This cache and container have been revised and renamed from our JAHA series to become part of the Main Line Canal GeoTrail, a chance to experience the Pittsburgh-Harrisburg Main Line Canal Greenway through geocaching. The Greenway is a linked network of land and water trails, tracing the path of the historic Main Line Canal. These caches may be found in an outdoor recreation destination, a key heritage location or an environmental educational site- all ways the Greenway is making new connections between old neighbors. You must find at least 4 geocaches in each of the Main Line Canal Greenway Clusters and record the codes found at each cache in the Logbook. Once you have completed the MLCG Logbook you can receive a MLCG trackable geocoin. Remember CITO can be practiced all year long and Leave No Trace. For more information and where to turn in your Logbook (www.mainlinecanalgreenway.org/geotrail).
After crossing the Cresson Mountain, the Allegheny Portage Railroad deposited the sectional boats in the Johnstown Canal Basin for continued travel by water to Pittsburgh. The Basin was located across the valley in what is now the Old Conemaugh Borough section of the city at the additional coordinates provided. Railroad Street still follows the original perimeter of the Basin. The Canal began near Clinton Street and continued down Washington Street.
Though the Flood of 1889 bears the name of Johnstown, the reason for the flood started 14 miles up river at “Lake Conemaugh.” The 3-mile long body of water was originally called the Western Reservoir and was built by the Pennsylvania Main Line Canal system in 1852. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, owner of the Canal, wanted to dam the South Fork of the Little Conemaugh to use during times of drought for the Canal basin in Johnstown. When the Canal became obsolete the reservoir was abandoned. A group of the wealthiest men in the country then built their private mountain retreat in the area; renaming and rebuilding the dam, but making 5 critical mistakes in the process. The flood wave approached town from the river straight across the valley from the overlook. Unfortunately, similarly reckless mistakes are still made on some projects.
The posted coordinates are at the largest of the abstract steel sculptures by James Wolfe commissioned for the 100th anniversary of the 1889 Johnstown Flood, displayed on the Incline Hillside with a broad view overlooking downtown Johnstown. Vehicles travel within about 50 feet of the cache but you can’t get here from there.
You will need to determine the location of the cache
container based on information from the sculpture.
Stealth REQUIRED for retrieval of final. Since closer, more concealed hiding spots are blocked by a nearby multicache stage, the next stop for this cache is Archival, if it is muggled again. Be sure to place the container as deeply into the hiding space as you found it so it is not apparent to muggles.
N40-19.433 W78-55.315
.........+WGA..........+YEB
______________________
N40-19._____ W78-55_____
Where,
E = # of lifting eyes on the sculpture base
W = # of white pieces on the sculpture
A = # of gray pieces
Y = # of yellow pieces
B = # of pale blue pieces
G = # of letters in the name etched on the sculpture, halfway up the SE corner
Color piece counts are on the sculpture itself, not including the base.
There is a trail to the sculpture. Finding the obscure "trailhead" to access this cache is part of the challenge. Although the observation deck is less than 500' from the cache, you cannot see the approach from this vantage point. The approach IS clearly visible from other vantage points in the City, at least when there is no foliage. Riding the Incline may provide further insight into the approach for this and/or our Rolling Mill Mine cache. Planning ahead and scouting the site will probably take less time than it will take to find someone who can help you turn it into more of a "park and grab"
Do NOT
-climb over any railings, fences, or other safety barriers
-venture beyond the evergreens at the sculpture site
-climb on any of the sculptures featured in this cache series.
-bother the Incline staff for trail info as most don't know that the "trail" is even there.
This cache placed with the assistance and permission of Johnstown Area Heritage Association (JAHA).