snowghost ventures close to the edge of The Palisades near the cache site
The Palisades is the name given to the 2000-foot cliff that borders the north side of Highway 410 as it cuts its way past Camp Sheppard. Few trails are quite so dramatic as one that runs along its upper edge. The Palisades Trail darts back and forth from the edge of the precipice into deep, dark forest as it makes its way along the rim. It is breathtaking in many aspects!
I placed this cache today on an epic mountain bike ride with friends (for more information on this ride, please see my trip posting on EveryTrail.com). It is located along what I think is the most impressive viewpoint along the trail: a wide-open panorama of the valley below from one of the more sheer sections of the cliff, with Mt. Rainier poking her head up over the ridge to the south. The cache area can be reached either by coming from the east where the trail breaks off from the Ranger Creek Trail at the Ranger Creek Shelter, or from the west where the Palisades Trail terminates at Highway 410 (see additional waypoints for locations). As a mountain biker, my preferred means is the prior option, starting with a ride along the Noble Knob Trail and then descending the Dalles Ridge Trail to the shelter and on to The Palisades. Hikers will likely prefer the latter option, which involves a 9.6 mile round-trip, 2200-foot elevation gain hike from Highway 410. Either way will treat you to fabulous views and some of my favorite trail in this state.
The cache container is a .30-cal. drab olive ammo can with an Official Geocaching sticker affixed. Enjoy your journey and please be careful along the cliff!