This is the second in a series of 12 in the Lake Cumberland District of the Blue Grass Council, Boy Scouts of America.
Reaching the rank of Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts of America requires years of dedication and hard work. In addition to 21 required merit badges, each Scout must complete a project that, on average, requires 167 service hours. In 2008 alone, that translated to $16 million in service (based on the national volunteer hour value of $19.51/hr).
Over its first 100 years Scouting has provided millions of hours of service to communities across America. This cache is part of a nationwide geocaching series called “Cache to Eagle” that showcases these special contributions.
Pulaski County Park comprises more than 800 acres and is managed by the Pulaski County Fiscal Court under lease from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The Eagle Trail — a national recreational trails project — is 2.3 miles long between the Campground and Piney Grove Trailheads (4.6 mile round trip). An additional “Eagle Loop Trail” extends from the Piney Grove Trailhead but is currently a 0.8–mile out and back hike to a scenic overlook. Together the trails contain 8 bridges and 7 strategically placed sitting benches constructed as part of several Eagle Scout projects by Scouts from Troop 727 in Nancy.
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In 2012, an additional 5 miles of mountain-biking trails was added to the Eagle Trail. There are 12 new bridges on the trail built as Eagle Scout projects by Scouts from Troop 170, plus a 13th bridge that was constructed by the county. New trail signage is currently being installed along the route. Visitors are advised to examine the new trailhead sign before setting out until these markers are in place.
This cache is located 1.3 miles from the campground (or 1.0 mile from Piney Grove) near the trail’s 80-foot long signature swinging bridge spanning Porter Creek. The cache is NOT located on the bridge. Expect a moderate hike because of terrain changes. During wet weather you may have several small stream crossings.
You can earn a special Cache to Eagle patch (pictured above) by finding all 12 Lake Cumberland District “Cache to Eagle” geocaches that will be placed during 2010-11. When you find and log all 12 caches please e-mail the list of cache GC numbers, your caching name and your actual name for verification to geocaching@bgbsa.net. Upon verification you will be able to receive this patch from the Scout Shop, located at the Blue Grass Council Office, 3445 Richmond Road, Lexington, KY. Visit the Blue Grass Council website (bgbsa.org) or Geocaching.com (caching name: BGBSA) for more details and the list of the other Cache to Eagle cache locations.
In addition, please fill out and return one of the enclosed cards to enter your name in a monthly raffle to win a unique and limited edition BSA 100th Anniversary trackable geocoin. (You don’t have to be a Scout to enter.) If you don’t win, your card will be left in the raffle box and you will have another chance the next month. We will be raffling off 30 of these limited edition, trackable geocoins. Please take only one card from the cache — multiple entries of the same name are not permitted. If there are no cards in the cache, let us know, and we’ll e-mail one to you.
The Lake Cumberland District is comprised of Casey, Clinton, Lincoln, McCreary, Pulaski, Rockcastle, Russell and Wayne counties.
Directions: To reach Campground Trailhead make a sharp left U-turn at the stop sign by the park office and follow that road to parking lot located at: N37 04.352 W084 42.280. To reach Piney Grove Trailhead take Piney Grove Road from KY 80 just west of Nancy to gravel parking area located at: N37 04.638 W084 41.963.
Permission to place this cache was given by the Pulaski County judge-executive’s office.