**** 9/2/19 *** Note - Final cache location has been permanently relocated to a few feet from original. Clues adjusted.
"When you go to hide a geocache, think of the reason you are bringing people to that spot. If the only reason is for the geocache, then find a better spot." – briansnat
CAUTION - Rattlesnakes. The entire Laurel Ridge through this section of Forbes State Forest is known for snakes, with the rockier areas being the more likely habitat. Use caution on and off the trails and when removing geocover from this and any other caches on this ridge.
Like our original Laurel Ridge Rock Hallways, this cache highlights a trail passing through another interesting rock formation. Although unnamed and lesser known than the more popular Beams Rocks and Wolfe Rocks in Forbes State Forest, hiking a small portion of the extensive trail in the Forest will bring you through this hallway. We also like to snow shoe this trail, and the trail is nearly always included (in the opposite direction from described below) in LHORBA’s monthly mountain bike ride at Forbes.
For foot access, the recommended route is from the Beam Run trailhead at the posted parking coordinates (lower left parking on the included map). This provides access via a lollypop hike of just under one mile by combining the Beam Run connector (across from the parking area), right onto the Black Bear Trail, left onto Rocky Gap Trail, left back onto Black Bear and right onto the connector back to your car.
If you are caching by mountain bike, you can ride from here or use one of the more distant parking areas to experience more of this trail network. There is also closer parking, but that approach could either be easier or significantly harder, depending on how much research you do.
This was intended to be a single stage with the cache hidden in the Gap at the posted reference point coordinates. But the PNDI search identified this location as prime rattlesnake habitat, so we weren't allowed to hide it there. Instead, we'll just have you walk right through that spot (on the established trail) to get to the final. This entire ridgetop area is known for snakes, so caution is recommended, especially during hotter weather. We have only encountered one rattlesnake during numerous visits, but it was in its "other" sensative habitat - in the middle of the gravel road in front of the warming hut.
Upon reaching the posted coordinates, you will find a feature with 5 lines of text. Substitute the last digit associated with the letter referenced in the formulas below (A = 1, Z = 26) to find the coordinates of the second/final stage.
N 40° 8.abc' W 79° 9.def'
a= 4th line, 6th letter
b= 1st line, 3rd letter (2nd digit)
c= 3rd line, 1st letter (2nd digit)
d= 5th line, 4th letter
e= 4th line, 1st letter
f= 2nd line, last letter (2nd digit)
This may help:
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1
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A
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K
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U
|
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2
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B
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L
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V
|
|
3
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C
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M
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W
|
|
4
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D
|
N
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X
|
|
5
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E
|
O
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Y
|
|
6
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F
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P
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Z
|
|
7
|
G
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Q
|
|
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8
|
H
|
R
|
|
|
9
|
I
|
S
|
|
|
0
|
J
|
T
|
The cache is a smaller lock-n-lock container concealed in hole at base of snapped off tree.
This is another location where we’ve considered placing a cache for years but have never gotten around to it. Even with the saturation of caches now out there, there Are still interesting locations available for new placements.
You can check your answers for this puzzle on GeoChecker.com.