Pioneer Trail Traditional Geocache
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(regular)
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Located just 1/2 mile from highway 101, this cache is hidden at the site of one of the oldest pieces of history in the Hoh River Valley. Turn on Upper Hoh Road, drive 1/2 mile to the top of the hill, and park in gravel turn-around on left. The cache is about a 150 yard hike through the forest. Sturdy shoes or boots are recommended, as areas are often wet, or muddy. Container is a well stocked, 4"X16" Camo PVC tube.
The pioneer trail dates back to the 1800's when the first white settlers came to the area. Since there were no roads at this time, the trail was the main route from point to point. Much of the trail was covered with hand-hewn planks known as "puncheon". Since the area was so wet, and often muddy, puncheon made travelling, especially with horses, much easier. The puncheon you will observe was split from giant Western Red Cedar trees (much like the one you will pass by just before you arrive at the cache), which has allowed some of the planks to survive more than100 years. You may notice that the loggers "skid trail" that you will likely walk in on, also utilized puncheon to help harvesting equipment navigate over soft ground, and lessen environmental impact.
When you reach the cache site you will be on the pioneer trail. Here you will find a giant Cedar stump measuring over 12' across. This tree may have been cut for puncheon. Notice the notches around the top of the stump, these are "springboard notches". The men who fell the tree would chop these notches and insert "springboards" to stand on while they sawed the tree. This would allow them to work above the "swell" of the trunk.
The trail lies in a patch of mostly Western Hemlock and White Fir, commonly known as "'21 Blow". In 1921, a tremendous wind storm swept across the Olympic Peninsula, flattening much of the timber in its path. Much of the trail had to be unburied from the devastation. The few giant trees you will see, would have survived this storm. This timber was thinned in 2004, and the trail was only crossed in two places in order to preserve as much of it as possible.
We have cleaned up a couple-hundred yards of the trail for you to explore. Watch where you step, you may even find some old rusty spikes. This part of the trail was on the North-South route between Forks and the lower Hoh River. If you continue North and East along the trail, you will find the junction of the trail that led to "Spruce" which was the area where the legendary "Iron Man of the Hoh" homesteaded. This junction is located just West of the second logging spur crossing, and is still distinguishable. Back in the day, a mailbox, and a sign directing you to Spruce stood at this junction. (The first logging spur you would cross heading East would be the one you parked on.)
Today, much of the trail has been consumed by the understory, which consists mostly of Salal and Huckleberry. However, if you have time to explore, approximately 1/2 mile of the trail still lies hidden in the forest.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
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