You are about to take a journey through some woods that I grew up playing in as a kid and know extremely well. You will want to bring a pen and paper with you to write down and save all the coordinates to navigate back out at the end, and to jot down any hints or clues I may have placed along the way. This is a 5 stage multi, and my first ever multi placed. Stage 1 does begin in my driveway on my property. Please park in the suggested coordinates and DO NOT BLOCK the driveways or trail. Also I have 3 friendly cats who might try and follow you up the hill and into the woods, but please don't let them follow you up the hill lol. I highly recommend you bring your camera if you like to take photos, and would not recommend smaller children or dogs for this adventure. (I used to play here starting when I was about 6 or 7 but you're the parent and can make the choice whether or not your child will be up for this challenge.)
The terrain changes in many places, the trials are faint and have many fallen trees across them, and mud hidden under leaves. Closer to the final turns into a swamp, so bring appropriate boots for this, waterproof I would suggest and over ankle high (this muck can swallow a shoe quickly if you step in the wrong spot.) There are a few cliffs and drop offs so watch your step because its a long way down if you fall. I would maybe even suggest bringing a buddy with you if your not very good at exploring woods in PA. Bring something to bushwhack with, you will need it to get through any jaggers or high weeds. Bring your mosquito repellent, watch for ticks, snakes, spiders, coyotes, and other common PA wildlife you may encounter along the way. There is hunting in the fall and winter months so wear orange if you decide to do it then.
You will get wet doing this, I promise. So please be prepared, dress appropriately, and I would suggest doing this in the spring and summer when its warm outside. For stages 1-4 you will be looking for the coordinates in camoed pill bottles along a faint path half man made half deer trails and there is no need to follow the stream, you cross it once but do not follow instead stay on the path halfway up the hill after crossing the stream about 30 feet uphill of the stream. The final is a medium sized cache filled to the top with some trinkets for trade and a travel bug for the FTF if he/she chooses to take it. Please place everything back EXACTLY as it was placed. Not many people travel these woods now except a few local people and kids on dirtbikes. A friend and I have a camp below the final at the bottom with a small man made swimming hole that you can sort of see from up above, if you feel like it check it out, but please do not disturb the items we have left down there. We clean it up every year and take care of it year round trying to preserve this beautiful piece of forgotten land. Sometimes we get kids down here that like to trash the place and our belongings, but it doesn't stop us from being here. We both grew up in this neighborhood, and this has been the spot to go for kids in this neighborhood for many of years now. (Spoke to a woman in her 90's who played here in her teen years with all the other neighborhood kids)
I hope everyone enjoys this cache, this is a very special place to me (if I could just live here I would lol) and I would love to hear everyone's story finding this and see your photos of your journey as you go :) My first ever photo that got published was taken here, and published in the INChartiers Valley Magazine, Sept. 2015. The water coming out of the Falls is natural spring water, the water below throughout the valley is funny colored because these woods used to be an old miners town, and the run-off from the coal ends up making the water look yucky and foamy. None of it will hurt you! I've been all through it many of times ever since I was little and I'm just fine :D
CONGRATULATIONS!!! To papazulu's 1st FTF on a multi! and Webspinner182 for the CO-FTF!!! (I loved both of your stories, thanks for sharing and I'm so glad you guys loved this one so much!!)