After the Goldrush, aka Scorched Earth Traditional Cache
After the Goldrush, aka Scorched Earth
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Difficulty:
-
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(regular)
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My first cache placed within an interesting forested area along Rt 295. The cache is located on State of RI property near the boundary of the PJ Keating gravel pit. A little exploring further west will bring you to a stark landscape where I obtained the cache title.
I wanted my first cache to be somewhat special, so I thought long and hard about location, container, and cache contents. I decided on a patch of forest adjacent to 295 South. I was always amazed at the rock outcropping that 295 passes through right before Route 37. This bedrock is basically the start of what is known in RI as the "western hills."
I had noticed a strange, wide-open trail while driving this stretch of 295, and decided to investigate a few years ago. The trail turned out to be a ROW for the Providence Water Supply, but there are
numerous hiking paths in the adjacent forest. It is a great spot to hear birds and walk through a variety of habitats. The trails eventually run parallel to 295S, climbing to the top of the outcropping.
The cache itself is very near the "peak" of the bedrock outcrop, not too far off the trail, but before a thin metal wire fence that marks the boundary to the mining company. CC is a standard ammo box hidden by natural cover. Contents include lots of nice goodies, especially for the kids.
You will have to cross a small section of Furnace Hill Brook, so hiking boots are recommended, although it is pretty easy to walk across the rocks without getting wet. From there, you can take the easy way along the PWS ROW (left at split immediately after the brook), or hike the trail. Taking the ROW reduces the terrain rating to a 2.
Please watch for dirtbikers!
Congrats to RhodeRunner and TJS118 for Co-FTF!
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Fvg ng gur gnoyr sbe qvaare.