Shelter Skelter Traditional Geocache
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(regular)
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A traditional cache meant to introduce the respectful adventurer to an area of the Mohonk Preserve that is rich with archaeological wonders.
This cache is a medium-sized (about a quart), squarish Tupperware-type container. Among the original contents are a gift certificate to a local emporium for refreshment after your expedition (likely to be scarfed by the First-to-Find) and a disposable camera: Please leave us a picture of yourself!
But the real treasure here is only to be discovered by exploring the area nearby the cache site, which contains fascinating evidence of human habitation since prehistoric times. The coordinates are plus or minus 11 feet; you may find that your GPS signal bounces around quite a bit here due to the topography.
Your best starting point is the Mohonk Preserve's Spring Farm Entry parking lot. You have a choice of several trails leading in the right general direction. Along Clearwater Road, if you choose to go that way, you can spot a number of ruins from stone structures built by the huckleberry-picking, millstone-carving Shawangunk settlers of the 19th century. Even closer to the cache (though the most direct route between the two points would be unsafe to attempt in icy conditions) are two fantastic Paleo-Indian rock shelters and a sizable cave, accessible by rock scrambling. There are also a number of other, somewhat less impressive rock shelters in the general area.
They are really fun to explore, but please remember that these are fragile archaeological sites. Treat them with appreciation and respect. Dr. Lucy Johnson and her Vassar archaeology team have them on their list of sites on the Mohonk Preserve to excavate and document - we know because we took them there, and Dr. Johnson officially named the first two rock shelters after Gear Guy and Akrel and the cave after Zhemyna!
WARNING: THIS CACHE WILL BE REMOVED AND THE COORDINATES DE-LISTED IF WE SEE ANY SIGNS OF DIGGING OR VANDALISM OF THE SENSITIVE SITES NEARBY.
Enjoy your explorations,
Zhemyna, Gear Guy and Akrel
a/k/a The Plod Squad
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Arneol ohg abg qverpgyl haqrearngu n uhtr obhyqre.