Not Forgotten Traditional Cache
-
Difficulty:
-
-
Terrain:
-
Size: 
(small)
Please note Use of geocaching.com services is subject to the terms and conditions
in our disclaimer.
A traditional cache hidden near a memorial to the workers who died during the construction of the Hawks Nest hydro tunnel in the 1930s, located two miles south of Summersville, West Virginia just off U.S. Route 19.
The memorial honors an estimated 764 tunnel workers who died from mining a 3.8 mile tunnel through Gauley Mountain in neighboring Fayette County to divert water from the New River to a hydroelectric plant near Gauley Bridge in 1930-31. The tunnel cut through almost pure silica rock in some areas and exposed the unprotected workers to silica dust that quickly caused acute silicosis, a fatal lung disease. This disaster is considered to be America's worst industrial accident.
To get to the cache from U.S. Route 19, turn onto Whippoorwill Road. If traveling north, this is a left-hand turn; if going south, turn right. After turning, follow the paved portion of the road that curves downhill and to the right. Continue on down about 400 feet to the gravel parking area and monument on the right. After parking, take the gravel walking path that goes uphill on the left side of the site. That is the way to the cache. The hiding place is just a short distance off the trail; no major bushwhacking or extreme climbing is required. Also, please be sensitive to where you are and respect the area; the cache is not hidden among those who are at rest.
The cache is in a 13 oz. Lock & Lock container. Initial contents are: 2 plastic coins, a magnetic plaque, toy superhero figure, plastic spider, glass "gem", 2 foreign coins, eraser, keychain, plastic lobster, a fossil shell, and a log book with pen.
**SPECIAL BONUS: If you are into Waymarking, the historical marker located at the top of Whippoorwill road where you turn off the highway is waymark #WMF31M.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Ybbx ba gur hcuvyy fvqr bs gur cvar gerrf sbe gur bar jvgu nyhzvahz znexre gnt 6472 anvyrq vagb vgf gehax nobhg 6 vapurf nobir tebhaq yriry. Pnpur vf va n avpur orarngu gur ebpx arkg gb guvf gerr, pbirerq jvgu n fznyyre ebpx.