GCZZ82 Lake Gitche Gumee (Traditional Cache) in Massachusetts, United States created by Rexrider98

This cache has been archived.

Rexrider98: After more than 13 years, it's time to return this little place entirely to nature. 51 cachers visited, most in the first several years, and hardly any after that. The last cacher was almost a year ago, with the one before that almost a year and a half earlier. One page in the log spanned more than 3 years. So, it's time. Glad so many deep woods cachers found and enjoyed this spot. Thanks for visiting Lake Gitche Gumee.
Rexrider98, cache owner

GCZZ82 ▼

A cache by Rexrider98 Message this owner

Hidden : 12/24/2006

Difficulty:

Terrain:

Size: Size: regular (regular)

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Geocache Description:

By the shores of Gitche Gumee,
By the shining Big-Sea-Water,
Stood the wigwam of Nokomis,
Daughter of the Moon, Nokomis.
Dark behind it rose the forest,
Rose the black and gloomy pine-trees,
Rose the firs with cones upon them...

(from “The Song of Hiawatha” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, 1855)

Fair Nokomis speaks her warning
To cachers young and cachers old:
Steep hill climbs and much bushwhacking
Need ye to this cache behold…

(from Rexrider98, 2006)

Lake Gitche Gumee cache is located in Lufkin’s Brook Conservation Area, a fairly large but little-used area owned by the Town of Georgetown. It encompasses lowland flats, overgrown fields, swamps, beaver and other ponds, creeks, steep ridges, and deep pine and hardwood forests. Most people zip right by on Route 133 and don’t even know it’s there. There are some trails, but many are overgrown due to lack of use; even larger tracts of the woods are trail-less. Lufkin's Brook, a tributary of the Parker River to the N, flows through the central lowlands. Some areas closest to 133 used to be gravel pits, but dense overgrowth hides that now; only occasional overgrown piles of rock and slag belie that history. In fact, these lowland areas are remarkable demonstrations of how nature can recapture what man has decimated. To the N and E of the lowlands, a ridge rises steeply into deep and forgotten woods. Lake Gitche Gumee* is one of those forgotten places. You may have to work to get there, but I think you'll agree it's worth it. It’s a very pretty little lake, lost to the world.

*Note: As far as I know, this little lake was unnamed until I christened it Lake Gitche Gumee on Christmas Eve, 2006, while setting up this cache. Should anyone else come up with an official name, they will be summarily overruled.

Two parking options are listed below. The S option (GITCHS) is right off Route 133, about 100-200’ E of the Georgetown VFW parking area, marked by the Lufkin Brook Conservation Area sign (badly in need of painting; look for a break in the guardrail just past the VFW). The pull-in is a one-car-only place about 50’ down a small rutted dirt road. You’ll need to do a multipoint turn-around at the end, since you won’t want to back out onto busy 133. The turn-around is do-able though, although very tight, and the grass grows pretty tall in between the tire ruts in the summer. You may be tempted to park at the VFW but I can't recommend that here; do this at your own risk. All in all, the S option is OK but not ideal. See next paragraph.

The N option (GITCHN) is on West Street, and has more, better and safer parking. Plus, if you’re lucky you’ll also see the ducks in the Parker River marshlands across the road. The flipside is that from this trailhead you have to find the Lufkin's Brook crossing where it connects 2 massive beaver swamps. This is not hard, however. All in all, I recommend the N option over the one on 133. (Note to bushwhackers: consider bushwhacking the entire way in by entering the woods at the "red fire hydrant trailhead" 250' up the road across the bridge from GITCHN parking; see waypoint with description below)

WARNING: Please be careful during hunting season. I don't know if hunting is allowed here, but I saw some evidence of it so it's best to assume it is. See page 8 at (visit link) for MA hunting dates. Supposedly there is never hunting on Sundays. If you go out during hunting season, wear bright colors and make some noise; you may not endear yourselves to hunters but you might avoid getting shot.

Finally, the cache is an ammo box. Have fun.

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Oruvaq ynetr snyyra gerr arne AR pbeare bs ynxr; nobhg 25’ RAR bs Abxbzvf' pnzcsver evat

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)

This cache has been archived.

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Lake Gitche Gumee Traditional Cache

This cache has been archived.

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