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The Top of Connecticut Multi-Cache

Hidden : 7/4/2005
Difficulty:
2.5 out of 5
Terrain:
3 out of 5

Size: Size:   regular (regular)

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Geocache Description:

The highest point in Connecticut, located on the southern slope of Mount Frissel.

This one will take a bit of hiking to reach. There is long way that isn't terribly steep, and a short way that gives steep a bad name. Of course, there's always bushwacking, but the laurel is so thick that this is too much work to even contemplate.
The long way: park at N42* 02.037 W073*28.312. Follow the gated road NW to the NY state line, where you will see a somewhat overgrown trail heading due north, marked by a small cairn. Follow this trail until you come to the tri-state (MA/NY/CT) granite monument at the junction with a red blazed trail. Follow that trail east to the highpoint mark.
The shorter but harder way: park near N42*02.996 W73*28.020, which is the trailhead for the red blazed trail to the cache. You can make a loop hike using both trails using Washington road to return to your car if you like.

Once you arrive at the coordinates you will see the "green stake" that marks the location of the highest point in Connecticut. Surrounding the stake is a plate with letters and numbers. To calculate the location of the final cache, use the two numbers on the plate:

Number 1 = "abcd" Number 2 = "wxyz"

Answer #1 = d + z
Answer #2 = c + y

The final cache is located at N42 03.[#2]62 W73 28.[#1]48.

For detailed info on this area, try this website:
(visit link)

As a bonus, if you visit this cache near the end of July or early August, you will be treated to a bumper crop of wild blueberries along the summit trails.
There is a viewpoint roughly 200 feet east of the initial cache site. If you continue east past this overlook on the red blazed trail you will come to the highpoint log box at N42*03.075 W73*28.916.

This is a replacement for the twice-missing original Top Of Connecticut cache. A new cache so past finders have another reason to visit.

WINTER INFO: Connecticut does not plow its section of Washington Road, and the road is barricaded, so even a 4x4 won't help. This forces you to park at the coordinates for the "steep" approach. This trail is much more difficult in winter, and it doesn't see a lot of traffic, so it's usually slow going. The cache is located at ground level, so any snow or ice cover will completely hide its location. Snowshoes are handy if there has been significant extended snowfall. We hiked it in late December 2002 and the exposed steep parts were thoroughly iced over. Please don't try this one unless you have prior winter hiking experience.

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Ybbx haqre ebpxf va Znffnpuhfrggf.

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)