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Donaldson Run Traditional Cache

This cache has been archived.

YetAnotherReviewer: No response from CO, so this will be archived.

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Hidden : 4/27/2010
Difficulty:
2 out of 5
Terrain:
3 out of 5

Size: Size:   regular (regular)

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Geocache Description:

A traditional cache in the historic Donaldson Run Park.

This is one of the Lost Dogs favorite parks. The trail that goes through this park starts in Zachary Taylor Park and goes all the way down to the Potomac Heritage Trail along the Potomac. This land has gone through a lot of changes over the history of the Washington D.C. area. At first it was very rural farm land, removed from Washington DC. During the Civil War numerous forts protected the Capital City and the land was all but deforested. Military Road was added as the area's first "Beltway" providing the first major road to come through this area and cross the river. In time the trees returned, but then the suburbs came, largely as a result of the post-World War II boom. The Donaldson Run Parks hold testament to the history of this land (Donaldson Run Regional Park has excellent nature center with information about the Native Americans who once lived here, and the geological history).

This historic trail along Donaldson Run is marked with curiosities. According to local histories:

Prior to the Civil War, Donaldson Run was the primary point of access into these parts. The Donaldson family initially transported their farm produce for sale in Georgetown via the Potomac River by using this stream. After the Civil War (and the creation of Military Road), overland transport became more frequent. In the late 1800s, this stream was both a popular swimming hole and boat landing. This stream was first named Rock Run in the early 1800s and after the Civil War it was renamed Swimming Landing Run. The County map of 1900 shows that the name of this stream was changed to Donaldson Run, named after the Donaldson family that populated the land above and east of the stream. If you walk along the trail next to Donaldson Run, you will see remnants of a stone wall that was used to dam an area of the stream for swimming. It is believed that this stone wall was built in the late 1800s. Farther upstream there are also remains of a cement dam and small bathhouse with pipes for showers fed by stream water believed to date from the early 1920s.

You are looking for a well camoed Tupperware container about 15 feet off the trail almost in plain view. You do not need to bushwhack or go up any hills. The GZ is proximate to the trail in order to avoid erosion or damage to the park. It is placed so that you can find it but it will not be visible to the nature-loving Muggles. Please be gentle.

Please stay on the trails and do not cut through any private property. This cache requires a nice hike. Good parking is marked. A good trail map of Donaldson Run park can be found here. Cache available only during park hours. Nearby caches can be found hiking these trails including caches in Donaldson Run Regional Park, Marcey Road Park, and Zachary Taylor Park. Please note that this cache is in an Arlington County park; Donaldson Run Regional Park (which borders this park to the East) requires permission in order to place caches; The National Park Service land to the North only permits Earthcaches by permission.

Congrats to Nemo Consequenstia for FTF. An Assist goes to GrandmaMoses!



Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Ebpx

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)