That Dam Overlook!
The name will make sense once you find the cache! I could have
named this cache, "Eagles Overlook". This is a great
year-round cache. One, it's a fairly easy walk, and two the view is
better when the leaves are off the trees. However it's still an
incredible view all year long.
This is located in the Allegheny National Forrest. It's near
"Jakes Rocks" scenic area (Picnic and overlooks). At Jakes Rocks
there is an overlook that you can hike out to. There are also two
on the exit road that you pass when leaving Jakes Rocks. This
overlook has them beat as far as a view of the dam. I would highly
suggest going into Jakes Rocks, It's something you don't want to
miss. Jakes Rocks has many nice overlooks; large rocks; Indian
caves; high, flat walls for Rappelling and climbing; many nice
trails; and a very nice picnic area.
The Cache:
To find this cache, you take the paved road past the entrance to
Jakes Rocks, then past the exit road (both on your right). The
paved road ends and turns to dirt. Go very slowly, when you hit the
dirt and look both ways to each side, watching for a "right of way"
with iron poles that cross the road (the right of way crosses the
road, NOT the poles). Watch carefully! They are about 200 yards or
so from the end of the paved road that leaves Jakes Rocks. There is
a "pull off" you can park on, just past the iron pole
right-of-way.
DO NOT RELY ON FINDING THE POLES TO FIND THE
CACHE! FORGET THE POLES UNLESS YOU HAPPEN TO FIND THEM!
IF you CAN find the poles, you can follow them
right to the cache area. When you get to the last pole, it's just
ahead, to the right. The poles carried power lines from the road
below (Rt 59, or the Warren-Bradford road) and/or the dam below, up
to the fire tower (long removed) that was across the (dirt)road
from this cache. Maybe the iron or steel pipes were used for power
lines because this was an oil region dating way back to the
mid/late 1800. The iron poles look to be the same as oil
pipeline.
NOTE: The poles seem to be quite elusive to
some, or most people. They are discernible when the
leaves are off the trees (winter), and IF you look in the EXACT
SPOT. Sorry, but I guess I shouldn't have mentioned the poles.
Forget the poles! Just, like I said, bushwhack from the road to the
cache! The updated coords SHOULD get you close. Also note you do
NOT have to climb (or more accurately DROP in elevation too much,
maybe 20-30'?).
Where the tower once stood there are some large, flat rocks that
were used for picnicking, below the tower. There is also a Bench
Mark at that location.
The cache is hidden in a small overhang under a large boulder
and hidden in a typical cache hiding fashion. Hope you enjoy this
cache, and the view!
The original cache contains:
- log book
- key ring (new)
- multi tool (new)
- protractor
- gag glasses
- pocketknife
- antique map (Northeast USA)
- mini flashlight
- Be sure to sign the log book!
NOTE:
- 1. There is an old Bench Mark very close to where you park your
car for this cache. It's fairly easy to find. It's under a spot
that a fire tower once stood.
- 2. There are three real nice overlooks in the Jakes Rocks area.
One you walk to after parking in the northern most parking lot
(take the trail due north). It's an amazing view "up-river" of the
reservoir. The other two you can't miss, as they are on the exit
road.
- 3. After the Cache, heading westerly on the road you park on,
you will come to a very "unusual" round "bowl in the ground". You
may have noticed it on the topo map. It's definitely worth seeing!
It's constantly being filled up, and then drained! Can you figure
out why?
NOTE: I changed the coords above, to an
"average" that I took from the helpful info I got from "Barefoot
One & Wench" and "Elkco".
From Barefoot One &
Wench:
Hey Stoneman and Company,
What a great view as I said in the log. I got
a new set of coords for you. These were taken with my GPSV with an
external pack mounted GPS Antenna. The Antenna was sitting on the
boulder directly over the shelf that the cache was
under.
- N 41°50.201'
- W 078° 59.220'
- We had no trouble finding the cache
with your logged set of coords, but these maybe more on the
mark.
And from Elkco:
My co-ordinates weren't that much different than yours but for
some reason, it had me about 56 feet away,when I was at the cache.
My position was N 41 50.205 W078 59.218.
ANOTHER NOTE! :
There is NO TRAIL to this cache, it's ALL bushwhacking,
however, it is somewhat of an "open woods", and is fairly easy to
walk through (except near the road where you might enter).
ALSO NOTE: The poles are basically laid out in a straight
line, so that once you find two poles, you can eyeball the path and
find the others (some are lying down).