You're hunting an ammo can hidden along the hiking trail in the
SUMICA.
The SUMICA natural area showcases diverse community types that provide excellent habitat for native plants and animals. A portion of Walk-in-Water Creek flows through the property, which is made up mainly of pine flatwoods interspersed with numerous marshes and wetlands. The name "SUMICA" comes from the timber town that once occurred on the site in the early 1900s. The town was named after a French company, "Societe Universelle de Mining, Industrie et Agriculture," that had timber rights on the property. Do sign in at the information board in the parking lot near the trailhead, and note that you're there to geocache. Polk County's Environmental Lands Program is receptive to caching. Signing in shows that you appreciate this. Please be respectful of this property, its vegetation & wildlife.
Sumica was a turpentine mill town and a sawmill town. Sumica stands for Societe Universelle Mining Industrie, Commerce et Agriculture. The post office was established in 1917 and the town flourished until 1927. There was a sawmill, 50 houses, a commissary, church and school, and a railroad depot. The town even had it's own currency for the company store. Apparently when the pine forest was gone the commerce was gone and so was Sumica. The post office was moved to Lake Wales and all that remains of the town is rows of concrete piers, old rail bed, bricks, clay floors and shallow wells. The old town site is now off limits to the public because of the theft of artifacts.
If you take some time and visit the area please sign in at the information board in the parking lot near the trailhead, and note that you're there to geocache. Polk County's Environmental Lands Program is receptive to caching. Signing in shows that you appreciate this. Please be respectful of this property, its vegetation & wildlife.
This is a Letterbox Hybrid cache. For anyone not familiar with Letterboxing there is a log in the cache for you to sign and stamp (with your stamp), then you stamp your own log or paper (with stamp that is in the cache). If you do not have your own stamp, then stickers or handrawn artwork is acceptable or if you do not have your own stamp, you can just sign the log. DO NOT TAKE STAMP WITH YOU; IT IS NOT A TRADE ITEM!!!
This geocache is a part of the Trek Ten Trails 2018-2019 program. Participation in that program, while a lot of fun, is not required to log this cache here.
Trek Ten Trails 2018-2019 program marks the continuation of the Friends of the Parks Foundation’s call to explore the outdoors in Polk County. Several new caches and a bonus cache have been hidden at nature trail locations throughout Polk County this year. Each nature trail includes geocaches with a self-inking stamp for validating your visits to at least ten of the featured trails. To receive a completion certificate and be eligible for a other prizes you must find ten caches. Of course you may trek all trails we have added this year and we hope you do!
New validation game cards, which participants stamp are available at various locations and are listed on the Friends of the Parks website and OUTPOST 27 CACHE. Trek Ten Trails 2018-2019 program maps, game cards and other information about each of the featured nature trails may be downloaded from the Friends of the Parks website. Check out our Profile for more details.
HIKE: 2.2 MILE ROUND TRIP FROM THE PARKING AREA
