Tubetops on the Tanbark Traditional Cache
kcepenn: This cache has been relocated to comply with US Forest Service policy and converted into several new caches. Try the Tanbark Wildlife series of caches if you enjoy a great hike.
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Another traditional cache on the Tanbark Trail.
Sorry fellas, not those kind of tubetops. This is another nice hike along the Tanbark Trail. This is our third in the Tanbark series of caches.
You'll notice a couple of things in particular along this section of trail. You see this beautiful park-like forest. You'll see some bigger trees with a lot of open space between them and under them. We've been taught to like this. But in fact this is not a healthy forest. A healthy forest has all kinds of brush, herbs, and tree seedlings growing under the bigger trees. A variety of layers for a variety of wildlife. Vegetation thick enough that it would be hard to walk or see through. Not only does that "understory" provide a lot of habitat for wildlife, it is also the source of any future forest. If we were to cut the timber off now, there would be very poor regrowth.
There are two reasons for this. One is that there are so many deer that any seedlings that sprout get eaten by deer before they have a chance to grow into trees. You'll see these tube things sticking up all over on the first part of the trail. This is an experiment by the US Forest Service who is responsible for managing the Allegheny National Forest. There is a good reason for the tube. They are tree protectors. They keep the deer from eating off the trees before they get a chance to get tall enough to survive. There is very poor regeneration of oaks in the Forest and the Forest Service is trying to give the oaks a chance to get above the deer.
You'll notice something else. You do see some ground cover: ferns. That's not so bad, right? Well, ferns are beautiful and play a part in the forest, but when they become well established, they prevent other vegetation from growing. They exude chemicals that keep other plants from sprouting or growing. So all those areas with all the ferns will not develop an understory without some type of disturbance to the ferns. The Forest Service has a very big job ahead of them: figuring out how to keep the forest healthy!!
Despite the problems with the Forest, the hike is still beautiful. Enjoy yourself! You're looking for a 30 cal. ammo box. There is Neo Geodog # 87 in it. The hike is pretty easy except for the first steep bank along the road. It's about .75 mile one way. There are a couple of places where there are rocks under the grass. Wear sturdy shoes. This cache is best accessed from the tanbark trailhead where the trail crosses State Route 337 near Sandstone Springs. Enjoy the hike and search for the cache.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
orgjrra gjb snyyra gerrf.