Mac Sammons' Tea Table Traditional Cache
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(regular)
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The cache is located on Highway 1690, which runs from Highway 645 on its southern end and Highway 644 on the northern end. Highway 645 intersects U S 23 near the Johnson County, Lawrence County line. Highway 644 intersects Highway 2565, which intersects US 23 at its northern and southern terminus. The hike covers .6 miles each way, 1.2 miles total and includes one steep incline and several lesser slopes. No heavy brush, clear trail but may be muddy in points.
This cache is located in an area of Lawrence County, Kentucky known as Summit. This is truly the summit for this region and the water from one side of the hill goes into Griffith Creek, the other side emptying into Three Mile Creek. Before the age of school consolidation, every little community in the county had: a country store, at least one community church and a one-room schoolhouse. In this little excursion you will get a dose of all three as well as a nice 1.2 mile round trip hike and a change in elevation of about 300 feet.You should park at: N38 02.261 W82 35.444 This is the parking lot of M. C. Sammons General Store. This store served the community for 80 years, closing in 1987. The stone building was built in the 1940’s the frame building next door was built between 1907 and 1912.Look northeast at: N38 02.292 W82 35.437 This is the Emily Northup Missionary Baptist Church, named for a lady in the family of Colonel Northup who operated mines in the Peach Orchard area and built the Chatteroi Railroad to ship his coal out.Now begin walking toward the trailhead located at: N38 02.118 W82 35.381.Along the way you can visit the site of the last operating one room schoolhouse in Lawrence County, the Summit School, at: N38 02.177 W82 35.376 I attended this school for three years in the 1960’s and it was open through the middle to late 1970’s. The school is gone but the site and the foundation stones are readily observed.Next is the trail that begins at the previously indicated coordinates. This trail is a combination of 4-wheeler trails and old logging roads. With the exception of the first steep incline, it is an easy to moderate hike.On your hike you might want to check out the old cemetery at: N38 02.018 W82 35.497 My great grandfather and several other family members are buried here. Depending on the time of year that you visit, it may be cleared or rather overgrown. Please show due respect.Now for the final leg to Mac Sammons’ Tea Table at: N38 02.094 W82 35.617 This is the pinnacle of your hike. Look for initials carved in the stone as well as a patch of stone under the formation that turned red from a campfire we built over 20 years ago. If you have your cell phone with you, you should have nearly perfect reception at this spot.You are now about 10 yards from the cache.The cache is located at: N38 02.100 W82 35.617I hope you will enjoy this area as much as I enjoyed growing up here.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Pnpur vf ybpngrq ng gur sbbg bs gur gjvaf. Bar fgnaqf gnyy, gur bgure yvrf ybj.