Epic Explorers, a 4-H club for homeschoolers based in New York’s Hudson Valley, has used geocaching to shine a spotlight on an important woman in our local and national history: Sojourner Truth. Ulster County native, Sojourner Truth, was born into slavery as Isabella around 1797. In the fall of 1826, after her master broke his promise to free her ahead of the new state law abolishing slavery, Isabella spun an extra 100 pounds of wool for him before simply walking away from his home: “I thought it was mean to run away, but I could walk away.” She walked her over 11-mile “Freedom Trail” through what is now the Town of Esopus. Once she was free, Isabella took the name Sojourner Truth and became a popular speaker and effective advocate for social justice: “When I left the house of bondage, I left everything behind. I wa’n’t goin’ to keep nothin’ of Egypt on me, an’ so I went to the Lord an’ asked Him to give me a new name. And the Lord gave me Sojourner, because I was to travel up an’down the land, showin’ the people their sins, an’ bein’ a sign unto them. Afterwards I told the Lord I wanted another name, ‘cause everybody else had two names; and the Lord gave me Truth, because I was to declare the truth to the people.”
In Spring 2013, Epic Explorers created a Sojourner Truth geocache trail to commemorate and mark her Freedom Trail, as well as other sites that are relevant to her life in Ulster County. We hope the project will help educate others about Sojourner Truth and her many accomplishments.
This cache is located at Shaupeneak Ridge, upper parking area. Shaupeneak RIdge is owned and managed by Scenic Hudson. Individuals seeking geocaches do so at their own risk and must follow the park rules listed on the park’s kiosk.
Scenic Hudson
1 Civic Center Plaza
Poughkeepsie, NY 12603
845-473-4440
www.scenichudson.org
Sojourner Truth gained much personal and spiritual strength from nature, and thanks to Scenic Hudson, we are able to do the same while we search for geocaches along her freedom trail.
This cache is off the part of the blue trail that runs between Popletown Road and Louisa Pond.
This cache has information about Sojourner Truth inside that should be read and replaced in the cache. This information is reproduced here as well. There are also trinkets for trade.
