Cache of the Buckongehanon
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(regular)
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A good hike over the fields and through the woods, up a hill that gets steep in places. Cachers have permission to fish in the pond. Located near the end of the ridge overlooking Buckhannon.
This cache is on private property, less than a ½ mile hike from parking spot. Easy to get to from US Rt. 33 in Buckhannon - Follow the Hall Road to EvUnBreth Acres Road. Hike is across mown field and through the woods (very few briars, shorts are OK), and nothing is level.
The Cache of the Buckongehanon is inspired by the book, The Scout of the Buckongehanon by J.C. McWhorter, a semi-true story set on these very hills. The cache location evokes this passage from the preface of that book:
"But, despite its attending danger, to be alone in the somber depths of a "forest primeval," beneath the towering giants, where nature whispers to one's innermost self, and where swishing boughs and rustling leaves mingling with the golden songs of the veery and the wood-thrush strike vibrant notes upon the harp-strings of the soul until it is filled with reverence and thrilled with a rapturous, lilting joy, makes one sense a subtle Presence known by no better name than the 'Great Spirit.'"
"Buckongehanon" is the name of the river that flows through a slow bend bearing 180 degrees from the cache, and also the general area, the favorite hunting grounds of Buckongahelas, head chief of the Delaware Indians, whose son was killed by Captain William White of Bush's fort, the location of which bears about 100 degrees in what is now Heavener Cemetery. Captain White was himself killed by Buckongahelas on the slope of Indian Knob, the hill with the city water tower that bears about 120 degrees from the cache. At the cache, you are in the midst of the history made famous by the book.
In the summer, the vista is nothing but cool green leaves, and in winter, you have a view of Buckhannon and the surrounding area.
This cache is on private property; cachers are welcome provided they pack out their trash and don't block the driveway. For the best hike, park at the end of or along the long gravel driveway (Box 12) at N 39-00.346 W 80-13.445 and walk across the field to the trailhead at N 39-00.358 W 80.13-592 (stay south of the driveway. Bring a fishing pole if you'd like to fish in the pond. At the trailhead, enter the woods and make your way over the game trails to the cache, it's not a bad hike but not flat either. Alternately, park at the bottom of EvUnBreth Acres Road near the underpass. During hunting season, it would be advisable to wear blaze orange.
Once you enter the woods at the trail head, head up the hill to the left of the barn, but to avoid briars, don't go back out of the woods into the unmown field. I've made some trail improvements and blazed a few trees on the way up. Note, it's not a park so don't expect well-groomed trails.
There's a benchmark nearby, the "Martin" mark, which may reached by mostly following the gas line right of way that passes just west of the cache on the other side of the ridge; benchmark is at N 39-00.732 W80-13.73. About a half mile away.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
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