Into the Earth's Crust Traditional Cache
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(regular)
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Located on NW end of Mt. Toby in Sunderland off Rt 47. Vigorous hike up to geological oddities and cave exploration.
This is my 25th Geocache!!
Be -very- cautious bringing kids here - I would suggest maybe not bringing them on this one. Sorry. One slip in certain places and you'd be hurtin pretty bad.
If you're up to a really scenic hike up to a local cave, then you're in for an adventure! This place is sorta hard to find so make sure to use the waypoints I provided to insure you follow the correct way up. Use the waypoints to find the correct trail up. Hiking boots with good tread and ankle support suggested. Fallen leaves may make the trails slippery. It is an unmarked trail so it's tricky.
Very scenic and rocky area of Mt. Toby. Not visited often. Ropes not required to enter cave, just flashlights or lantern. Please Be respectful of the cave and the bats. Bats shouldn't be disturbed if they are hibernating. They do fly around and hang on the walls here. It may get wet and icy in the winter, therefore the name "Sunderland Ice Caves". An ancient landslide glued the rocks together here forming "puddingstone" then erosion resulted in huge blocks falling out. Candles can be used in the cave as well. There is a 90' scenic ravine nearby up above the second cave entrance. Bring a camera!
This is a moderately strenuous hike up a rocky faint trail requiring good GPS skills to locate waypoints in a route.
I parked at an empty spot at a housing complex off route 47 at: N42 30.096 x W72 32.425.
Find the trail entrance into the woods at the corner of the white building at: N42 30.068 x W72 32.403.
Hike south along the base of cliffs to intersect path leading up at: N42 29.989 x W72 32.485.
Follow this steep trail leading up through the trees and along ridge. Don't try to break off the path too soon before you get to the cliffs. When you see a fork in the path, take the high road up to the cliff base, not the low way. Take a break at the large overhangs you will soon reach. This trail can be very dangerous when frozen or iced over. Ice crampons suggested when snowy or frozen in winter - therefore the higher difficulty rating. Easier hiking during warmer months. Frozen waterfalls form where melted water drips out of the cliffs.
Follow path along parallel to cliffs to cave entrance at : N42 30.015 x W72 32.341.
Be careful at the cache site; use handholds and watch footings very carefully. You may need to look around for a bit on this one. This cache hide is not easy; I intended it to be a good challenge. If you've been to my other caches then keep in mind where I have hidden things before. I could not put this site where it could be found accidently and plundered but it is not impossible and you do not need ropes or anything fancy to find it, just perseverance.
If you decide to go into the cave bring plenty of bright lighting. There are rooms to explore inside and it is not hazardous if you use your common sense. Expect scrambling on all fours, dirt, tight spaces, etc.. Conditions are usually wet and in winter large ice formations freeze inside the cave, hence the name.
Please pack out any trash you bring in. You may see wild turkeys, grouse, pheasant or some deer. Many colorful mosses and lichens on the rock faces. Don't wait too long in the season to try this cache- it gets much harder to get up there when the winter settles in.
Good luck!
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
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