About Carlton Hill:
Carlton Hill Multiple Use Area and Bird Conservation Area is a 2,484 acre New York State owned tract of land located in Middlebury. The area lies in the northwestern Cattaraugus Highlands portion of the Appalachian Plateau. This ecological zone is characterized by flat-topped uplands with deep intervening valleys. Carlton Hill is comprised primarily of abandoned farmland interspersed with scattered small woodlots and wetlands. Poor soils and steep unworkable slopes coupled with the hardships of the Great Depression caused many farms to abandon the land in the 1920's through the 1940's. The NYSDEC began acquiring the abandoned properties in 1961 under the Park and Recreation Land Acquisition Bond Act of 1960. In 2006, Carlton was recognized for having many different species of either endangered or threatened birds which led to it being named a Bird Conservation Area. It is also home to many different wildlife species which you may encounter on the trails.
About the cache:
Back at the beginning of April with the snow melting and the temperature rising, I started to look for a place to get in a good hike, do some exploring, and enjoying the woods around me. While messing around with some maps I found a nice swath of land in Carlton Hill between Fox and Moose Roads. A week or so later on a Sunday afternoon I made my first hike through the area. I was amazed at what I found. This is a great diverse area with tons of beauty, peacefulness, and solitude. I could not believe there was no cache here. Since then I have spent quite a bit of time in the woods here exploring the trails and setting up this cache to bring to you what I believe caching is all about.
Cache details:
There will be absolutely no reason to tear up, move rock piles, pull vegetation, or destroy any of the areas where the legs are located. This cache is more about the surroundings so although challenging, the legs will be able to be found by keen observation. This seven leg (six plus final) multi-cache will take you on an almost three mile round trip hike along Trail 4, 4A, and 4B. The trails are well established and marked with yellow blazes. If you do not see an occasional yellow blaze on the trail you are on, it is most likely a trail that leads off onto private property. The legs are placed to keep you on the trail and heading in the right direction with no bushwhacking involved. This trail is not to bad as far as mud goes as long as it is dry. Wear boots after an extended period of rain. Carlton Hill allows and encourages hunting so make sure you wear orange during hunting seasons. There is an unactivated Four Seasons of Caching Geocoin for the FTF.
Cache parking:
DO NOT PARK ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD!!! Parking will be a little tricky here. There is a driveway on Fox Rd near the starting coordinates although it is on a blind hill, not big, and has a gate across it. I have parked here but it is risky. If you choose to park here, BE CAREFUL! You may be able to fit two cars in the driveway but you will really have to squeeze them in. There are two other parking coordinates that I have listed. One is for a huge parking lot on the corner of Fox and Bank Roads and is probably your best bet if the driveway is full or you do not feel safe in the driveway. It is about a half a mile walk to the starting coordinates. The other is to another driveway on Fox Rd but I would not use the driveway unless you have 4WD to get back out as it is very steep.
Good luck, take your time, and enjoy this great section of Carlton Hill. Thanks for visiting "Journey Into Carlton Hill".