LAKE CHAMPLAIN BRIDGE
The Lake Champlain Bridge is the only span to cross the entire width of Lake Champlain. It stretches 2,200 feet from Chimney Point on the Vermont side to Crown Point on the New York side. These two points have been occupied by humans since the glaciers and the Champlain sea retreated north gradually turning from a saltwater sea to a freshwater lake approximately 9,000 years ago. The French built and occupied a settlement at Chimney Point in 1731, moving to the Crown Point side to build Fort St. Frédéric in 1734 which they held until they were removed by the British in 1759. The British built a new fort at Crown Point only to lose it to a fire in 1773. The British were run off when confronted by Captain Seth Warner and 100 Green Mountain Boys on May 12,1775 who captured 111 cannons in the battle. Benedict Arnold later used the area as a staging ground for the Revolutionary Navy before the Battle of Valcour Island in 1776. After the naval action at Valcour Island, Arnold retreated here to Crown Point and subsequently withdrew to Ticonderoga allowing the British to occupy Crown Point until 1780 when they abandoned it completely. The fort and surrounding area were designated a National Historic Landmark in 1968.
In 1927, the joint New York-Vermont Lake Champlain Bridge Commission was formed to choose a location, approve a design and oversee construction of a bridge. They chose this location because it was a natural location for a bridge with good bedrock and a short span. The first bridge was completed in 1929 with an opening attended by over 40,000 and New York Governor Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Vermont Governor John Weeks. This bridge served the community well until it was discovered to have critical flaws during a structural inspection in October 2009. Later underwater inspections led the bridge to be closed on October 16, 2009 and it was imploded on December 28, 2009.
Loss of the bridge was a real impact to communities on both sides of the Lake. Ferries to the north and south couldn't keep up with the demand and additional ferry service was started by Lake Champlain Transportation Company in February 2010. Before the bridge even fell, a community consensus on a new design was reached in December 2009. Flatiron Construction from Colorado was awarded the contract and they began work almost immediately. They built a 1,029 foot ramp from New York and a 769 foot ramp from Vermont leading to the main 402 foot span. This 402 foot span was pre-built at Port Henry, floated in place and raised to completion. Just shy of two years later, the bridge was completed and opened for traffic on November 9, 2011.
HOW TO CLAIM A FIND ON THIS VIRTUAL GEOCACHE
Take THREE specific pictures (under the bridge, dedication plaque, lighthouse) to post with your log and submit the answer to ONE question (bolts). See details below:
1. Take a picture of yourself or your geocaching signature item from underneath the main span of the bridge with the channel lights, arch of the bridge and the Champlain Memorial Lighthouse in the background. This will require you to be nearly under the main span of the bridge and either in (a boat) or on top of the water (walking on ice). See the annotated photo in the gallery or below for the required elements. According to the geocaching guidelines, your face is not required to be in the photo.
Note: It may be possible to take the required picture by walking on the ice in winter. This is exceptionally dangerous but maybe feasible if the conditions are right. The main channel under the arch is flowing water and DOES NOT FREEZE as thoroughly as the water under the support abutments. Ice safety information is here. If the fishermen are out, it is likely safe but you make that decision at your own risk.
2. Take a second picture of yourself or your geocaching signature item on the bridge with the dedication plaque plainly visible in the background. Note the answer to task #4 while you are here.
3. Take a third picture of yourself or your geocaching signature item near the provided Lighthouse waypoint with the Champlain Memorial Lighthouse plainly visible in the background. This picture can be from the water or land but must be near the Lighthouse. If the museum at the Crown Point State Historic Site is open, the lighthouse should also be open which means you can go inside and climb the stairs to the top.
Note: During the off-season you can park at the NY waypoint parking and walk to the monument. The building to the right of the foot of the bridge is the Toll Taker's house (now a museum). You can take the trail to the right of the Toll Taker's house, go down the steps and continue to the right and up the road into the campground to the monument to avoid any fees. If you walk on the paved road into the campground when the campground is open, you may be charged day use fees for driving or walking to the waypoint if the fee station is manned. The open season is roughly mid-May to mid-Oct with day use hours 7am-9pm, the day use fee was $2 for walkers in 2025. More information is here: Crown Point Campground and Day Use Area.
4. The dedication plaque is attached to the mount by how many bolts? This is not intended to be a trick question. Message or email me the answer. No group answers.
Note: Include the three required photos in your log, do not send them to me. Each account posting a find must include the three required photos and send the answer. Logs not meeting the requirements will be deleted per the geocaching guidelines without exception.
Note: I live close to the lake and can probably see you working on this virtual. If you don't have access to a kayak, I may be available to loan you the required equipment with enough notice if our schedules align.
Virtual Rewards 4.0 - 2024-2025
This Virtual Cache is part of a limited release of Virtuals created between January 17, 2024 and January 17, 2025. Only 4,000 cache owners were given the opportunity to hide a Virtual Cache. Learn more about Virtual Rewards 4.0 on the Geocaching Blog.