GCT06M River of Grass (Traditional Cache) in Florida, United States created by Clan Riffster

This cache has been archived.

Survivor Sean: I am finished caching so I am picking this up and making space for whoever wants to pick up my slack.

GCT06M ▼

A cache by Clan Riffster Message this owner

Hidden : 1/13/2006

Difficulty:

Terrain:

Size: Size: regular (regular)

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Geocache Description:

Welcome back to the Kratzert Tract of the Lake Monroe Conservation Area. You seek an ammo can at the posted location. No obtuse puzzles involved, just go get it!

Back in Junior High, my sister made me read a book which was written in 1947 by Marjory Stoneman Douglas, called "River of Grass", in which Marjory called for the preservation of the Everglades. If I had to reflect back on my life, and what single event led me to have such passion for Florida swamps, I think that reading this book was it. I highly recommend it.

Years later, she bought me a book called "Seeing the Light", a photographic biology of Clyde Butcher, which galvanized my love for all things swampy. Clyde has been taking black & white photos of the Everglades longer than some of us have been alive. For those of you that don't know his work, in my oh so humble opinion, he puts Ansel Adams to shame. Do a Google search and see if you don't agree.

Although the ecosystem surrounding this cache is very different from the Everglades, it never fails to bring it to mind, especially at sunset and sunrise. The sights, the sounds and the smells all conspire to make me remember my trips down south of Gator Alley. This cache is my way of sharing those memories with you.

To hunt this cache will require either a boat, a lot of bushwhacking, or a long hike. You pick. If you come by boat, and it's got a shallow draft, you can beach it near N28* 49.704, W081* 13.381, slosh through a bit of shin deep water, and hike less than 1000' to the cache. Otherwise, you gotta park at the designated parking area on Reed Ellis Rd, N28* 49.921 W081* 11.497 and hoof it. From there, you can either, bushwhack just over a mile to the river prairie, (which is much easier if you follow game trails), then follow your arrow another half mile or so to the cache, or, you can follow the fenceline southeast, hugging the treeline as it curves south, till you locate a trail at N28* 48.994 W081* 11.368. Follow this trail southwest to the prairie, then follow your arrow to the cache. This route is just over 3.5 miles, one way. I've done the first two, but I'm too old & fat to attempt the third route.

The St. John's River Water Management District issued me a special permit for the placement of this cache, and they've warned me that should any cacher attempt to shorten their hike to this cache by parking on 415 and hopping the fence, I'll lose my permit. Please don't do it.

For those of you that like hunting Benchmarks, you'll likely pass close to AK6580, perportedly located at N 28° 49.264 W 081° 11.612. Don't know 'bout all that, but I did find a couple white & red posts with Benchmark Waypoint decals on them near N28* 49.136 W081* 12.773. Maybe you could snag a benchmark on your way out here?

FTF prize is a 1958 Belgium Silver 50 Francs coin. Please hide it as well as you found it. As you walk along the prairie, you'll see a string of small white SJRWMD signs, denoting the border for the property. Hunting is legal on the prairie between the signs and the St John's River, so use appropriate care.

The cache is tethered to keep it from floating away during flood season. Please take the time to hide the cache and the tether.

Good luck!

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Cbxr nebhaq jvgu lbhe jnyxvat fgvpx orsber ernpuvat va gurer! Ebhtuyl 10' AAJ bs lbhat pnoontr cnyz.

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)