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Hells Gateway Caves Traditional Cache

Hidden : 11/23/2003
Difficulty:
2 out of 5
Terrain:
4 out of 5

Size: Size:   regular (regular)

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Geocache Description:

If you have driven the highway #101 between Windsor and Halifax you have probably noticed some interesting White cliffs near St. Croix. This cache is near the white Gypsum cliffs. The container is a large metal coffee can, nestled in a hole at the base of a tree. Less than 1/2 KM from parking area near the bridge.

NOTE: 2007Sept - The cache has bee relocated from it's original location, because of the clear cutting in the area.

I have rated this cache quite difficult, because of the potental danger to the the un-informed. The trail to get to the cache is not so dangerous, and takes you through an area where you will see hundreds of rock sink-holes (gateway's to hell?), which are a clue of the potential danger in the CAVES AREA just past the cache. The main entrance to two large caves is: N44 59.243 W064 02.098 Unfortunately this is probably impassable now because of the clear cutting and the tree debris that is now in the hold.
There are several large and deep sinkhole "wells" that are probably about 50 feet deep (see photos). These could be very dangerous for small children or pets, or if it is slippery on the ground. You don't really need any cave lights or equipment to see the entrance area of the caves, but be EXTREMELY CAREFUL not to TOUCH or remove any rocks if you decide to go deeper. A small flashlight might be handy, but the main cavern is well lit from the sky-light of the 50' wells. The rocks inside can fall without warning (and you can see many that have), so a small nudge might be catostrophic. See photos. There is a small underground stream running through one side of the cave (river Styx in Hades?) See photo.
I think that the sinkholes are from many such collapses over time.

There is a small roadway at the bridge where you can park (N44 59.255 W064 02.411), then a short walk along the dyke to the face of the white cliffs. A short but steep climb up the face of the cliff (there is a rough path to follow there). There is a rough trail along the top face of the cliffs (see photos), but the path to the GeoCache and Caves is straight through the woods. There is no bushwhacking required, but the terrain is very up and down (even for a mountain bike).

PS: If you are into cave exploring, there is a nice "safer" cache I recently discovered in the Sussex, NB area. Search for Geocache: GCH6C7

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Va gur obggbz bs n ubyybj gerr gehax.

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)