THE BRUCE TRAIL
Canada's oldest and longest footpath, provides the only continuous public access to the magnificent Niagara Escarpment, a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve. It is one of only fifteen such reserves in all of Canada.
It sure was a heck of a lot longer before the new footbridge was built here too ;o)
HAUNTED SCREAMING TUNNEL
The tunnel was built by the Grand Trunk Railway company just before the outbreak of World War One in their grand scheme to have a railway that ran the same grounds as the Welland Canal. Sadly, the project was abandoned due to financial issues and then totally given up with the outbreak of the war. The "Screaming Tunnel" is one of a few of these railway tunnels to nowhere made for a railroad line that never existed. A path wanders through the tunnel and then up to an empty field on the hill. But the field was not always empty.
At one time, a large farm house stood in the field at the top of the hill, and in it lived a happy family. Then one night, the house caught fire. A young daughter was trapped in the house, and the only way to escape was through a wall of flames. The brave young girl covered her face with her arms and ran into the fiery doorway. Her long hair and her long nightgown began to smolder as she burst through the flames and rushed out of the house.
When the night air struck her smoldering clothing, it burst into flames, enveloping the girl in a raging inferno. The girl screamed in agony and ran blindly down the hill, away from the fire-stricken house. She staggered into the tunnel under the train tracks, her screams echoing and re-echoing through the night. Overcome by the flames, the girl fell to the floor of the tunnel, wailing in agony. She rolled frantically on the floor of the tunnel, trying to douse the flames, but her efforts were weak and ineffective. She was quickly overcome, and burned to death in the tunnel under the tracks.
After that night, anyone that dares strike a match at midnight in the tunnel under the tracks will hear the agonized death screams of the burning girl, and a ghostly wind will instantly blow out the match
We are still looking for a deed or property right to a house "behind" the tunnel but so far, we've come up blank.
A "ghost expert" in Niagara-on-the-Lake has described the tunnel as "The Stinky Tunnel" and after visiting it, we would agree. The natural smell of sulphur is heavily prevalent. Like many spots, there is a chance that the story is a wonderful legend made up and repeated for many years by the hoards of teenagers that still frequent the spot as a "drinking" location. Empty beer and other alcoholic beverage containers litter the ground and scribbled graffiti on the tunnel walls contribute to the rather negative atmosphere of this odd, old tunnel.
THE DEAD ZONE
The tunnel's reputation as "spooky" place was established even more when David Cronenberg used the tunnel as a backdrop in a scene in his film, "The Dead Zone" in 1983. In the Stephen King story Christopher Walken (John Smith) wakes from a coma due to a car accident, only to find he has lost five years of his life, and yet gained psychic powers. Foreseeing the future appears to be a 'gift' at first, but ends up causing problems...
THE CACHE
After collecting the first set of numbers along the road you should then walk through the haunted Screaming Tunnel (feel free to light a match if it's midnight) and up the pathway to the old farm house. You will pass an old foundation and two large well holes at N43 08.657 W079 08.722. Even more ruins and an old fence gate at N43 08. 626 W079 08.745. Carry on down the "trail". There you will find a bison (micro) containing the final coords. You will then need to backtrack a little but will soon find yourself crossing the new footbridge. The final is a homemade container not far off the trail so please use stealth, close it tight, and hide it better than you found it. When placed it contained some dead themed swag and a great trackable too.
Hope you have as much fun exploring this area as we did. Happy cachin' :ox
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
FGNTR 1 - Pbbeqf ner oruvaq Oehpr Genvy Oynmr fvta
FGNTR 2 - Pbbeqf fubhyq chg lbh ONAT ba!
SVANY - Arne gur Oehpr ;b)
Treasures
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