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Update 30 December 2020: Please see our "Owner Maintenance" log dated today. There are lots of changes since we last visited this cache. For one, the road from FR 24 to the cache area has been paved, but it remains a single lane road, so drive slowly and be vigilant for oncoming traffic. Also, the cactus and other vegetation have really grown back in since the Humboldt Fire of 2004. This remains a short, steep, treacherous, climb from the parking area. Read our maintenance log and you'll see what we mean. Be cautious getting to and looking for the cache, and think real hard about bringing young children up from the parking area.
Update 2 February 2013: Note new coordinates. The area around the original cache location had turned into a party site when we were up here last November, and it appears the partygoers found the cache and made off with the ammo can. Surprisingly, they appear to have left most if not all of the contents of the cache. We have moved the cache and given it a new container.
We gave some thought to archiving the cache and starting a new one, but decided to keep the original designation because of its age (The cache will celebrate its 11th birthday later this month!). We thought this might be helpful to cachers who are trying to achieve Jasmer-type challenges.
We should also mention that the roads up here have deteriorated significantly in spots, even since our last visit in November '12. This may be the result of the recent heavy rains. You don't need a Humvee to get up here, but you probably don't want to try this in Grandma's Crown Victoria, either. Drive here at your own risk.
Everything that follows is the original cache description
Approaching from the south, a good portion of the road is unpaved but graded, and some of the paved portions have patches of potholes. Still, the road should be negotiable by any prudently driven passenger vehicle.
You should be able to figure out where to park fairly quickly. From there, it's only about 200 feet to the cache, but it's uphill, rocky, spiky, and barely a trail. For this and other reasons, we advise against taking children under 7 all the way to the cache. Older children should be closely supervised. Bring plenty of water and watch out for things that bite, sting, or poke.
On the way back, a very worthwhile stop is at N 33° 53.146´ W 111° 48.963´. There is a well-marked, one-mile loop trail there with some severe elevation changes, but it should be fine for any youngsters in your group. That trail is also the route for the A Sign from the Past IV virtual cache.
Update 7 August 2005: The Cave Creek Complex fire did not come very close to the cache area, but you will be surrounded by its devastation on your drive to the site. The area around the cache proper has grown in well since the Humboldt fire a year ago. Long pants are now highly recommended.
Update 21 August 2004: The Humboldt fire consumed virtually all of the vegetation between the parking area and the cache site, so the hike is not a difficult as it used to be. Still, we urge you to exercise caution if you are caching with younger children.