"The Devil's Kitchen"
Welcome Fellow Cachers.
The Story of Devil’s Kitchen at Purgatory Falls, Mont Vernon, NH
Before I tell you about this cache, here is a story that ran in a New Hampshire Newspaper back in the 1930's or 40's that I hope you’ll enjoy.
Colonial Esso Road News is a publication produced in the interest of tourists and the company that sells them fuel. In a recent issue the following story was printed:
Once upon a time the devil paid a visit to Purgatory Falls in southern New Hampshire, but as you'll hear, he didn't stay long. Here, in a deep gorge, where he could keep his eye upon the Godly men of nearby Mont Vernon, he made a home. Being the shrewd old devil that he was, he disguised himself and decoyed the good elders to his lair one Saturday evening by promising a bean supper. As the churchmen were seated anxiously awaiting the promised meal, Beelzebub was cooking in a Bean Pot [1]. It wasn’t long before he made the mistake of drawing too much heat from where only “he” could. The excessive heat melted the rock round his foot causing him to get stuck [2]. Being full of sin and thus having no control, he let loose such a string of expletives that his devout guests recognized him, and fled in horror.
So there, now you have the legend of the [2] Devil's Footprint which you will see should you visit these highly interesting falls. The print is nine feet long and full two and a half feet across. The pot [1] also is capacious, being fifteen feet deep with a diameter of about five feet. According to the geologists, who refuse to believe that the devil ever visited the spot, both of these formations are the result of stones being whirled around in crevices by water for ages.
Purgatory really is a misnomer when applied to such a lovely retreat. The little stream has worn away a great rift in the hills so that there is a descent of more than 100 feet, which includes a perpendicular drop of 70 feet to the floor below. Once at the bottom, after the sidling down the hillside, further down the ravine, the visitor faces Pulpit Rock, a mammoth natural sounding board which shelves far back under the cliff. It is cool down there with its mosses, the purling stream, and great trees towering overhead.
About Purgatory Falls
At one time Purgatory Falls was a popular place for outings. There were buildings there, but these have long since disappeared. Only portions of the iron posts that held the railing in place about the Bean Pot and the Devil's Footprint still remain of the old equipment.
About The Cache
The simplest way to reach the spot is to take the dirt road west from Mont Vernon. Entry to the rocks is concealed, making inquiry at the farmhouses along the way imperative. A walk of about an eighth of a mile from the road is necessary at the end of the trip.
I think this story above gives you the best taste of what you will encounter when you head out in search of this cache. The Cache is a Tupperware-type container with a blue lid placed not far downstream from the falls. Please don't venture too far up the west side of the gorge it is private property. Inside I have placed 1st, 2nd and 3rd place ribbons for the first, second and third to find.
- There is also a Letterbox in the area.
- Hope everyone enjoys this area as much as I have.
- PLEASE be careful and watch your little ones some of the rock can be slippery.
- Don’t forget the bug spray, the mosquito’s tend to swarm
