This elongated hill in Fleming Glen has a stand of “witch trees”. The drumlin affords a good view of the Northwest Arm.
The Jack Pine is native to Nova Scotia and settlers gave it the name “witch tree”. Jack Pine can survive in very poor soil, and the tree was blamed for poisoning the area because crops would not grow near them. It was even blamed for infertility in women and livestock. Jack Pine is also prone to develop a shape in which the limbs (or whole tree) come to resemble a witch’s broom. Moreover, the species is resistant to burning. It was often first to take over after fires because the tight, closed cones can survive intense heat. At the cache location, look for several evergreens with twinned needles and characteristic curved cones.
There is a gravel walking path around the hill called the Loop Trail. You need to find one of the three short paths that will take you up to a clearing at the top of the hill. Beware! There are several routes which will not get you there and you should backtrack and try again if this happens. The spirits here are harsh on bushwhackers, placing rock faces and fallen trees in your path. Even on the correct path caution is required: there is a steep drop at the viewpoint!
The cache is a plastic container close to the ground. May be hard to find if there is a lot of snow.
There are several parking lots just down the road from the cache location. This area is closed after dark and the trails are very slippery in the winter.