Shaft 4 Traditional Cache
Doghair Duo: This cache has been archived
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(regular)
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In the early 1900s the Catskill Aqueduct was built to carry water 100 miles from Ashokan Dam to New York City. Constructing this project was said to present engineering obstacles as great as those at the Panama Canal. Much of the aqueduct was "cut and cover" but here, where the 15' diameter tunnel plunged below the Wallkill River before resuming its trip under the Hudson at Storm King, the aqueduct is 354' below ground, and the shale you see was all brought out of this shaft. As many as 1600 workers were employed in this general area. Tunneling was dangerous, and at this shaft three men, let down in a bucket, were killed when their bucket fell. The workers included Italians, Russians, Croats, and American-born blacks. Today this water continues to quench the thirst of NYC residents.Shaft 4 is owned by NYC, but the "shale quarry" is on private land (ours). We like to ponder what it was like for those young men camped here almost a century ago. You can see the aqueduct from many places- try the corner up the road for a view of the mountains as well- but the DEP has closed it for walking. The shale "quarry" is easily accessible by a Gardiner town road to a point where there is a drive (shale, of course) with a chain across it. You may park right there; be sure not to park in front of the NYC Water Supply gate next to it. Since it is only a short, level walk to the site we will not tell you much! The cache is an ammo container; the contents are a log, pencil, pen, Mike Oldfield CD, hunk of Snowflake Obsidian, small Chinese box, top, jumping frog, gold dollar, purple mouse, a cute dog pin, and a malachite bracelet from South Africa.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
thneqrq ol n fbyvgnel guvat bs fcyraqbe
Treasures
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