Orange dot pumphouse ruins Traditional Geocache
Orange dot pumphouse ruins
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(regular)
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Hike an unamed orange blazed trail and see ruins of an old pumphouse on Mt. Tom on your way to this cache. Several approaches possible.
This cache used to be the "B-24 Memorial" cache by Scoobs. I have adopted it and changed the name/location to avoid the frequent muggling. Please make note of new coords. I do not know where the old logbook went, but I'm definitely keeping all the logs already entered here!
Cache container is a smaller ammo box. I was expecting to take what was left of the original tupperware cache and put it in this container, but I found that the original was now mostly gone.
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This cache is located a short distance off of an orange blazed trail I discovered awhile back on the eastern slope of the Mt. Tom/Deadtop range. I have not been able to dig up the name of this trail or even see it on any trailmaps of the area. There are several approaches you can take. No matter which approach I would suggest having GC928E programmed into your GPS for reference. My goal is to introduce you to a trail that you may have never taken before!
The trail itself is pretty well worn into the ground, but the blazing leaves a little to be desired. I have never run across another person on this trail, but it is obviously used. Mostly hard dirt and rock, it can be very slippery when wet.
You will be passing by, or approaching close to an abandoned pump-house looking thing in the middle of the woods. I have not been able to dig up any factual evidence of what this building/dam served, but I would imagine it was a holding pond and pump used to bring water to the old summit house. That house up on the peak is now used as a radio/television transmission array.
This being said, if you explore the woods around the pump house and come across any piping, electrical runs, or the similar please let me know, I would like to trace the route of the old piping.
The cache itself is located a short distance off the trail in a place I like to sit and eat my lunch.
* Approach 1, B-17) Visit the B-17 memorial (and a geocache GC928E) at N42° 14.749;W072° 38.57. Follow directions listed at the above mentioned geocache to get to the B-17 memorial. At the Memorial's flagpole if you look uphill (westerly) you will see a path that looks like a trail running parallel to the access road...follow it. You should soon start seeing small orange dots, these are your blazes. The trail is mostly obvious. When you get to the pumphouse, you are close.
After finding the cache via approach 1 if you would like to continue following the orange blazed trail you will be spat out on the M&M (white) by a nice viewing area.
This approach is a moderate heart pumper, following a paved trail most of the way. The distance is longer than approach 2, however and has an average grade of, oh, about 20%.
* Approach 2, M&M/Route 141,) The easier of the two approaches from route 141, you can park at approximately N42 14.133; W72 39.042 on the side of the road. Follow the trailhead to the powerlines and stay on the white M&M trail. At approximately N42 14.320; W72 38.886 you will see a merge with an orange trail to your right. This trail skirts the elevation of the peak on the Eastern side of Mt. Tom heading in a general Northerly direction. The trail is scenic in spots. I can imagine this way being moderately snowfall-friendly.
You will be spit out exactly opposite the Mt. Tom memorial. Cross the paved access road and enter memorial, follow directions for Approach 1 from here.
* Approach 3, M&M/Route 141 heart-pumper) Park at the same coordinates for approach 2, but take the M&M ALL the way up to the radio towers. This is my favorite route and is the most difficult. Be in good shape! The distance is short, but the steepness is great. If you take this way the trail starts off behaving itself, but after about .3 of a mile you are whacked with a 32%-33% grade. The trail becomes loose rock and boulders, with cliffs nearby. In my opinion not suitable for children.
Keep following the M&M north and at approximately N42 14.764; W72 38.834 you will see small orange dot blazes on a tree. Follow this trail easterly and you will come upon the cache quickly. After finding it if you keep heading on the orange trail you will come across the pumphouse a few feet later.
If you continue to follow the orange blazed trail via approach 3, you can get back to your car if you parked on 141. Keep on the orange and you will arrive at the B-17 memorial. You can cross the paved road, and in an obvious spot across the road continue to follow the orange trail. It skirts around the peak, and you will be spit out back on the M&M at N42 14.320; W72 38.886. You are basically travelling the opposite way on the same trail as approach 2. You've already been here today...now go back to your car and cool down :)
If you are coming south on the M&M just look for the orange dots at about N42 14.764; W72 38.834 on your left, and take it from there.
Enjoy your walk on the mountain and be safe! Please rehide the cache as you found it.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
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