There are a couple of ways to reach this cache, but any of them will surely involve a Rocky Road.
Rocks to your left, rocks to your right...this is one rocky cache. Where's the Italian Stallion? I bet you could walk from the parking to the cache and always be touching a rock the entire time.
The best way to reach this cache may be by kayak. I saw at least a dozen kayakers when I was placing it. NOTE: There is a substantial rapids (Little Falls) just downstream of this cache that isn't for weekend kayakers with inflatable kayaks. These rapids are what was drawing the kayakers I saw today. They can be dangerous if you aren't an experienced kayaker. I also saw a woman on a stand up paddle board go through the rapids. I have listed a location I saw them getting out...I believe they used the towpath to kayak back upstream from that location. It should also be possible to get in at C&O lock #5 and make a round trip from there. You could maybe get in at C&O lock #5 and return via the towpath via little falls branch, avoiding Little Falls. Or, you could get in at C&O #5 and go through the rapids and exit at the waypoint and then up the towpath if you are confident in your skills and looking for more adventure. Many ways to do it.
It is also possible to hike to this location. I have provided a parking location for those who wish to do that. I have made this hike several times, with super high and super low water conditions, and I never got wet. It is possible with any water conditions, but more difficult paths are necessary with higher water. The hike is difficult and can be dangerous. It involves slippery rocks, steep angles, and dangerous precipices. I've seen some people with walking sticks and one guy with some rope. I prefer having both of my hands free. Bring good shoes and plan for it to take a long time. Be careful...it's very easy to twist an ankle. If a rock looks slippery, it probably is. I've slipped several times here. Some of them by accident.
That all having been said, you should probably stop now. You won't make it to the cache, and if you do, you won't find it. It is a very difficult and devious hide, and I expect several DNFs. But it is there.
Be careful. It's dangerous. Don't hurt yourself. It's just a geocache. Attempting this cache at night would be suicide, don't even think about that.
Still reading? OK...
The cache is in a terrain type where it is difficult to get good coordinates. I stayed there over 30 minutes to try to get the best coordinate I could, but it was still a little tigger-bouncy. Because of this, I am offering the following hints:
1) There is a cache guardian in the general location of the cache. Seek the guardian. You should see her from a distance. You will know her when you see her.
2) If you do not see the guardian (muggled?), look for an unnatural pile of rocks with a metal rod sticking up out of it. This is the guardian's house. The last time I saw the guardian, she was making a pot of Rock soup. You may also look for her pot of rock soup to identify her house. The guardian's house is about 15 feet on the river side of a mangled fence.
3) Do not disturb the guardian, her pot, her pole, or her unnatural pile of rocks. She isn't the cache, and her pile of rocks does not house the cache. She is just there to let you know you are in the right general location and you can begin searching. When you find her, you could put your GPSr away and search the usual 15' radius area around that point, as if that's the point your GPSr took you to (although my GPSr was right at the cache for 30 minutes when I entered that point, and may have a little better location).
4) The first person to take a pic of the guardian and post it here will receive an unregistered trackable from me. If you are also in the pic and making an amusing face, I'll give you 2. You don't need to have actually found the cache to claim this prize. I think it'd be really fun if everyone posted a pic of them with the cache guardian. EDIT: This prize won by flowerman, and given to his henchman, CherokeeThree.
I will be checking the log book regularly. Your name must be on it to claim a find. If the log is not sign-able for some reason, you must email me proof you found the cache (like a picture of you holding the cache in a way I can identify it). If there is no name on the log sheet and no evidence mailed to me, I will delete your log.
Please be careful and non-destructive at GZ. Don't start throwing things everywhere when you get frustrated, as you may unintentionally toss, damage, or disturb the cache. And you definitely don't want to anger the cache guardian. She will hex and curse you, make you impotent, and plague your dreams for 666 days.
Please do not post any additional hints, veiled in any way whatsoever. If you do, I will delete your log. Let others have the same experience you had finding it. Of course, please do not post any pics of the cache either.
Please take care to put the cache back exactly as you found it.
I'd recommend not undertaking this cache unless you are willing to accept a fair chance that you will not find it...it does have a high difficulty rating, after all...
Good luck!
Winner of "Most Difficult to Physically Reach" cache.
