North Country Trail Series - Prairie Creek/Pratt Traditional Cache
North Country Trail Series - Prairie Creek/Pratt
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Size: 
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This cache is hidden along the Miami and Erie Canal Towpath Hiking Trail (40 miles long from Fort Loramie to Delphos) which is part of the longer Buckeye Trail (1445 miles long circling Ohio). This section is also part of the even longer North Country Trail (4600 miles long spanning from North Dakota to New York).
The Prairie Creek area created quite a problem when building the canal because the area is so low that the canal would flood if they built it by digging down and few feet. For this reason they had to build up with high banks that could support the weight of the canal paths and water. If you walk or bike this section you will notice that the land below the canal is very swamping and always filled with water. This gives you an ideal of what the Black Swamp area surrounding this area of the state was before most of it was drained off for farming. This swamp is what makes the nearby Defiance Trail so important. It was one of a few ways to get through the swamp before the canal, and that way was very difficult as well, often with planks laid down so horse carts could get through. Also when standing at the cache location and look northeast. You will see a private residence with several barns. This is the location of the former Pratt School. Again, other than the location I know nothing about this school, so if you do, please share.
Additional Hints
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