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Becca, my adventurous youngest daughter, invites others of like mind and age to explore this unique area. Parents, if you’ve been thinking about turning your young ones loose to find a geocache “on their own”, here’s one that will allow you to keep a subtle eye on them from a distance as they explore a closed valley with minimal dangers. Of course everyone is welcome, but this cache is particularly suited, and stocked, for the kids.
As a founding member the Wildlife Habitat Council, United States Steel Corporation has been a strong proponent of habitat projects. Sixty, out of 500, acres at the Clairton Works Site are actively managed for wildlife (nest boxes, butterfly gardens, rotationally-mowed woodland meadows, and enhanced wetlands). A trail for the blind, and sighted, includes stairs and bridges leading to the edge of an enhanced wetlands. These wetlands, right below a waterfall, support cardinal flower, blue iris, switchgrass, and zebra rush. Various Eagle Scouts, US Steel employees, Jefferson Elementary School, local businesses, The YWCA Garden Club of McKeesport, the PTA, parents, administrators, and teachers have all come together to bring out the potential of this valley along the Monongahela River in Clairton, Pennsylvania. A LOT of work went into this area – please treat it with extra respect.
Parking is at a small pull off at the first sharp turn of Belle Bridge Road heading uphill (N 40 18.044 W 079 51.760). There is a large sign identifying the area. The old sign, small parking area, and scrappy starting steps betray the area beyond.
The steps lead up to the start of the trail. Follow it to its end - enjoy the plaques along the way. The groomed and bordered trail ends at the upper meadow. Ahead (now a grassy trail), and across another bridge, is the enhanced wetlands and waterfall. To your left is the cache. Just start following the GPS to the cache as soon as you exit the bordered trail. The cache is back in the woods to protect it from muggles and to leave various wildlife projects undisturbed, but it is still within easy sight of the meadow and bounded by a relatively narrow valley. South and east of the cache is a small creek. Between the cache and the creek are some odd remains from human doings and endeavors that are worth exploring and pondering (drilled rocks, pieces of rail line, etc.)
If the kids still need to burn off some energy, head on up Belle Bridge Road after this cache to the LBBA (Lincoln Borough Business Association) Soccer Fields (Parking at N 40 18.551 W 079 51.593) where a couple of small playgrounds are available as energy drains.
I’m sure there will be some dash and run cachers that will hit this cache. But the real winners will those who take a little time to enjoy the labors that have gone into enhancing this area.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
[Small Hint:] VA N XVQ-FVMRQ PNIR SBEZRQ BS EBPXF.
[Big Hint:] GJRAGL SRRG FR BS GUR RYRINGRQ ONFR BS N SNYYRA GERR.