The Preserve
One of the many awesome boulders
at The Preserve
Nestled in one
of the fastest growing areas of the state, lies The Preserve. The Preserve is a sanctuary from
the hustle and bustle of everyday life. The Preserve is a place where one can enjoy the sights
and sounds of nature. Even though The Preserve is surrounded by homes, the area
is protected from future development, ensuring that our children and
grandchildren will be able to enjoy this pristine area.
To begin your
trek to the cache, you should park here:
N 33 22.858
W 086 50.491
Simply park on the side of the road, this is acceptable and allowed.
Once you are
parked and have your geocaching items in hand (GPS Unit, trade trinkets, hiking
staff, etc) start your adventure by entering the trailhead which is marked with
a sign stating the rules of The Preserve. A note is in order here, I love
night-caching as much as anyone but the rules state that The Preserve is only to
be accessed between sunrise and sunset. As you follow the trail up a small hill
you will soon find some of the most beautiful rock formations you have ever
seen. Parents, please supervise your children as one wrong move or slip near the
edge of some of these boulders could have disastrous or even fatal results. As
you pass the boulders on the way to the geocache, take a few minutes to
explore the area and take-in the beauty of the area. I often visit here and am
always amazed by the beauty of the giant boulders. After exploring for a while,
it will be time to once again begin working your way towards the geocache. You
will notice that that you can hear the sound of water, in fact, not only will
you hear a babbling brook, but you will also hear the sound of a waterfall.
After a short hike, you will find yourself at the edge of a creek. The name of
the creek is Moss Creek. There is no bridge to cross the creek and you will have
to make use of the stones in the creek. Be careful, as it's not called Moss
Creek for nothing and the rocks are quite slippery. Once you cross the creek,
you need to navigate to these coordinates:
N 33 22.986
W 086 50.529
At these
coordinates you will be rewarded by viewing a small waterfall, it's especially
nice after a rain. Although it's not the biggest waterfall you've ever seen, it
is amazing to find a waterfall in the midst of such a highly populated suburban
area. Bonus! If you brought your digital camera with you on your adventure, make
sure to take a picture of the waterfall along with your GPS unit and when you
get home you can click here
to log a locationless geocache. This particular locationless geocache allows
users to log the same waterfall, even if it has been previously logged. After
admiring the beauty of the water and listening to the soothing sound of the
water as it cascades down the mountain, you should continue on to the geocache.
You will find yourself hiking across terrain that is quite unique and beautiful.
The Preserve offers a wide variety of terrains and elevations for you to
explore. Once you find the cache, please take a couple of minutes to ensure that
the container is well hidden so that it will not be discovered by muggles that
may be visiting The Preserve. After you have signed the log book and possibly
traded trinkets you are free to explore The Preserve some more on the hike back
to your car.
The terrain for
this geocache is rated a 4 due to the elevation changes and the fact that you
will have to cross a creek which could be easy or hard depending on the season
and the amount of rainfall. I truly hope you enjoy finding this geocache and
that you enjoy the natural beauty of the area.
