The Jungle of Hidden Lake Traditional Cache
The Jungle of Hidden Lake
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You'll have to endure a jungle to see the beauty of Hidden Lake!
The Hidden Lake Project is a 589-acre site located in West-Central Pasco County and acquired by the Southwest Florida Water District in 1985 under the Save our Rivers Program. It is part of an interconnected system of lakes within the Rocky Sink/Boggy Creek basin of the Bear Creek Watershed. The Pithlachascotee River lies to the South.
Natural vegetation surrounding Hidden Lake consists primarily of basin swamp and hydric hammock. Hidden Lake, a 46-acre blackwater lake with an undeveloped natural shoreline, lies in the center of the property. Small patches of freshwater marsh, cypress stands, and upland terrain occur along the edge of the property.
My friend and I encountered what appeared, and tasted, to be undomesticated orange trees growing in small groves. The fruit was ripe and had a good flavor but was very, very acidic.
It would be best to try and find this cache during the dry season in Florida (November-April) as this area is mostly swamp and is a much different jungle in the summer. If you want to find it during the wet season (June-September), expect to encounter standing water and check the weather to see if rain is forecasted. I was caught in some showers while hiding this cache.
I would suggest jeans at a minimum, as there are spiders and insects, moreso during the summer months.
This cache is hidden on a raised surface in a small clearing.
Congrats to Sought and Found for being FTF!
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Ba gbc bs ovttrfg Plcerff fghzcf va gur nern. 3' va qvnzrgre naq 4' gnyy.
Treasures
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