In
Ralph Nading Hill's book, "The Winooski, Heartway of
Vermont", an anecdote is told about one of Vermont's
founding fathers, Ira
Allen (Ethan's brother):
"On one of Ira's Onion (Winooski) River surveying trips he came
with a group of men to the Narrows, whose precipitous cliffs were
among those he had previously described as "hedious." They ate
lunch on the high ledge above the Falls. Afterwards someone
proposed that as a test of nerves each of the group try to stand on
the edge and look straight down at the river. A dozen men tried it,
all weakening and glad to withdraw from such a shattering
experience. Ira got up, walked to the edge, placed his toes an inch
or two over it, looked straight down into the water with no sign of
fear or hesitation- then after several moments turned and strode
back. Since that day the cliff at that part of Bolton Narrows has
been known as Allen's Rock."
Translation: Ira Allen was no chicken. The turkeys he was
with didn't have the moxie to ignore their goose bumps and stare
down that daunting cliff into the Falls, but Ira Allen was a rare
bird. In honor of Ira Allen and his refusal to duck the
peril, and in honor of the mighty torrent below, we have placed
this cache high atop his namesake rock, and called it "Poultry in
Motion".
If you are having trouble figuring out how to reach this
cache, the key is to be on the south side of the Winooski River.
Try taking Duxbury Road east from Richmond, Vermont until you reach
the short bridge across the railroad tracks at the DeForge
Hydroelectric Generating Plant. There is a public park and boat
portage with plenty of parking.
*** Adopted by Tharagleb on 7/6/2007 from Otter and Lemur
***