Do not enter the Conservancy from Arnold Drive. Private property exists between the right-of-way and conservancy boundaries. Use conservancy parking and observe preserve hours listed below.
Old Giants are scattered along the best route to the final, a spot where many of them fell long ago. One old oak, however, was a victim of rogue winds just last summer, and it lies awkwardly nearby with it's massive trunk snapped in half. The tops of another tall tree fell just short of the final, its length stretched out towards the cattails where the entire root system was ripped from the ground, also just last summer. I can imagine the windy chaos and noise that shook this peaceful place not so long ago. It's a spot I look forward to spending some time at, sitting on a log in warmer weather and seeing what birds and other wildlife show, bugs or not.
Dave told me there might be some room for a cache further west in the conservancy if anyone could get there. I did most of my exploration on ice during snow storms, so it was a little easier going than it is now, but I didn't know where I was going then, or how to get there. The hides aren't that tough; the varied terrain and the final location are what make this one really interesting. Aside from a little bump at the start due to wp1 getting squeezed into a corner of the conservancy, the terrain can be easy enough until the last stage. Getting to the final, and taking time to sit and take in the surroundings, are the real rewards. Even during the snowfalls, each time I was there I saw some combination of eagles, deer, turkeys, geese, woodpeckers, chickadees, or robins. One day, after a fresh overnight snow, there were more tracks than I imagined possible, made in only half of the day before my visit.
While straight-line approaches might be tempting when ice is solid, the "best" route to each waypoint will usually be along or near conservancy and deer trails, some of which are destined to become part of an extended system connecting to trails along the conservancy's northern border. Private property begins at N 44 12.999 and need not be approached much closer than a hundred feet. There is a fair amount of bushwhacking en route to wp1 unless the easier loop in on a deer trail can be marked as a reference point. From the last waypoint to the final, the deer and turkey trails will become less distinct without snow cover, and some stream or marsh crossings will be necessary to get to the hide. Be cautious in any water, as locals have told me there are some holes close to shoulder depth, though I haven't found them yet. You may also run into an old fenceline topped with barbed wire and down at intervals. The ongoing question for searchers will be whether to go around or through.
Hours for the conservancy are: Mar. 1 to Nov. 30: 6am to 8pm, Dec. 1 to Feb. 28: 7am to 6pm.
The related web page will not help you find this cache any quicker.
Congratulations to the Hitwoman, Hearty Soles, and Lacknothing on their FTF at 6:37 am on St. Patrick's Day 2012!
Congrats to WI.Hibiscus for her find #2800 at this cache on April 28, 2012!
Congrats to Woodland3000 for her #2222 at this cache on Januaryl 7, 2013!