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We're High on the Spanish Canyon Traditional Geocache

Hidden : 3/11/2014
Difficulty:
2 out of 5
Terrain:
4 out of 5

Size: Size:   regular (regular)

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Geocache Description:

This is a traditional cache in a high spot overlooking the Spanish Canyon.


Suagrfoot & I didn't actually set out to place this cache in such a high spot. We had noticed an interesting looking formation of white rocks and were planning to hike to it from the Spanish Trail road and place the cache. When we started out we found that there was already a road into the general area and around behind the mountain so we went back and decided to drive in. When we got closer to the white rocks we realized that the road didn't go there and if we placed the cache there it would probably inspire people to just drive across the desert making new tracks to it rather than walk so we rejected that cache locale and continued along the road until we were behind the 2 mountains.

We saw what looked like an interesting rock formation up between the two hills and decided to check it out, keeping to the slopes on the right. When we got closer we could see that our "rock formation" was really just some rocks and bushes on the left mountain on a very steep and slipping slope and rejected that idea too. But since we were out there we decided to keep heading up to the saddle, and then once there why not check out the view from the top of the right-hand mountain, and so we did, and that's where we placed the cache.

This is not a long hike, but the final portions are fairly steep and quite slippy-slidy so please take care, use a hiking stick and take your time. If suagrfoot & I (2 retired folks) can make it up there I suspect most of you folks probably can too. I would not recommend this  for small children.

Our approach was more or less from the east, and behind and between the two peaks. There looks like there may also be a way up to the saddle through a ravine/canyon/wash from the Spanish Trail side but we didn't try that so can't say how easy, hard or impossible that route may be. Use your topo maps, and plan a safe route for yourselves. I gave this a 4 terrain rating due to the slippy-slidey rocks, Suagrfoot thought it should only be a 3 or 3.5 because it is not a long hike

The 360 view from the top is spectacular and well worth the climb. On a very windy day it could be miserable up there and I would not do this in the summer. As always in the desert carry plenty of water and beware of the local critters. We found a big scorpion under a rock, and I'm sure there are plenty of snakes around too.

 

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Ebpxf

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)