The Old Leatherman once roamed SW Connecticut and SE New York from 1858 to 1889. He traveled a 365-mile loop between the Connecticut and Hudson rivers. Approximately every month he would repeat his journey. He spoke primarily with grunts or gestures and dressed in crudely stitched leather from his hat to his shoes. The suit was made of soft-tanned calfskin leather and weighed about sixty pounds. He would sleep outside year-round primarily in caves and shelters around Connecticut and New York.
This journey takes you near a shelter once occupied by The Old Leatherman. The photo to the left is where he once erected a shelter to stay. The coordinates for this location are listed in the below waypoints. This is from the Bristol Herald; issued July 2, 1891 where X. A. Welton tells about a visit to the shelter with Rodney Barnes:
"After we had made one bow at the south end of the cave, and another very low one as we passed out, Mr. Barnes discovered, a few rods further on, something that looked like another cave, which proved to be, as we both thought one of the stopping places of the noted "Leather Man." The ledge projected as it rose at angle of about fifty degrees.
Against this had been set up with poles and brush. Inside there had been a fire, and outside we found three old boot-soles from which we suppose the uppers had been cut to replenish the wardrobe of this once noted man of leather."
The cache was placed during the group hike after a presentation at the Bristol Public Library by The Reseacher.
!!! CT Cachers Rock !!!
Note: most of the above photos are linked to something - click on them for access.
[Snow friendliness]: cbbe.