Dead Man’s Tower Cache Traditional Cache
drossdross: Sadly, Mother Nature has taken her toll on this cache. The landmark of decades that this cache was hidden inside (a towering hollow stump easily large enough to stand up in and over 20' tall) as fallen into the creek. At one point it burnt inside (some say kids, some say lightning). So techcnically it burn, fell over, and is starting to sink into the swamp . . . .
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(regular)
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The conservation group Allegheny Land Trust purchased the area known as Dead Man’s Hollow. There’s no clear story on how this area got its ominous name. Dead Mans Hollow Trail is the best maintained, and least strenuous, trail in the area. A lesser trail continues beyond the official trail’s loop ending. This cache is easily accessed via this secondary trail. The difficulty rating includes an extra star for total distance.
Dead Mans Hollow Trail branches WSW off the Youghiogheny River Trail (a biking and hiking trail on an old railroad grade). It’s a very nice trail that ends in a loop. Dead Mans Hollow Trail is the best maintained, and least strenuous, trail in the area. The official trail ends in a loop. A lesser trail continues upstream. Several other trails lead to Dead Mans Hollow Trail and offer alternate access: the strenuous Witch Hazel Trail starting from the Calhoun Access Area, a moderate difficulty Black Oak Trail starting from the Orchard Street Access, and a number of unnamed lesser trails that are beaten clear by the locals (some of these are impassible after a rain). All trails are continuously open, but much easier dry and in the light. An obvious way to approach this cache is to park at the Boston Access Area to the Youghiogheny River Trail (which is adjacent to the Boston Bridge and has tons of parking). Then hike the Youghiogheny River Trail to the Dead Man’s Hollow Trail. Then follow the Dead Man’s Hollow Trail to its official loop end and head even further upstream. Cross Dead Man’s Run, a shallow creek, many times. Finally, find the cache. Traveling south on Route 48, you reach the Boston Access to the Youghiogheny River Trail by making a hard right immediately after crossing the Boston Bridge (the Route 48 bridge across the Youghiogheny River). Make the first right (a short block further). The parking is obvious after you cross the trail (another short block further). Traveling north on Route 48, make the left just before the Boston Bridge and then a quick right. A word of warning if you are using USGS topo maps (like those available via TopoZone): The roads shown in the area are severely out of date. A couple shown roads don’t exist and one primary road isn’t even on the map near the Calhoun Access Area.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
[Small Hint:] FRR GUR OVT GERR?
[Big Hint:] OYBPXRQ CNGU? SBYYBJ GUR OYBPX GB VGF FBHEPR.