This journey is part of a cache series commemorating the travels of The Leatherman in the late 1800s.
The 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 heavy pieces of raw leather weighing more than sixty pounds. He would sleep outside year-round mostly in caves around Connecticut and New York.
More information on Leatherman can be found at Leatherman Legend. Better information on this particular site can be found at Leatherman in Hamden.
The posted coordinates will bring you to the cave. From there, you will need to chart a bearing of 310 degrees and 25' to find the cache.
This will not be an easy place to find -- in fact without jmq's special research at the Hamden Historical Society, this locale might not have been found at all! The wonderful gentleman said to park at Joyce Road (enter by the above-ground manhole cover and head straight up), and "take the unmarked 'paper road.'" (Paper Road? Paper Road: An undeveloped road that exists only on subdivision blueprints or urban planning maps.)
Parking Update (Thanks IAFF2687 and FF Skippy!): For less conspicuous entry, but a longer hike, park at the alternate parking coordinates near the Mad Mare cache. When you reach waypoint N41.24.645 W 072.56.565, you will have an easier bushwhack for approximately .35 miles along the ridge.
No matter which path you take, you had better like bushwhacking through mountain laurel for a bit and really want to experience being the Leatherman if you want to find this place. (No night caching please.) Thank goodness the Historical Society gave jmq a picture to play "match the picture" with, or we might still be looking ourselves. You will be rewarded with not only the Leatherman's Cave, but a beautiful view when you get to the cache area, so feel free to take the time to enjoy it.
Be very mindful of the surrounding neighborhood if you choose the Joyce Road parking area; though the Town of Hamden was given the tract of land behind the McMansions in the late 70's, it is not you average park with a marked sign.
Cache is a cammo'ed Lock 'N Lock.