North of South Virtual Cache
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(virtual)
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Steep and primitive wilderness. You might want to look at Cryptogram (GCJ1ZF) before doing this one.
Posted coordinates are not the peak, but close. Have you ever wanted to hike the north peak of Mt. Olympus? Well, I have. It took me a couple of years to work out this route and improve the trail a little, so follow me, boys and girls. Warning: it is very primitive, steep, and you’ll need to climb around on rocks and boulders. I have seen rattlesnakes. I have been partway up in 2021 and the trail is overgrown and took me MUCH longer. I have moved farther away and am much older and do not maintain the "trail" anymore. To bag this cache you need to email me the exact coordinates of the pointy boulder at the top. All readings are North 40 degrees and West 111 degrees, so I’ll only give the north and west minutes for waypoints. I’ll also give the hours and minutes to each point so you can see if you can keep up with the Geezer. Here we go!
- 0:00, 39.120, 48.379 at the trailhead parking lot at Pete’s Rock.
- At 0:12, 39.197, 48.218 you can take the side trail to my Juicy Fruits #7 - Grapes GC3JM5Z , Walk a Mile for a Camel (GCN3X9) and Cottonwood West (GCN3X5). Or not.
- At 0:37, 39.085, 47.801 there is an interesting natural wonder I call the lazy limb. Some vandal(s) knocked off part of the rock, but hopefully will leave it be. (2009 The rock is split but still hanging on)
- At 0:50, 39.177, 47.368 you’re in a cool, shady stream crossing at Tolcat Canyon. Go left up the right side of the stream.
- 0:54, 39.214, 47.343 Cross to the left side of the stream and turn right. Keep going around and up then up the rock slide.
- at 1:02, 39.261, 47.269. I’ve tried to keep this section marked with cairns, but someone keeps taking them down, so keep going up
- to 1:09, 39.302, 47.109. I’ve seen a deer drag and cougar tracks in the snow in this area, so don’t come up here alone at night. Go right into the trees weaving along a primitive path marked by cut branches, logs parallel to the path and a few, small, slanted, arrow-shaped blazes. I think this is the most enjoyable part of the hike.
- Anyway, at 1:30, 39.397, 46.815 cross down to the slick rock and go up to a large boulder
- at 1:36, 39.401, 46.742. I put on my leather gloves here to pull myself up the steep parts using brush and rocks. Follow its path of destruction up to a large, smashed tree; around to the right and up the slot it came down from. Many other boulders abound here and you may get nervous, but what are the odds? (2009 did trail maintainence to this point. Lots of growth since I was last here.)(6-2011 more maintainence. Trail in pretty good shape now. Saw two rattlesnakes in the slot)
- At 1:43, 39.444, 46.733 bear right and follow cairns, goat trails, and instinct up to the goat dormitory
- at 2:12, 39.480, 46.503. Keep going and
- at 2:17, 39.491, 46.426 bear left up to the next shelf and through the tunnel
- at 2:25, 39.502, 46.411. Keep going and
- at 2:35, 39.507, 46.344 take the left fork up a steep slot to the peak
- at 2:39.
Wave to the wimps on the south peak. Be sure to record your gps reading at the top. Now wasn’t that fun?!
Additional Hints
(No hints available.)