High School Steps Traditional Geocache
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The home made cache container is visible for all to see but not be seen. It is made of brass and is screwed into an iron piece that is driven into the ground. To access the log sheet simply unscrew the brass part and there it is. Sign the sheet and then screw the container back in place as you found it.. Leave it loose. It should turn easily. WARNING !! The ground here is sandy rocky fill and will not hold anything. Therefore the part sticking in the ground may feel loose and might wiggle and turn. DON'T pull on it. If it is pulled out of the ground it will not go back in without tools. It takes a 5 pound hammer and a wood block, and lots of luck and persistence to drive the 5 feet of iron into the rocky soil.
High School Steps
These are the most picturesque steps in Galena. They are not the tallest set of steps in Galena. That honor goes to the Fire House Steps a block away. These are the steps that everyone notices.
When standing on Main Street next to the Desoto House the view up the steps is breathtaking. Walking up the steps can also be breathtaking in a different way. The street you will be standing in is Green Street. Actually these are the Green Street steps. NO way could a street go up that hill. However the steps have been known as the High School Steps for as long as I have been around. That is because the High School was built at the top of the hill. The first Galena High School was built up there in 1860. That building was destroyed by fire in 1904. If you were wondering about that huge beautiful building up there now; it was the replacement High School built in 1905. In 1957 a new school was built on Franklin street. Then this building became the Galena Grade School. In 1984 new Primary and Middle Schools were built and this building became Galena Green Condominiums. You can go up and get a closer look but it is private property.
The original steps were built of wood in 1845. I am not sure how many times they were rebuilt but I have seen pictures of different versions. Around 1920 new concrete steps with lights were built. They lasted over 70 years but started shifting downhill. The current steps were built in 1998. They should be here long after I am gone.
Oh Yes! The cache. The unique container is located near the stairs. No need to climb on the hillside. There is only room inside for the log sheet. Bring your own pencil. Please re-roll the sheet tightly so it will fit back inside the container. Then place the container exactly as found. The next cacher will appreciate the effort. There may be muggles nearby so take care.
Since this is a unique container I feel I need to give some specific instructions. This is the second container in 3 weeks. The original cache was removed and destroyed. I suspect that misuse of the container may have lead to its being discovered and destroyed. I hate to tell more since it will remove some of the Discovery in the find, but if the cache is gone again I will not replace it. Making one takes about $20 worth of parts and a trip to the blacksmith shop for modification. Then it needs to be primed and painted.
Again, watch out for muggles. Thank you.
The terrain rating is based on walking up the steps. If approached from the top it is much easier, but what is the fun in that?
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Jnyx hc gur fgrcf fybjyl.