Welcome to the 2019 Edition of Cache Across Maryland, hosted by the Maryland Geocaching Society. This is one of ten geocaches placed throughout the "Old Line State" in locations chosen to showcase Maryland's diverse beauty, history and terrain. From the mountains of Western Maryland to the Atlantic Ocean, Cache Across Maryland 2019 will again demonstrate that Maryland truly is “America in Miniature”.
Each of the ten geocaches contains a code which you will use to determine the location of the CAM 2019 Picnic to be held on May 4th, 2019. The code can be found on the inside 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 of the CAM geocaches and attends the CAM Picnic on May 4th will receive a Certificate of Completion and a Cache Across Maryland 2019 commemorative geocoin in antique copper. We hope you enjoy CAM 2019!
American Chestnut Land Trust
Voted "Best of CAM 2019"
The American Chestnut Land Trust (ACLT), established in 1986, was at the forefront of a new grassroots land conservation movement. When local citizens heard that forests and abandoned farms surrounding them were to be sold (most likely to developers), they banded together to purchase the lands. A wooded tract of 436 acres near the Chesapeake Bay was the first acquisition by what became the American Chestnut Land Trust. This name comes from a surviving Maryland State Champion American Chestnut tree that was still standing on the original ACLT site - the Gravatt property. These citizens hoped to protect this forest, and the scenic, natural and historic sites of Calvert County from mounting development pressures out of nearby Baltimore and Washington.
In the 30+ years since its founding, the ACLT has greatly expanded its land preservation vision beyond the initial property. In the 1990's, the last trust partnered with The Nature Conservancy and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. The land trust agreed to take on the long-term management of any properties acquired by the Nature Conservancy, and later, by the state. Presently, the ACLT directly manages about 3,000 acres in the Parkers Creek and adjacent Governors Run watersheds. Since the ACLT's founding in 1986, over 4,000 acres in total have been preserved in these two watersheds.
Park/Site Regulations:
- Hours: Dawn to Dusk daily
- Keep all pets on leash; clean up after your pets.
- No alcoholic beverages.
- Smoking and fires are not allowed.
- Bicycles are allowed ONLY on the East Loop Trail.
- No horses or motorized vehicles allowed.
The Geocache
This geocache is NOT located at the listed coordinates. This is a field puzzle. You will be hiking on portions of the red and purple trails.
Stage 1 (Trail Sign): N38 32.746 W076 32.286
B = Number of acorns on the sign.
Stage 2 (Two Trees): N38 32.502 W076 32.199
C = Number on the tree with the red blaze.
Stage 3 (Bench): N38 32.038 W076 32.362
D = Number of letters in last name of the person who gifted the memorial.
Stage 4 (Bridge): N38 32.067 W076 32.433
E = Number of boards on the bridge decking divided by 8.
Stage 5 (Birdhouse): N38 31.988 W076 32.549
A = Number on the bird house multiplied by 4.
Stage 6 (Raft Rules): N38 31.950 W076 32.518
F = Rule number that states pets must be leashed and remain on the raft, multiplied by the rule number that states not to cross the creek if the water is frozen.
Checksum of A+B+C+D+E+F = 28.
The final cache is location at N38 31.ABC W076 32.DEF
As with any outdoor activity, geocaching has potential risks. It is your responsibility to determine those risks and make your own choices in pursuing a geocache. If at any time you are injured or need emergency assistance, dial 911.
