The cache IS at the posted coordiantes. It is a challenge cache. You must meet certain requirments before you are allowed to log this cache online.
This challenge cache was inspired by Profbrad's Get To Know Blair County: A Challenge Cache (GC6KPXA). As a Blair County resident, I (mrGreen317) qualified for the Professor's cache a good while back, and Blair is still the county with my most finds, but I figured that Cambria needed a similar challenge.
As of the publishing of this cache 1/25/2020, Cambria County has over 620 active geocaches, about 30 more than currently active in Blair County. The 400 mark is a good challenge for Blair, and it should prove to be a similarly good challenge for Cambria, which has even a few more caches from which to choose.
To qualify for this challenge, be sure to use the provided geo-stats-checker from project-gc at the link below. As with any challenge cache, according to current geocaching.com standards, you may sign the logbook in the physical cache at any time, but to actually claim the find online, be sure to qualify with 400 finds (of any kind) within the boundaries of Cambria County before you make your online log. (The cache CO reserves the right to delete any "Found it" logs for geocachers that do not yet qualify for this cache.) You may include your current number of finds in Cambria County (project-gc's checker will tell you how many) when writing up your log if you wish. All log entries will be double-checked by the CO.
Cambria County: It seems to be the heart of JAGA* territory. With many of our JAGA members residing in Cambria or one of its neighbors, it has become the de facto center of the group's many geo-related activities. Separated from Blair and Bedford Counties to its east by the formidable Allegheny Front, Cambria sits on what is known to geologists as the "Allegheny Plateau", with some of its town's elevations well above 1000 feet higher than those towns in neighbors like Blair and Bedford. Other towns in Cambria (such as Johnstown) sit at lower elevations, down in deep, ravine-like river valleys. The topography of the county has provided many transportation-related challenges over the years, but it has also provided the opportunities for engineering marvels, such as the Pennsylvania Railroad's West Slope approach to Gallitzin and the Gallitzin tunnels themselves. Before the PRR, the Allegheny Portage Railroad's series of inclines approached the highest 'level' in the system (near Gallitzin) from the west and then descended back down the east side towards Hollidaysburg (Blair County) in an amazing fashion.
For the geocacher today, the ruggedness of the terrain in the county certainly provides ample opportunity for adventure. Some of my own favorite state game lands lie along the eastern edge of the county (and probably this has allowed me to hide more caches in Cambria than my own home county of Blair!) In addition, the impressive series of trails around Cambria County, most notably the Ghost Town Trail, provide for entire lines of geocaches, placed by area cachers, to help get those Cambria County numbers up for this challenge! With so many great caching opportunities in Cambria, it is no wonder that it has easily become my "number two" county to cache in, only surpassed in my own geocaching history within my home county.
So this challenge is for all my friends in the neighbor county to the west ("Up the Front") and for any other cachers who have already achieved this goal and most especially to encourage those who have yet to achieve this challenge to get out and enjoy all that Cambria has to offer. It should not be too much trouble to eventually get those 400 caches!
* JAGA stands for Johnstown-Altoona Geocaching Association
This cache location: The cache is located at the published coordinates (since it is a challenge cache). This location is adjacent to the Ebensburg Reservoir, a public access area (fishing allowed with license) with a few other county caches within walking distance along the reservoir trail leading from the listed parking. This cache is a fairly short 600 foot walk from the suggested parking area. This cache is also located just a quarter-mile SSW of what one source I researched claims is the geographic center of Cambria County (calculating these "centers" is an inexact and 'fuzzy' endeavor, so sources will vary). Being so close to the possible center of the county, this seemed like a good spot for this challenge cache.
Since this is a mostly wooded area, the normal precautions should be taken about plant life, including possible thorns, wild animals, and of course, ticks. The trail up from parking is a nice, mostly level trail, but in certain weather conditions it might be icy, muddy, or slippery, so use normal precautions. The distance from the trail to GZ is very short with minimal bushwhacking issues and just a slight 'up' in the terrain. This cache should be pretty physically easy for a good majority of geocachers.
This area is available to the public for fishing. Please respect those who could be in the area who may be engaged in that activity, and please adhere to all rules and regulations of the area as posted on the signs near parking. It is clearly stated that there is absolutely no trespassing on the breast of the dam. Stick to the trail towards GZ, and you will have no issues. Thank you!
Many thanks to Profbrad for the original inspiration for this cache and for his blessings to use that idea here. Also many thanks to friends within JAGA for encouragement to go forward with this challenge idea.
As always, many thanks to OddMushroom for the fantastic paint job on another "Ammo Can Masterpiece". This can was present during the JAGA Annual Event 2020, GC8GNHN. It was then labeled, stocked up, and placed after the event into a location just on the other side of Ebensburg from the event coordinates.
mrGreen317 has used "Project-GC Challenge Checker" to see if they qualified for this challenge and they did.
User has 408 finds (400 needed).Filters:( region:Pennsylvania , county:Cambria County (PA) , country:United States)
As the geocache owner, I ensure that the above link is to a local geocaching group that is active in the community and contributing to geocaching in positive ways. This link has not been checked by Geocaching HQ or by the reviewer.