This Cache is placed as part of the New York State Park Saratoga/Capital District Regional Geocache Challenge. There are 60 geocaches hidden within 18 state parks and historic sites in this parks region, and geocachers finding 40 or more will be eligible to enter their names in a drawing for valuable prizes. The first 75 people to find 40 or more caches will receive a special geocache challenge coin. If you are interested in trying the challenge, you can pick up a geocache passport at any of the participating parks and sites or download it at www.nysparks.com
This cache contains a unique stamp which must stay with the cache. Use this stamp to mark your passport. This stamp is NOT a trade item. Some of the items in the cache are park souvenirs and do not need to be replaced with a trade item.
Park at the top of the Bennington Battlefield Historic Site and go back toward the field, following along the right hand side until you find the trailhead. Take the white trail down the hill, cross the creek, and head up the steep climb through the field full of wildflowers with incredible views until you reach the forest edge at the hilltop.
The area you are entering may seem wild and forested now, but look around you and you will see clues from a distant past when the forest was all pasture and trees were sparse. The few trees that were around had no competition for light so they stretched their branches wide and far to soak up all the sun. Now they stand as ancient relics to an almost forgotten past.
Note: This park closes after Columbus Day, so you may have to hike an extra half mile up hill if you choose to find this cache after that time.