Smelter Ridge Traditional Cache
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(regular)
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A plastic ammo box with swag for the kiddos or geodes for the big kids, lol!
The cache is in the woods with bushwacking required.
The cache is about 1400’ from the parking area.
Mark Twain National Forest is located in 29 different counties in Missouri and contains more than 1.5 million acres. That’s a lot of woods!
In the 1870s, citizens of southern Missouri began an era of extensive logging of the state's native oak, hickory, and pine forests. Lumber mills were commonplace, but by the 1920s they had disappeared, along with much of the state's native forests. In 1939 President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the MTNF into existence. In my opinion, this is one of many jewels the Forest has to offer.
The town of Nova Scotia was founded in the 1880s by the employees of the Nova Scotia Iron Company. It was estimated that as many as 4,000 people may have lived here at that time. In 1882, it was the largest iron furnace in the world. The furnace was under full operation for only three years. . During that time, the miners lived along the road in Scotia Valley. To provide a water source, they built dams to back up the water at the two Scotia Ponds. As wood and ore were depleting, Nova Scotia packed up and took the whole operation to Kentucky. Today, deer graze on High Street and blackberry briars cover the foundations of structures where there were once homes.
Very Important!!!!!: The whole area around Nova Scotia is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is a significant place. Bushwacking may be required but, if you do wander away from the ponds, be aware of possible wells and cisterns in the whole area(most of them have been capped)! Kids are not recommended without close supervision. And of course, no ATV’s. Also, remember leave nothing but footprints, take nothing but pictures. Happy Caching!
Congratulations 16June84 for FTF!!!!!
Permission granted by District Ranger, Thanks Thomas!!!!!
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Va orgjrra gjb qbjarq ybtf, n arneol yvzo nobhg 15' va gur nve cbvagf ng TM