That day a Atomic bomb was dropped in South Carolina.

Yep, that post title will reach out and get you.

It is true though, one day in 1958, a Air Force jet on a training mission bound for England, accidentally dropped a atomic bomb here is South Carolina.  Mars Bluff is the exact location. The bomb was not armed, but the blast created a huge crater.

On March 11, 1958, a B-47e bomber released their nuclear bomb accidentally.  This type of event is referred too as a Broken Arrow, it is the only time a nuclear bomb has ever been dropped on America.

Historical marker about .40 mile away from site.

We had read about this site years ago, and have always wanted to view it.  We were in the area this weekend and decided to make a short side trip to the location.  Once we found the historical marker, the next problem was to figure out how to access the area.  After settling on a parking area at a nearby abandoned gas station, we walked onto property that many years ago was a RV park.

Old RV park, now overgrown

It was about a half mile trek through the park to where  we would enter the woods to find the crater site.  Apparently, there used to be a trail, and some type of metal signage in the area explaining about the bomb and damage it done to the nearby home and properties, however through neglect or vandalism, they are no longer there.

We had to bushwhack about halfway through the patch of woods until we entered a more open pine forest.   It was then a short trek to the crater site..

 Information board at GZ

A plywood sign indicating the size of the bomb

Large crater from impact

This area is very historic and we very much enjoyed exploring here.  I am however, sadden that area is so overgrown and in such  

need of up keep.  One would think the County

or the State would maintain this site.

I have included a link from Roadside America that has a more detailed story of the events.

Read more here.

Table Rock & Devils Cellar / Linville Gorge Wilderness.

 We took a overcast Saturday on February 18th and headed up to North Carolina's Linville Gorge.  A few months back, we hiked the Shortoff Mountain Trail, and promised ourselves then we would return to explore other trails.
 The Linville Gorge Wilderness is a Federal wilderness area in western North Carolina managed by the US Forest Service.   The Gorge comprises 11,786 acres around the Linville River, and is situated inside the Pisgah National Forest. This wilderness area is a haven for lovers of adventure and nature.

After driving a very long forest service gravel road, we found that the Table Rock picnic area where the trail head is located, was closed for the season.  We parked outside the gate and began our adventure walking the remaining 1.5 mile distance to the trailhead. 

Parking outside the gate, red car is ours.  Away we go, with Table Rock Mtn. in the distance.

  When we arrived, at the trailhead, it was located beside a pretty, but quaint picnic area, the trail was obvious, and in good shape.

We began our climb up, and were soon reworded with great views of the gorge.

The trail was in great condition.

One of my favorite views along the trail.

We reached the summit, and found what was left of the benchmark.

The view from the top did not disappoint.  After taking the obligatory summit photos, we headed back down the trail.

The hike up was just over a mile, but with a lot of elevation gain.  Hiking on the way down, we found a spur trail to what is known as the Devil's Cellar below Table Rock.  To us, this was more spectacular that the Table Summit.  It was stunning.

Incredible

The geology here is unmatched.

Nature has a way of making one feel small.

After exploring what we could of the Devil's Cellar, and finding the geocache that is hidden there, we continued on down the mountain.   Our vehicle was a welcome sight even though it was by now covered in dust.

All total, 5.34 miles.

We then headed into nearby Morganton NC, for what has become our post hike tradition.  Enjoying a local craft beer.  This time we stopped at Brown Mountain Bottleworks (highly recommend) and enjoyed a Porter from a brewery called the Lazy Hiker, and later enjoyed a good pasta dinner at a downtown restaurant. 

It was a great day.

Pineland: CONTRA CODE

Geocaching is a great hobby, it can provide as much or as little adventure, exploration, and exercise as you want.  I like all geocaches, but I prefer one that either challenges both mentally and physically, and one that takes me to a beautiful or unique location.  GC2BMTN has it all.

The tower at Contra Code.

 We had this geocache on the want list for awhile.  This past Saturday, we made the 3 hour drive up to attempt it.

The cable bridge at Contra Code

Once at ground zero, we sized up the task at hand, cross the foot bridge, get the code to unlock the cache, then climb the tower to the cache.  Simple enough...right?   For me, the foot bridge was the most difficult part, as the closer to the middle of the bridge you got, the more the cable moved.  Had to recheck my nerves a couple of times, but I persevered and conquered the bridge and got the code. Now to climb the tower.

Hello down there

Well, the tower was quite the climb, but easy for me compared to the bridge.  Once at top, took a moment to enjoy the view and the accomplishment.   Signed the log and left our pathtag, and a new un-activated EMT geocoin.   What a great caching experience this geocache was.  It reminds me of what I like about this hobby.

So get out there and find your adventure!

Hub City Geotrail.

Love where you Geocache!

Geotrail Passport

 We spent around a day and a half over the last two weekends working on, and completing the City of Spartanburg's Hub-Love Geotrail.    The geotrail consists of a total of eight geocaches, with multiple stages to each cache.  At each stage, you are given a simple mathematical problem to solve in order to get a number to fill in for the final cache coordinates.  When you solve the problem and find each cache, there is a picture on each container you must draw on the passport.

  You must find at least seven of the eight geocaches in order to earn your geocoin.  Every cache in the series is themed, Eat Local, Drink Local, Shop Local, Create Local etc.  We both agree, the Create Cache was our favorite of the trail.  It shows off some of the beautiful sculptures around the city.

Metal Sculpture in a small city park.

Another one of our favorite stops on the Create Local Cache is the photo below.  This old paper box is located outside a artists studio.  The artist periodically places art inside.  Insert a quarter, maybe its your lucky day and you get a piece of art.  Love the idea.   It was not our lucky day.

Take your chances.

We also loved the Eat Local and the Drink Local Series, which highlights some of the areas best restaurants, and a great local brewery, RJ Rockers!

Lunch at Willy Taco, one of the stages!

Spartanburg is a beautiful city with a vibrant downtown, and art scene.   Although we had already been to a lot of the places on the trail, we did discover a few new spots which is always fun.   The coin awarded for completing the trail, is one of the prettiest coins I have seen.  It too is also based on the Love where you live theme.

Great coin!

It would be difficult to complete this trail in one day, but it has been done.  Its a great trail, give it a try.   Here are a few more photos from the trail.

Monument honoring the Peach Farming industry.

Metal art on the Cottonwood Trail

Free Putt Putt  course downtown.

Rattlesnake Mountain

Rattlesnake Mountain is located just outside the town of Black Mountain NC.   We along with a small group of friends, hiked this mountain in late February.  We had two objectives, one to reach the summit, and two, to log the Rattlesnake Mountain Summit Geocache.  We accomplished both goals.

The elevation of the mountain is just over 3500 ft.  On the trail, the elevation gain is steady, with a short steep rock scramble once at the summit.  

You are rewarded at the top with great views of nearby peaks, as well as the surrounding communities.

There are two ways to access this summit, one via Montreat, the other is via Ridgecrest Center.  We took the Ridgecrest option. Note: Hikers must check in with the security gate and gain permission to use the trails.

Geocaching a Fire Rd. in Pisgah Forest.

One of many vistas along the rd.

  

We spent the morning Saturday geocaching with friends along a fire road inside the Pisgah Forest near Old Fort.   It is always interesting at the items you see when either out for a hike, or out for a day of geocaching.  Below, are a few of our finds..

 

A makeshift water bottle with explicit instructions

 

A vandalized safe!

 

 

Mother nature also offers up many jewels for wayward hikers to enjoy...

 

 

A seed pod of a Mountain Magnolia

 

A Carolina Lily. North Carolina's State Flower

 

A fleeing Copperhead Snake

 

 

A great day on the trail.

 



 

 







Going Caching 2013 / The A.C.E. Challenge

The A.C.E Journal and our geocoin.

 

 

 We recently spent a long weekend in Ga. at the Going Caching Mega Event.  In order to be listed as a mega event with Geocaching.com, you must have over 500 attendees.  This is the 4th mega we have attended, and it was only topped by the Hatfield and McCoy mega event.   Going caching is hosted by the Georgia Geocachers Association, and man they know how to put on an event. 

 

 We camped at FDR State Park, the events home base, and I tell ya, this is one of the most beautiful Parks we have visited.  The park has around 9,000 acres.  It is named after President Franklin D. Roosevelt.  The President, loved to visit the area for the warm springs, that are said to heal many of illnesses.                         

                                                                                  

Dowdell's Knob, one of FDR's favorite picnic spots.

The structure you see is his grill incased in brick.

 



 Many familiar faces were in attendance for the event, with geocaching friends from all over South and North present.  This mega event, had kind of a Indiana Jones them to it, and relics and artifacts were hidden all around.  Our main focus was the A.C.E Challenge.  which was a series of 6 geocaches you had to find, and get clues at each location in order to find the bonus 7th cache and received a limited addition geocoin.

 

Challenge complete, now to get our coins.



  The caches varied in D/T rating, and some were quite the challenge.  We successfully completed the challenge and received our coin. This was so much fun, and we enjoyed all the adventures along the way.

The one "relic" we recovered along our journey, Lisa was so happy to find this.
This is a Scarab.

Taking a break from the hunt..



We searched by land and by water.  We had so much fun, we are already looking forward to the event next year.

Parsons Mountain & Modoc Stash

 

  On a recent geocaching outing, we knocked off a couple of caches that have been on our to do list for quite sometime now.   

   The first stop was Parsons Mountain cache (GCHM3A) in the Sumter National Forest.  This cache has a D/T rating of 2/4.  The hike is up a old logging road and is quite steep at times.  Once on top of the mountain, you have quite a view through the clear cut for the power lines.  Also on top, is one of the few remaining fire lookout towers in the state.

Surprisingly, there were still wildflowers in bloom along the trail, such as this Butterfly Pea in the photo below.

Butterfly Pea

 

Also, we never miss a chance to log a benchmark, this was one of two on top of the mountain, with the other being the lookout tower itself.



Parsons Mtn. benchmark.

 

I just love fire towers.  This is the one atop Parsons.   Fire towers are put up for public auction from time to time, they go reasonably cheap, however the cost of tearing down, moving and rebuilding makes the price of ownership go through the roof.   When I hit the lottery....

 

Parsons Mtn. Fire Tower / Elev. 832 ft.

 

Parsons Mountain geocache, nothing like a ammo can in the woods.





 

 

Next stop, Modoc Stash (GCF4) oldest active geocache in South Carolina.  It was placed on 12/24/2000.

 This cache has a DT rating of 2/2.  It is approx. a 2.5 mile hike round trip, with a small creek crossing. 

  As of this writing, there have been 512 logged finds, and geocachers have awarded this cache 130 favorite points.

 

Note written on trail head kiosk .

Hiker humor, I think...

 

 

We were glad to finally add Team L&L's name to the log of this famous SC cache.  We left our personal path tag.

 



Modoc Stash