The mining of limestone at Rockwoods Reservation has forever changed the landscape of this area. This three stage multi-cache will bring you to some of the historically significant features of this area. There are no containers at the first two stages, instead, you will gather information which will be used to find the final.
Stage One:
X: At the posted coordinates you will find the remains of a large limestone kiln. Count the number of expansion bolts with attached square nuts visible on the South, West, and North sides of the kiln (make sure to count the back and left side of the kiln). We will call this number X. Note, for purposes of this multi cache, only count the bolts with square nuts attached. X is an odd number.
Y: Count the total number of arches still visible at the bottom of the kiln on the south and west sides. We will call this number Y. Y is an odd number. The checksum of X + Y = 12.
Multiply X times 28. We will use this three digit number to replace the last three digits of the north coordinates. Now multiple Y times 184 and use this for the last three digits of the west coordinates:
Stage two is located at N 38° 34.(X*28) W 090° 40.(Y*184).
Stage Two:
Z: At stage two, you will find a large wooden object that looks like a ladder (it is actually an old rolling stock). On the northern end of this object, near the entrance to this spot, you will find a number of large metal rods (approximately 1-2 feet in length) coming out of the top of the object. Count the number of rods. We will call this number Z.
There is no need to climb up or over or descend any bluffs to reach the final. There is a fairly easy/level approach located at approximately 31 degrees and 700 ft from the final. Cache located at the base of a cliff at:
N 38° 34. (Y-2) (Z*2) (Z) W 090° 40. (Y+1) (Y+Z) (X).
History of the Area
Rockwoods Reservation was once home to a large strip mining operation owned the by the “Cobb-Wright-Case Mining Company” (later known as the Glencoe Lime Company). Large 10-foot blocks of “Plattin Limestone” were removed from the hill sides to be used in building construction materials throughout the St. Louis area.
Later, as the thicker Limestone was depleted, alternate sites were mined for softer “Kimmswick” limestone to be used for agricultural and manufacturing purposes i.e. soil additives and cement. Evidence of these alternate mining sites can be seen at the remaining blast holes along the cliff walls where dynamite was used to procure the softer limestone. Approximately 3 million cubic feet of limestone was removed from the Rockwoods Reservation area altogether.
As you walk the trails, keep your eyes open for some of the large limestone blocks which endure the area. You may also spot “Cobb Cavern,” the massive cavern in the hill side which remains from the extensive mining in this area.
Mining Sites
Additional Information
The limestone kiln at the posted coordinates was owned by a business man, James E. Yeatman, and was used to heat limestone to very high temperatures to transform it into powder. Yeatman later used the powder to build stone houses in his subdivision around Glencoe.
The “Cobb-Wright-Case Mining Company,” owned four separate kilns which were each 25 feet high and 15 square feet at the base. These kilns no longer stand at Rockwoods Reservation.
After the initial mining of the area, train tracks were installed to grant easier access to the area. Miners loaded the heavy limestone onto mine carts which were pulled by mule. Remnants of these train lines are still visible as flat areas of railroad bed, trestles still visible in the earth, and an old mine cart hidden in the woods.
This cache is part of the Rockwoods Series at Rockwoods Reservation. Rockwoods Reservation is the oldest conservation area in Missouri and is home to a rich diversity of plant and animal life as well as springs, caves, and rock formations. Rockwoods Reservation is truly a nature lover's paradise.
Rockwoods Reservation also has a history with geocaching as several of the earliest geocaches in St. Louis were placed in this area: Picnic Memorial Cache and Geocache. The first official event in St. Louis was also held at Rockwoods Reservation by Connie and Steve: Picnic Anyone? These geocaches were archived shortly after publication though and no caches have been allowed till now.
The rules have changed at Rockwoods Reservation, and we are now allowed to have geocaches (with a permit) and go off trail. To learn more about the history of geocaching in Rockwoods Reservation please visit the THE LOCAL NEWS- St.L, Mo. A portal to local info and read through the logs at the bottom of the page.
Special thanks to Gus Raeker at the Missouri Department of Conservation for granting permission for this geocache and for allowing geocaching at Rockwoods Reservation.