CAM 2014 - Patapsco Valley - Daniels Area Mystery Cache
CAM 2014 - Patapsco Valley - Daniels Area
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(regular)
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This is one of ten caches placed for the 2014 Cache Across Maryland. Each location was picked specifically to give cachers a taste of the state and show you its beauty. By combining all ten, you'll be able to see why Maryland is truly "America in Miniature". We hope you enjoy them!
The Daniels Area is largely an undeveloped area of Patapsco Valley State Park and is enjoyed by paddlers, anglers, and hikers. Once a bustling mill town, hikers will find little treasures of the past as they walk along trails on either side of the river. The Daniels Area can be accessed off of Daniels Avenue and also from Alberton Road (trail access only in this area). This area has the Daniels Dam with a display on fish spawning activity in the river and how the fish ladder works. Anglers will enjoy fishing above and below the dam for small mouth bass year round and in the spring for Rainbow and Brown Trout, which are stocked in this put and take fishing area along the Patapsco.
Daniels was a mill town like many others along the banks of the Patapsco River where its residents lived and worked. The town was named Alberton. It had at least three churches, many homes, and even a band. In the 1950s, the C.R. Daniels Company took over the mill and renamed the town Daniels. After several floods, the C.R. Daniels Company decided it was best to move operations to a new location, so in 1968 the town lost its employer, and just a few years later, it disappeared from the maps completely. Today, if you look closely and know where to hike, you can still find the old road through town and a few stone foundations among the trees.
One of the interesting places in Patapsco Valley State Park is a site known as the Camel's Den. This cache will take you to the Camel's Den. For more information on this interesting place, please read the following article: Small wonder in Patapsco Park.
The cache is NOT at the posted coordinates. However, some interesting and useful information IS at the posted coordinates.
Point of Interest 1: N39 18.951 W76 48.904 (i.e. the posted coordinates)
At the posted coordinates you will find a plaque describing the history of the area and the church. Read through and take note of the following details:
1) A,B,C = This area has been occupied/named three times. Record the four digit year of each change.
2) D = In what year was the photo "Church on Standfast Hill" taken?
3) E = During what year did a great storm hit the area?
4) F = How many years was the mill nearly open?
Point of Interest 2: N39 18.882 W76 48.952
Here you will find several signs describing the Daniel's fishway. Find the following pieces of information:
1) G = How many Anadromous Fish are listed here?
2) H = How many miles from the Patapsco River's mouth is the Daniel's fishway located?
Point of Interest 3: N39 18.725 W76 48.872
Trailhead to this location: N39 18.739 W76 48.852
At the final point of interest, you will see a fun form of nature. When looking at it, you will notice some wooden stairs to the right.
1) I = How many wooden steps are there?
2) J = Starting from the bottom, on which step is a white marker/plaque nailed?
Ground Zero: N39 XX.XXX W76 48.YYY
XX.XXX = (A + B + C + D + E + F + 9066) / 1000
YYY = G + H + I + J + 768
Enjoy Daniels and happy hunting!
This cache has been approved by the Maryland DNR. Patapsco Valley State Park is open from sunup to sundown.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
N ynetr ohaqyr bs snyyra oenapurf naq yvzof.