Abandoned Satellite Complex Traditional Cache
Abe Froman: Archiving for new placement by the cache owner, see GC2CFN9
Abandoned Satellite Complex
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(small)
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This cache is hidden near one of the entrances of the Witkowsky State Wildlife Area. This entrance unexpectedly leads to an abandoned satellite ground tracking complex. Remaining are two massive dish antenna bases just waiting to be explored. The abandoned complex is now part of the state wildlife area land and is available to public viewing.
The Complex: The Iris and Jack Witkowsky State Wildlife Area is bordered on two sides by Blackjack Road. It consists primarily of 1069 acres of restored prairie and wildlife areas. Hidden deep within the area is an abandoned satellite ground tracking complex. It was originally constructed to steer two gigantic parabolic satellite dishes to track several Telstar communication satellites in the 1970’s through the 1990’s before finally being dismantled. The Telstar satellites were used to relay telephone and television signals from continent to continent. Because the satellites circled earth in low non-geosynchronous orbits, the giant dish antennas needed to be continuously turned and precisely controlled as the satellites traveled overhead. Several of the buildings and the dishes themselves have been removed, but two huge cylindrical concrete bases remain (probably due to the large expense that would be required to demolish and dispose of them). To imagine what this area had looked like before the dishes were removed, click here to see a photo of a similar Telstar ground tracking complex. Notice the size of the dish antennas compared to their bases. Each base is about 70 feet across with inside ceilings of more than 15 feet high.
Directions to the Complex: To find and log this geocache, you do not need to visit the satellite complex. The cache itself is a roadside “park and go”. But, if you feel adventurous, I would highly recommend checking out the impressive antenna bases on the other end of this entrance. To get to the complex, you can drive about a ¼ mile down the service road until you reach closed access gates. (You can also check out the abandoned guard station on your right along the way.) At the gates, you will need to park your vehicle and continue down the road on foot for another ½ mile. This part of the road is heavily shaded and is a very peaceful, easy walk surrounded by wildlife. No bushwacking is necessary. I guarantee that you will not be disappointed with what you find at the end of the road. You can even enter the antenna bases to explore, if you dare!
Note that this wildlife area is open to public hunting so you may want to wear blaze orange if entering the area during the hunting season.
The Cache: The cache container is a camouflaged plastic jar. This cache contains a logbook, pencil, and a few nice starting trade items. Please sign the log, trade fairly, and return the container to its original location and state of concealment for others’ enjoyment.
Additional hint (must be manually decoded):
Rkcybevat gur pbzcyrk jbhyq pnc bss lbhe nqiragher.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
[See above in the description. (Sorry, but you will have to decrypt this one manually.)]
Treasures
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