The Hunters Bay Trail, built in 2005, is a 3.8 km walking, running, and cycling trail. It begins at the Centre Street bridge near KWH Pipe and winds along the river, the South shore of Hunters Bay, and onwards to Hwy #11.
This geoart series will take you along the Hunters Bay Trail and teach you some environmental and historical information about Hunters Bay. This is a beautiful trail during all seasons. To help you picture the trail through out the year we have included a few photos.
The term "Ghost Forest" is a Cambodian saying, which means when you pass here in the dark the trees are so white that they look like ghosts dancing in the night. It is also an idea saying for this part of the trail as this area was once void of trees due to the heavy activity of the Brennan and Son Lumber Mill (see attached photo of the mill from 1902). This huge lumber mill was highly active during the log drive days until it closed in the mid-1930's. It's amazing that after so much deforestation and manufacturing that anything could grow back making this a ghost forest.
To find this geocache, go to the location this photo was taken and project your bearing 55 m at 162o.
If your projection was correct, you will find yourself at a sign. Based on this sign answer the following questions.
- How long was the Brennan and Son Mill operational on Hunters Bay? A
- What year was the Free Grants and Homestead Act legislated? B
- The Free Grants and Homestead Act offered C acres of land if you were willing to clear D acres of it, build a house and live there for E years.
From the sign, continue down the trail another 65 m. At this location answer the following:
- What is the digital root (2 numbers) of the scientific name of the bird on the sign? F
- When facing the water from the trail, how many standalone birch trees are on the right side of the bench? G
From the bench, continue down the trail another 19 m where you will find a wooden structure.
- How many horizontal 6x6 posts support the two diagonal logs? H
The geocache can be found at N45o 19.XXX W079o 13.YYY where XXX = C*E+G*H and
YYY = A+B+C-(D*F)+G*H.
Check sum = 2142
You will need the number on the cache lid to find the final cache in this series.
