The Lost Bridges Cache Multi-cache
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(regular)
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Warning: Bridge Out!
This is a 5 mile circuit hike that traverses Pennsylvania State Game Lands 149 and the Lehigh Gorge State Park. The hike follows a series of old railroad grades through densely wooded areas, and parallels the Lehigh River, the Lehigh River Canal and the Beautiful Sandy Run Gorge.
Final cache location is at N41 0A.BCD W75 4E.FGH where A-H are answers to questions concerning the remains of 5 old railroad bridges you find along the way.
Total Caching time should be between 2.5 and 5 hours depending on how much scenery you take in. Each letter in N41 0A.BCD W75 4E.FGH represents a SINGLE numeric digit, so if you calculate a two digit answer for a Single letter, you will need to think through it again or make some assumptions.
For a little more history of the area, and a chance to grab a second cache, check out "See Sandy Run" by AN_OYSTERBOY.
Park at N41 00.509 W75 46.029 and head East on the old Railroad grade (When you pass under some power lines, mark a waypoint, this will help you later). Continue East until you reach N41 00.786 W75 45.381. There is a pile of dirt here to deter you from going further. There is a "trail" to your left (North) heading down into the Sandy Run Gorge. Follow this into the Gorge.
(Note #1: If you continue past the pile of dirt, you will be on the South Side of the Gorge where the first train bridge began. Please be careful.
Note #2: This is a good spot to take a side path to "See Sandy Run".)
Once in the gorge, head East down Sandy Run passing a 25 foot wide, 80 foot high, concrete column that used to support the Sandy Run bridge. (You will be on another old railroad grade that used to pass under the bridge) About 100 yards east of the column is a set of Trees with red blazes on them. These blazes mark the path to a wire bridge used for crossing the stream. (This wire “Bridge” is literally made of two wires; one to walk on and one to hold onto with your hands. If this is a concern for you, bring water shoes or find a place to hop across) Cross the Stream and go to N41 00.820 W75 45.343.
FIRST QUESTION:
H = There are concrete bases that used to support the steel infrastructure of the Bridge. Count the number of bases that are UNDER Four Feet in Height and multiply by 2.
Head 100 yards west (up the creek) to a wide path that leads up the North side of the gorge. Take this path up the side of the gorge and head northeast on the railroad Grade. (If you want to see where the bridge used to be on the North side of the Gorge go to N41 00.846 W75 45.331)
Continue hiking in a North Easterly direction, you stay on the railroad grade. (At N41 00.958 W75 45.160 climb up a small embankment for a view of Sandy Run Gorge). In several locations there are turn offs or ATV paths that head up or down. Ignore them, stay on the Railroad Grade! At N41 01.853 W75 44.703 is the South end of a bridge that crossed the Lehigh River.
SECOND QUESTION:
E = The number of concrete columns that used to support this bridge. Because the number of Columns you can see vary by season, start your count with the column along the river's EDGE on the Far Side, and count back to the one you are standing on. (Don't forget to count the one you are standing on. Do NOT count anything BEYOND the river's edge on the far side) During months with leaf cover, you will need to Walk down to the Lehigh river and go about 50 feet North to get the correct count.
Head south on another old railroad bed; this is a Rails to Trail Path through Lehigh Gorge State Park. On your left will be the Lehigh River and Remains of the Lehigh River Canal system. (Some well preserved remains of one of the Canal Locks can be found at N41 01.340 W75 44.368) You can see a great view of the Lehigh flowing south if you hike down to the lock (trail at the center of the lock) and head to the South (Right) side.
Continue South on the Rails to Trails until you come to another Bridge (Bridge#3) at N41 01.077 W75 44.370. The East side of the bridge (Left) is for users of the Rail to Trails System. The west (right) side of the bridge, are the remains of an old Railroad bridge that crosses Sandy Run.
THIRD QUESTION:
BC= The infrastructure of the west (right) side of the bridge is exposed. If you look at the top of the exposed bridge, you will see a steel structure. The cross braces of the steel structure create a series of triangles. Count the number of distinct steel triangles created by the top of the infrastructure (do not count anything on the bottom, sides or internal. Do not assume that several smaller triangles form a third larger one.). Take the number of triangles you count and multiply by 5
Cross the bridge and go South for about 100 yards to a Grassy area on the West (right) Side ( N41 01.028 W75 44.358 ). Take the trail (another old railroad bed) and head West up Sandy Run Creek. This trail is dense with foliage. At N41 00.934 W75 44.778 there used to be a bridge.
FOURTH QUESTION:
A=If the bridge was 50 feet or less in length, then A = 0. If the bridge was over 150 feet in length, then A = 1.
Continue heading west for about ½ mile until you come across the concrete column you saw on the South Side of Sandy Run at the Start of the Hike.
FIFTH QUESTION:
D=Count the number of Rebar that are sticking out of the LEFT FACE of the Concrete column. Be sure to check behind those Bushes! Subtract 2 from your tally. Note: To help with your count during months of leaf cover, assume there is only one rebar at the very top.
Continue Heading west on the Railroad grade. In about Two Tenths of a mile you come across the fifth bridge.
SIXTH QUESTION:
G=Including the Stone Supports on both the East and West sides of the creek, how many columns were used to Support this Bridge?
FINAL QUESTION:
F= (G Times 2) Plus 1
Congratulations you should now have all the numbers you need to calculate the Final Cache Location (BUT DON"T DO THE MATH YET).
To complete your hike (and find the cache) you Don’t need to cross the stream. Continue high above the Sandy Run Creek (in the “open” woods) heading up stream (Southwest) until you come across the power lines you passed under at the start of the hike (Now would be a good time to use that Powerline Waypoint you saved on your way in). Follow the power lines away from the stream until you reach the railroad bed you hiked in on. NOW calculate the Final Cache Location and Go for it! (If your calculation for the Final Cache location does NOT have you hiking a short distance back the way you came in, then you made a mistake)
Some final Thoughts on this cache:
1. The real purpose of this cache is the historical hike. The cache is hidden in a pile of rocks. To preserve the surrounding area, I have included a picture of the cache location with a X marking the rock that conceals the cache.
2. A state game lands map of this area is available at: (visit link) You start the hike West of the Scale Siding where an Old Railroad Bed intersects the road you just drove in on.
3. The final cache requires very little bushwacking. You will be able to stick to trails for most of the hike.
4. Enjoy! Please do not hesitate to contact us with any issues or suggestions.
Additional Hints
(No hints available.)