In Search of Mysterious Unsolved Ancient Mysteries #21
Hey- Who doesn’t love a great mystery? We’re all into caching, after all and some of us grew up (and are growing old) on TV shows, movies and websites that encourage us to question reality and provide answers like “There’s more to the story” and “Things are NOT what they seem”. While there’s no shortage of LPCs and PBNs on traffic signs - which are great when you just need to grab a cache, it’s worth noting that the world remains full of places and things that just defy common theory and conjecture. So, strap on your tinfoil hats and hone your caching skills. That’s the signpost up ahead...
The Background:
One of the more intriguing characters of recent American folklore is the so-called "Mothman", which reportedly appeared near Point Pleasant, West Virginia on several occasions between November 15th and December 15th, 1967.
The first sighting was made by two young couples who reported to police that they saw a large black creature with glowing red eyes on the side of the road near a former munitions plant. It was described as a slender but muscular man, about 7 feet tall, with wings. The couples were not able to describe the creature's face, citing the hypnotizing nature of the glowing eyes. As the frightened group sped away, they alleged that the creature flew after them, making screeching sounds until they reached the city limits of Point Pleasant.
Other sightings followed over the next few weeks and, although the usual descriptions were similar to a large bird, the term "Mothman" became associated with the creature. This may be due to the fact that the television show Batman was the rage at the time and the assocaited comics (not the show itself) featured the villain "Killer Moth".
Remember: Always be yourself, unless you can be Batman- then always be Batman.. or one of his villains.
The story took an even more ominous turn on December 15th- one month to the day after the first sighting- when the Silver Bridge, which crossed the Ohio River at Point Pleasant, collapsed, resulting in the death of 46 people. Being that the "Mothman" story was still in the local press, linking the sightings to the tragedy was inevitable.
This, along with claims that local residents had premonitions of the bridge collapse (and other incidents of high strangeness), would form the premise for John Keel's 1975 book The Mothman Prophecies, and the 2002 movie of the same name.
So, what exactly was the Mothman?
One theory of a (rather less than "super"-) natural source is that the creature encountered was really a Sandhill Crane, a species which was not normally seen in the area, that became disoriented while migrating, and that there was no small amount of embellishment in the chase aspect of the story.
Here is an image of a Sandhill Crane that was taken recently at Kensington Metropark. They did not screech, chase or make any threatening moves.
But what fun is there to be had in embellished birdwatching stories?
Still, the legend lives on in folklore and among paranormal circles. It has also spawned a Mothman Museum and Research Center and an annual Mothman Festival, which brings thousands of visitors to Point Pleasant every September.
Here's the statue of the Mothman near the museum (yes, there is a Geocache there).
For this Cache:
The cache is located in a wooded section adjacent to an industrial park area. Parking is best from the lots on the west. You are looking for a .50 calliber ammo box wherein you will meet the Mothman. Please bring your own writing utensil and leave the Mothman there so that future cachers may enjoy his company.
Good Luck and Happy Caching!