This cache is hidden in Deerfield Hills Nature Area. The park hours are from dawn until dusk. Please observe all park rules. A trail map is available here.
Bow hunting is allowed in accordance with the laws of the State of Michigan and the rules of the Department of Natural Resources. If you are in the park during bow hunting season, be sure to wear orange clothing!
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This is a letterbox hybrid cache. It is not hidden at the posted coordinates! Follow the clues in the following story to determine the final cache location. Once you have found the cache, you will notice that there is a rubber stamp and ink pad inside. Please do not remove them from the cache! You may use them to stamp your book or if you have your own stamp, you can stamp the log book with it.
The Story
One day I decided to go to Deerfield Hills Nature Area with my dog, Hannah. We often enjoy our time together on the trails and in the woods. We arrived in the parking area and walked to the limestone trail that begins at the kiosk.
Hannah eagerly ran ahead and began to sniff around at the first trail post. I decided to mark a waypoint here with my GPS to help me remember where we began our walk. It read: N42 45.854 W083 49.410. Suddenly, Hannah ran down the trail. She had picked up the scent of a rabbit! Before I followed after her, I looked at the post to see that she had gone in the direction of #2.
As we walked along this trail, I saw a deer in the field to my right. The trees on my left were filled with the loud chirping of many birds. Soon we came to another trail post. I looked at my GPS. We had walked about 475 feet. From here I followed Hannah down trail #10.
The field slowly gave way to more and more trees as we walked along this trail which climbed and then descended. Hannah weaved from one side of the trail to the other as we climbed another long slope. I could now see a huge oak tree ahead of us. Hannah led the way until we passed the giant oak tree and came to a large savannah with a row of trees just ahead of us near the center of the field. The trail split into three at this point.
There was a sign post slightly to the right, but Hannah suddenly ran down the middle path that hugged the left side of the tree line. As I ran along behind Hannah, I heard a loud croaking noise to my left. We had spooked a pair of Grey Herons who took flight! I finally caught up to Hannah as we came to a crossroads in the trail. I wanted to go straight into the woods, but Hannah had already gone a different way. I looked at the post to see that she had gone in the direction of #10.
About 40 feet from the post she followed her nose to the right and then a quick left along the edge of the savannah. I followed her along the trail. At this point, I looked at the compass on my GPS and saw that our heading was south. I noticed a lone Turkey Vulture circling over the far west end of the savannah. We continued on until the trail split at the next post. The trail to the right followed along the southern edge of the savannah, while the trail to the left entered the woods. Hannah stopped and looked at me as if to ask, "Which way do I go?" I walked toward the left-hand trail and said, "This way!" Hannah eagerly ran past and was soon far ahead of me.
Before I continued on after her, I saw the corner post of a wire fence. I decided to stop here and mark a waypoint on my GPS. Hannah was nowhere to be seen at the moment, so I called to her as I continued along the trail. There were many mature oak trees lining the trail here, mostly on the left side. Hannah finally emerged from the left side of the trail with her tail wagging furiously! She looked at me and left the trail again at the same place. I soon caught up to her. Hannah was near 3 large oak trees about 10 feet off the trail. She was digging into a pile of rotting logs, sticks and tree limbs. I looked at my GPS to see that we were 150 feet from the fence post. Hannah had found her bunny rabbit!
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The cache is a camouflaged Lock & Lock container. Be aware of the possibility of muggles while searching for this cache. Please trade evenly when possible. When finished, hide the cache as you found it. In order to claim this cache as found, you must physically find the cache and sign the log sheet. Failure to do so may result in deletion of your online log.
