Leatherman's Circuit - Southeast Middletown Traditional Geocache
Leatherman's Circuit - Southeast Middletown
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(regular)
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This journey is part of a cache series commemorating the travels of Leatherman in the late 1800s. This cache is located in Southeast Middletown at the Rockpile Cave.
Leatherman once roamed SW Connecticut and SE New York from 1858 to 1889. He traveled a 365-mile loop between the Connecticut and Hudson rivers. Approximately every month he would repeat his journey. The man spoke primarily with grunts or gestures and dressed in crudely stitched leather from his hat to his shoes. The suit was made of soft-tanned calfskin leather and weighed about sixty pounds. He would sleep outside year-round mostly in caves around Connecticut and New York. More information on Leatherman can be found at:
(visit link)
The book, “History Repeated” by Bertram Smith identifies this cave as a Leatherman site. It refers to the cave as “Hanging Rock”.
“ Now Leroy Foote, the great follower of Leatherman lore, has declared this to be the largest of all the Leatherman caves or hideouts.”
“As was his usual practice, near the junction of two nearby roads, stands the Johnson place. The source of food for each stay at the Hanging Rocks cave.
Apparently the residents from the hospital kept the area clear and also had stoned up the opening on the West side which kept out the cold winds. To show how large the cave was, there are three fire places inside the Cave, so that with a hemlock bough bed placed in back of one of these fire places, it might have been a really comfortable spot on a cold Winter’s night.”
As we know, not everything printed about the Leatherman is true! This cave MAY be a Leatherman site. If additional research by The Researcher turns up anything else about the Southeast Middletown site, I will be sure to amend this cache page.
At the intersection of Reservoir Road and Cedar, there is a sign that says “No Trespassing”. This pertains only to the reservoir. Reservoir Road is a public road and you have the right to travel on it. DO NOT fish, swim or otherwise enter the reservoir. IF THE GATE IS CLOSED, YOU WILL HAVE TO GO DOWN THE ROAD ABOUT A HALF MILE AND PARK AT THE GATE. Take some waypoints, there is a maze of trails in there.
Parking and trailheads:
If it is a busy weekend, you can park out at the intersection of Reservoir Road and Cedar: 41’ 32.633 72’ 36.347
Otherwise, travel down Reservoir Road to 41’ 32.548 72’ 36.129 You will find parking spots in an around these coordinates. Pull off the road and find the blue-blazed trail.
What you are in for: a nice hike, crossing of a stream, some steep terrain, nice views of the countryside and the exploration of a cave.
If the terrain is putting you off, find the trailhead at 41’ 32.559 72’ 35.981 follow the blue/yellow blazes. Take a left onto the blue-blazed trail. This is the back-door route and is a much easier approach, following an old woods trail. (You can make a loop of this hike if you like)
The cache is located inside the cave. The cave is conveniently located just a few steps off the blue trail. An unactivated CT Geocoin awaits the FTF.
Enough with the instructions, get out there and find it!
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
"erne unyyjnl" haqre yrnirf