Cache Across Maryland 2016
The Maryland Geocaching Society and the National Park Service welcome you to the 2016 edition of Cache Across Maryland! In commemoration of the 100th Anniversary of the National Park Service, the MGS and the NPS have joined together in presenting CAM 2016 in ten National Park locations throughout the state of Maryland. From the mountains of Western Maryland to the Atlantic Ocean, Cache Across Maryland 2016 will demonstrate that Maryland truly is “America in Miniature”.
This is one of ten geocaches placed in National Parks for Cache Across Maryland 2016. Each geocache contains a code which you will use to determine the location of the CAM 2016 Picnic to be held on May 14th. The code can be found under the lid of the cache container and on the inside front cover of the logbook. Don't forget to record this code! Any geocacher who has completed all ten CAM geocaches and attends the CAM Picnic on May 14th will receive a Certificate of Completion and a Cache Across Maryland 2016 Geocoin. We hope you enjoy a very special CAM 2016!
Great Allegheny Passage
The Potomac Heritage Trail is one of eight nationally designated scenic trails. The trail takes you from the Chesapeake Bay all the way to Pittsburgh, PA and goes through three different states, Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania. This trail marks the same path that George Washington used to explore this area of the country. The Potomac Heritage Trail Association (PHTA) is the main group that helps maintain the trail, but many organizations work in cooperation with the PHTA in helping to keep the Heritage Trail going.
Exploring this trail can be done by boat, foot, bike, or boat at various points of the pathways, and encompasses over 8 different trails connecting the entire Heritage Trail. The main part of the trail is the 184.5 mile C&O Canal Towpath which runs from Georgetown up the Cumberland, Maryland. At this point, the Great Allegheny Passage picks up the Potomac Heritage Trail.
The Great Allegheny Passage is a 150 mile trail that start in Cumberland, MD and ends in Pittsburgh. In Pennsylvania, the trail crosses the Eastern Continental Divide. Built mainly on abandoned rail beds, the trail is a crushed limestone surface which makes it smoother than the C&O towpath.
Horse riding is allowed on certain parts of the trail. Other popular activities on the trail include hiking, cycling, bird watching, and in winter, cross country skiing.
The Geocache
This geocache is not located at the listed coordinates. The listed coordinates take you to a sign near the entrance to the trail. Use information from the sign to find the final coordinates to the CAM cache.
- A = 4th digit of year post office was established.
- B = 3rd digit of year of postcard view.
- C = 4th digit of the beginning of stagecoach service, minus one.
- D = # of letters of first name of early settler who lain off town in 1812.
- E = # of letters in first name of either person from the collection this postcard came from.
- F = # of lines in first paragraph of sign.
The geocache is located at N39° 40.ABC, W078° 54.DEF
The checksum of ABCDEF is 26.
The geocache is a metal ammo can.
While the Great Allegheny Passage can be hiked 24 hours a day, the parking area is only for daylight hours, and any vehicle at parking during nighttime hours risks the possibility of being towed. There is no fee to use the parking area. Parking is available within 50 feet of the listed coords.
The Maryland Geocaching Society extends its thanks to the National Park Service for participating in Cache Across Maryland 2016 and for allowing us to partake in its centennial celebrations. Geocaches may only be placed on National Park Property at the direction of National Park Service staff.
