Marmots' Lounge Traditional Geocache
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(small)
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Traditional cache, short walk in the woods, nice view of the Hudson.
Good parking at intersection of Rtes 9W and 304, near the historical site of Snedeker's Landing.
Snedeker's Landing in 1780 was the site of meeting between general Benedict Arnold of the Colonial Armies and British officer Major Andre. Arnold was in charge of West Point. The apparent idea of the meeting was Arnold's treason. He gave Andre documents to aid the British with conquering West Point. However it is said that the documents were of dubious value and that the British had already had better information than Benedict Arnold gave them. Benedict Arnold then proceeded to defect and board a royal ship which was headed to England. Major Andre was caught by locals with documents from Benedict Arnold, and he was later executed as a spy. On the other hand Benedict Arnold made it safely to England after the British refused to exchange him for Andre. Some of the Marmots here always maintained that there was as much treason against Major Andre as there was against the Colonial Army, because Andre was known to court Arnold's wife. Thus in one brilliant move Benedict Arnold achieved three objectives. He saved himself from the dubious privilege of defending a fort that was about to fall into British hands, he repaid the favors of the Colonial Congress which kept passing him on promotions, and lastly he got rid of Andre who was possibly becoming an undesired new family member.
In the 19th century Snedeker's Landing was the site of a shipyard where vessels delievring for the Haverstraw brick industry were repaired. It burned down in 1854.
Walk past the gate toward the river and bear right at the fork of trails, going uphill. Marmots typically hang out on open mountainside slopes with a good view of intruders. Please watch out for ticks.
If you can appreciate trees that grow in a weird manner, visit a real freak of nature at 41 10.467N, 073 56.484W. If you think you understand how this happened, please leave a note.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Vg'f n erq naq juvgr Pbyrzna pbbyre, nobhg sbhe vapurf va qvnzrgre.