Welcome to Cache Across Maryland 2025. This is one of the caches placed for the 2025 Cache Across Maryland. Each location was picked specifically to give geocachers a taste of the state and show you its beauty. By combining all ten, you'll be able to see why Maryland is truly "America in Miniature". We hope you enjoy them! You must find a minimum of ten caches prior to the picnic held on Saturday, May 31, 2025 in order to receive a free Maryland Geocaching Society CAM geocoin.
Make note of the code word found inside each cache container. You must enter all the words into an online decoder in order to print a claim form to print and submit to receive your geocoin at the picnic, as well as your CAM certificate. More info on CAM is available HERE.
Soldiers Delight Natural Environment Area
May 11, 2025 - Due to some ranger problems, the final location was removed from Soldiers Delight. To find the final, see below.
Hours: 9 AM to Sunset
Visitors Center: Weekends: 11 AM to 3 PM
No fee required
Soldiers Delight Natural Environment Area (NEA) is comprised of 1,900 acres of serpentine barren. The area has over 39 rare, threatened, or endangered plant species as well as rare insects, rocks and minerals. There are seven miles of marked hiking trails. Equestrians and cyclists are prohibited due to the sensitive nature of the area.
Rare grassland plant species are threatened by invasion of Virginia Pines. Currently, a five-year effort of removing 1,000 acres of pines and prescribed burning is underway to return the area to natural serpentine habitat.
Sunny days on the Serpentine Barren raise the temperature of the trail beyond that of the air. Hiking at Soldiers Delight NEA is not recommended during periods of extreme heat. Heat related illness and dehydration can and have occurred. Hiking with your pet without protected paws risks serious burns and evacuation on sensitive, protected ground. On June 22, 2024, the air temperature was 98*F and the surface of the trail was 132*F. Please recreate responsibly in this rare ecosystem and visit on cooler, cloudy days or early in the morning after sunrise.
Want to walk on the bottom of the ocean through a sea of prairie-like grassland and oak savanna in western Baltimore County? Go to Soldiers Delight – the largest remaining serpentine ecosystem in the eastern United States. Serpentine ecosystems are underlain by serpentinite, an oceanic rock which produces shallow soils, susceptible to erosion, with very high levels of magnesium and very low levels of essential nutrients. Despite these harsh growing conditions, many plant and animal species can be seen in the oak savannas and seemingly barren grasslands of Soldiers Delight. These species include colorful asters, prairie grasses, dragonflies, and butterflies. A network of trails crosses through the Natural Area, allowing visitors to see mixtures of these prairie grasses and wildflowers utilized by grassland birds. Due to the unusual abundance of rare and endangered species, it is important for visitors and their pets to stay on the trails.
At European settlement, over 100,000 acres in Maryland were covered with the serpentine savanna ecosystem. William Bose Marye, one of our renowned historians, learned that the settlers referred to the serpentine areas as the "Great Maryland Barrens" because they were large and "bare" of harvestable timber. Tree species were present, but they were often "gnarled and stunted oaks which dotted the landscape." Today, this ecosystem in Maryland has been reduced to about 2,000 acres, almost all of which occurs in Soldiers Delight Natural Environment Area, managed by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.
The endangered ecosystem at Soldiers Delight wasn't always treasured by everyone. At one time, many parts of the area served as dumping grounds for household waste, and scars from motorcycle and horseback riding can still be seen over much of the terrain. A small group of friends formed a grassroots committee in 1959 to forever protect Soldiers Delight. "It all started with 'here's this great natural area, it's very unusual, and it ought to be saved…' " said Jean Worthley who, with husband Elmer and friends William and Frances Fastie, led the way. The creation of Soldiers Delight Conservation Inc. (SDCI) in 1965 allowed Florence Rogers, James Poultney, Mary Lewis and others to boost the effort. Starting with $1 donations from shoppers at local supermarkets, land acquisition began in 1970 thanks in large part to Delegate Richard Rynd of Baltimore County. Now, more than half of a century later, almost 2,000 acres are under the stewardship of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources with continued guidance from SDCI.
The final is at N39 25.ABC, W076 50.XYZ
When the Tyson family's estate was settled in 1906, how many acres did Dolfield and Sherwood purchase? Take this number and subtract 42. This three digit number is ABC.
What year of Stoddard Dayton touring car did John Buxton, Jr have? Take the last three digits of this number and subtract 375. This three digit number is XYZ.
The final is at N 39 25.ABC W 076 50.XYZ. You will need to drive to the final. Please do not park in the reserved Enterprise Reserved Spaces.
You can validate your puzzle solution with
certitude.
