Vesuvius, Virginia Mystery Cache

Deriving its name in the 1800s from Italian immigrants impressed with the plumes of smoke coming from the area's many foundries, Vesuvius was a significant industrial, business, and transportation hub in Rockbridge County's early history.

The Village of Vesuvius traces its roots to the founding of the Vesuvius Furnace in 1828. Further industrial development was brought about by the establishment of the Vesuvius Foundry in 1843, which manufactured plows and other farming implements. The arrival of the Shenandoah Valley Railroad in 1882, followed shortly by the opening of a US Post Office, firmyl established Vesuvius as the commercial center of northern Rockbridge County.

While the heady days of the late 1800s are long gone, the traditions of Vesuvius live on through a very active community which celebrates Heritage Day each fall.

This is a mystery cache. THE CACHE CONTAINER IS NOT LOCATED AT THE POSTED COORDINATES. However, these coordinates will take you to an important location in the village's history. Note that cell service is poor to non-existent at the first location.

There is limited parking near the posted coordinates. When you arrive there, look eastward across the railroad tracks. The abandoned building you see is the former Cash's Store, longtime village general store and site of some of famed photographer O. Winston Link's iconic photographs.

Behind you, there is another building that represents the village's place on the map. On this building you will see a very important number. Add the digits of this number together to get a 2-digit number 'ab'; count the number of digits to get a single-digit number 'c.' Then fill in the variables in the coordinates below to determine the final cache location.

Sum of digits = ab
Number of digits = c

Final location = N 37° c4.66c' W 079° bb.703'

This cache is part of a series. The Gems of Rockbridge Geocaching Trail has been developed as part of an Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) grant to enhance the gateway communities along the 469-mile Blue Ridge Parkway. The grant funds projects that promote sustainable tourism and enhance the local community while protecting the area's natural beauty and cultural heritage.

The Geocaching Trail consists of 10 strategically placed caches highlighting the natural beauty and cultural heritage of Rockbridge County. The first 200 geocachers who complete the trail will receive a commemorative coin featuring the Gems of Rockbridge Geocaching Trail on one side and the 75th Anniversary of the Blue Ridge Parkway on the other side.

How it works: each of the ten caches along the trail contains a question that can be answered from information available near the cache location. Log all 10 caches and answer each of the 10 questions to complete the trail. The first 200 to complete the trail will receive a limited-edition commemorative coin!