Waldstein Traditional Geocache
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(small)
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The altitude of the geocache is exactly 8500 feet. The mountain isn't very steep, but there will be no water available unless you come up via Nye Falls. The top levels out but is rocky.
I have climbed this mountain (Mt Waldstein) between 40 and 55 times. There are great views of snow-capped higher peaks (mainly to the South), and the Crazies can be seen on a clear day on the horizon to the North/Northwest.
The mountain can be climbed starting at the base by an experienced mountain climber in a couple hours.
The group that was along when this geocache was placed included my 79.9 year old father and my 11 year old nephew.
If you have old and/or young hikers with you, budget 4 to 6 hours instead of 2. Climbing down takes half the time as it took to climb up.
After reaching the top of Mt Waldstein (45 23.252/109 49.729) sign the register that is in the cairn with a stake. Then walk 379 feet NNE to the geocache. Originally, mining survey crews had tied an orange flag to one of the rocks less than a foot away. As of 2023, this beacon is no longer there.
I'm hoping most seekers will hike the mountain from the base, rather than wimping out and driving up the Benbow Road.
This mountain is known as "Mt Waldstein" by the locals, named after Beethoven's Piano Sonata No. 21 in C, op. 53. Translated into English, it means "forest & rocks", both of which are abundant on this mountain.
The initial contents of the geocache include 5 items (including FTF cash prize). The significance of the golf ball is that the level area Southeast of the "road" is listed as "The Golf Course" on USGS maps.
Three options for where to park to start:
1) 45.38500, -109.87223, walk across the bridge, turn right, and follow switchbacks
2) 45.40980, -109.85566, follow the driveway across the bridge (this is the steepest method)
3) turn south onto NF-1414 at the town of Dean and drive to 45.37331, -109.79451 (this is the least steep method)
Additional Hints
(No hints available.)