Team Shih Tzu's first cache!
For safety's sake, please park away from the intersection of the paved road.
Traffic turning from the paved road often does so quickly due to GM Proving Grounds traffic.
Slippery when wet! You will be descending a small slope of grass, burrs, dirt and/or leaves.
Not quite a park and grab, but fairly easy.
BRING A PEN OR PENCIL.
UPDATE (4/2021) THE COUNTY HAS ELIMINATED MOST OF THE GREENERY THAT ONCE HID THE CACHE.
It is hidden on an Oakland County-owned outlot, safe from traffic.
Smallish plastic bottle.
The slope from the highway may be easier for some, but the brush and muggle factor might negate the benefit.
We placed this in late fall when deciduous foliage was long-gone,
so watch for Poison Ivy, especially in spring and summer.
Poison Ivy has 'hairy' vines, leaves of three different shapes on the same plant,
and white berries which are persistent, fall through spring.
We did notice cinquefoil vines, so don't trip!
BRING A PEN OR PENCIL.
A 2 cent Euro coin for the FTF!
History:
This hollow got its present form by roadwork, some old and some very old.
The gravel road now known as 'Hickory Ridge Circle' was once part of Hickory Ridge Trail (hence the name of this geocache). Hickory Ridge Trail was re-aligned to its present paved route (circa 1960) to accomodate growing traffic to and from the GM Proving Grounds. The steep embankment on the east of the hollow was from 'fill' placed when the road was cut into the side of a slope. This area is known for its sand and gravel deposits and the large boulders that were the bane of pioneer farmers. Notice the boulders that rolled to the bottom when the road was cut in to the slope.
Hickory Ridge Trail was in place during the mid-1800s. Its route went from Labadie Road (approximately where the Kensington Nature Center parking lot is), north to the Fenton-Holly road. Just south of the nearby mailboxes is the stub remnant of Pickett Lake Road, now used mostly as a driveway. This road meandered southwest into what is now the GM Proving Grounds, making its way to Paddock Road and Hyne Rd.
The blue farmhouse on the northeast corner of GM Rd. and Hickory Ridge Trail (1/2 mi. south) was the Pickett farmhouse and now is the Cedar Water Native American Healing Lodge. The Pickett School was on the corner that is opposite of the Edison substation. Margaret Muir (Muir Road, Muir Middle School) was the last teacher in the Pickett school when it closed in 1951.
The property that this geocache is hidden upon is an outlot owned by Oakland County that is kept to accept drainage and allow visibility for turning traffic. The subdivision to the east is a development platted not long after World War I. It was one of hundreds that were developed as resort communities for the newfound wealth of auto workers. Sears Lake (no public access) was named for Ansel Sears, a very early pioneer of this area. The lake is drained westward by Mann Creek. The military section of the GM Proving Grounds is directly west, across the paved highway.