Ghosts of Neabsco Creek Traditional Cache
Dot Plotter: Archived due to lack of owner attention.
Be sure the check out the newly posted (as of 2/21/2007) cache submission guidelines for your future caches.
Dot Plotter
Volunteer Geocaching.com Reviewer
Please note Use of geocaching.com services is subject to the terms and conditions
in our disclaimer.
A fairly easy 3/4 mile hike along Neabsco Creek. The terrain is
fairly level most of the way along a power-line right-of-way. Gets
steeper at the end, plus you have to cross the creek. Suitable for
most kids 7 years old and up. Nice vista of Neabsco Creek from near
the cache site.
This is our first GeoCache, "Ghosts of Neabsco Creek." It's named
in honor of the early colonial settlers that are buried nearby.
It's kind of a fun hike along a nice stretch of "suburban
wilderness." You should see lots of wildlife, including some good
sized hawks.
The cache is a Rubbermaid container that is fairly well hidden. (it
used to be a red coffee can) It contains a regular compliment of
cache goodies and trinkets, including some fine jewelry from New
Orleans.
For maximum enjoyment, we suggest using the points of entry and
routes suggested below even though other approaches to the cache
may be possible.
First Route: Take Cardinal Drive west from Route 1 or east from
Minnieville Road until you get to Wertz Drive. Turn north onto
Wertz Drive and follow it downhill. The hike to the cache starts at
the trail head located off of Wertz Drive. The coordinates of the
trail head are 38-37.128N 077-19.340W. Park along the street and
follow the asphalt path past the stormwater management pond into
the woods.
You'll cross a picturesque footbridge. Later you'll have to cross a
small side creek that feeds Neabsco Creek. If you run into a stand
of bamboo (yes, bamboo, in Northern Virginia!) you know you are on
the right track. The trail is fairly easy until you get near the
cache. You'll have to bushwhack it down to the creek for a
rock-to-rock crossing to get to the cache. This is the toughest
part of the hike and it's the reason why it's not suitable for
little kids (my kids are 7 and 13; the 13-year old soaked both her
feet on the return crossing!).
Round trip in and out is about 1.5 miles.
Be careful as you zero-in on the cache. The terrain gets steep and
there are several gullies and rocky drop-offs. There is a
substantial drop-off next to the cache, so make sure all members of
your party maintain some "situational awareness" as you are writing
in the log book and rooting through the treasure! First person to
write the names of the famous Colonials buried near the creek into
the cache logbook gets inducted into the "Ghosts of Neabsco Creek"
Hall of Fame.
2nd Route: This one is shorter, steeper, and wilder. You'll be
rewarded with some nice vistas, and you won't have to cross the
creek , unless you want to go out via the first route ;-)
Park near the intersection of Bird Haven and Cardinal Crest Drive.
The trailhead is at 38-37.251 N 077-19.935 W. Look north. Go down
the wide swale in front of you. Bear to the left as you go down the
hill and then follow the contours and your GPS.
Again, this is a fairly steep area, so be careful (check out the
topo link). One part of the trek has a lot of brambles, but they
are manageable. ( if you have a machete bring it and hack them down
for us!).
You can come out the same way you went in, or follow the 1st route
back out and walk the streets back to your car. Have fun!
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
1fg ebhgr: Nsgre lbh pebff gur sbbgoevqtr bire Arnofpb Perrx lbh'yy pbzr gb n cbjre-yvar evtug-bs-jnl. Vg cnenyyryf gur perrx. Sbyybj vg va gur hcfgernz qverpgvba. Fgneg ohfujunpxvat gb gur yrsg jura lbh pbzr gb ghea va gur genvy jurer lbh pna frr n srapr gung vf oybpxvat npprff gb n cvcryvar gung pebffrf gur perrx.
Treasures
You'll collect a digital Treasure from one of these collections when you find and log this geocache:
Loading Treasures