Wesley Hill Nature Preserve
Welcome to Wesley Hill Nature Preserve! Wesley Hill is part of the Finger Lakes Land Trust (FLLT). Geocaches on all FLLT properties require a permit, and #WH01 has been obtained. FLLT typically requires that the cache must be removed after two years. For this virtual cache the restriction has been waived, primarily because there is NO NEED to leave the trail or allowed areas. Thank you to Jason Gorman, Nature Preserve Manager!
HOURS: The preserve is open from dawn to dusk.
HUNTING: See attached "Bow Hunting Map" for hunting areas when in season. Note that the trails used for this cache are outside of the bow hunting zones though in some cases they are very close to the hunting areas.
Cache Description
This cache is a tour of a few highlights of this beautiful nature preserve. It is about a two-mile round-trip hike that is a combination of flat and moderately hilly terrain. It is designed so that those, young and old, who are able to hike that distance on trails can enjoy this preserve and complete this virtual cache without having to go on the more difficult trails. So don your boots (it can be muddy in spots), put on insect repellent, etc., etc., etc. You know the drill...all those things us geocachers have come to rely on!
What You Will Need
In order to be able to complete this cache you will need:
- a printout of the "Wesley Hill Cache Map" or access to it on a device.
- a printout or access to the "Trail Tree" photo.
- a printout or access to this cache description.
Take a look at the attributes to see what else you might need to bring or do before starting this cache.
Links to the first two items are found at the very bottom of this cache write-up.
NOTE: Cell service in the area could be questionable!
To Complete This Cache
The posted coordinates are for parking. Use the attached Wesley Hill Cache Map (see bottom of this cache write-up) and follow the trails highlighted in the red or yellow heavy-bordered circles. There are four stops shown on the map in green heavy-bordered boxes, labeled Pond, Trail Tree, Cabin, and Overlook. The map shows their approximate location; you will need to find them as you hike along the trails following the map.
Perform the following actions at the stops:
(1) Pond: Take a photo of you/your group with the pond and post it in your log.
Fun Fact: The pond is an inviting habitat where you may see red-winged blackbirds in the cattails, bass swimming in the pond, and butterflies in the wildflowers; bear have been known to stop by this watering hole as well.
(2) Trail Tree: Find the trail tree that is shown in the posted "Trail Tree" image at the end of this cache description. Take a photo of you/your group next to this tree and post it in your log.
Fun Fact: The Trail Tree is a trail marker intentionally shaped long ago by Native Americans. See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trail_trees for more info.
(3) Cabin: Find the artists' cabin and go onto the porch. In the displayed information, read about the Wenrich Cabin and find the building where Jack and Jeanne spent their honeymoon and why they chose that location. Take a photo pointing to that information. (It's OK to show the answer; the photo that you found the info is what counts.)
Fun Fact: Well...the answer IS the Fun Fact! Along with other interesting info about the cabin and other nature preserve information.
(4) Overlook: At the overlook take a photo of you/your group with the view.
Fun Fact: On a clear day you'll see an open patch of land up towards the top of the far hill; this is part of Harriet Hollister Spencer Recreation Area.
Your tasks are complete...as long as you took the four required photos!
You can now go back the way you came to parking (the cache's posted coordinates), go to Briggs Gully (see "Briggs Gully" section below), or go explore any of the trails shown on the map (if it's bow hunting season check the Bow Hunting Map for which trails to avoid).
To Get a Smiley
To qualify for this cache post all four requested photos in your log.
Note on photos: When a photo is requested I'd love to see you or your group in the photos and hope you'll do that!! If you choose to not do so you'll need to provide some way to show you were there that day, such as a simple "thumbs up" in the photo.
I hope you enjoyed your hike around the preserve!
Briggs Gully
Briggs Gully is along the southern part of the preserve. The trip to the gully is NOT required for this virtual, but if it was the terrain rating would probably be around 3.5 or 4. The following directions are being provided if you would like to go see it. The trails to the gully are on the map but they are not highlighted since they are not part of the requirements for this cache. IMPORTANT: The Finger Lakes Land Trust owns only a PORTION of Briggs Gully. Please respect private property by staying within the preserve boundaries.
There are two approaches to get to the gully:
(1) One approach is a shorter trail but it does require climbing a small/medium hill using a provided rope. Go back a short distance to where the red and yellow trails split before the cabin. Take a right onto the red trail, which goes down the hill. Use the rope to pull yourself up the hill to continue on the red trail. Continue to the green trail. Turn right on the green trail which takes you down to the gully.
(2) If you don't want to do the rope climb, the other (and a little longer) approach is to take the trails back the way you came and go back to the pond and go around it. On the right you'll see the green trail, which takes you all the way down to the gully.
Virtual Reward - 2017/2018
This Virtual Cache is part of a limited release of Virtuals created between August 24, 2017 and August 24, 2018. Only 4,000 cache owners were given the opportunity to hide a Virtual Cache. Learn more about Virtual Rewards on the Geocaching Blog.