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Alpine Lakes: Keechelus Lake Traditional Geocache

Difficulty:
2 out of 5
Terrain:
2 out of 5

Size: Size:   other (other)

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Geocache Description:

20 September 2023 Update: In an effort to protect the Bull Trout population the boat launch is closed and overnight camping prohibited due to the low level of the lake. The cache is still accessible by foot or bicycle but the road is closed at the Keechelus Trailhead parking lot which is the best parking area year round. Access can be had via the road or the trail. The boat launch closure is estimated to last until May 2024.

Keechelus Lake is a large storage reservoir which is maintained by a dam on the south end, which controls its depth and discharge of water.  Despite this, the lake was originally created by nature's forces.  Water from Keechelus lake flows east of the cascade crest into the Yakima River, which eventually flows into the Columbia River.

"Keechelus" comes from an indian term meaning "few fish".  Fishing is open year round at the lake, and it is stocked annually with kokanee fry.  Fishing is at its best during summer months.  There are boat launches on the northwest side of the lake near GZ. If the lake level is low (such as the late summer months), it is harder to get a boat into the water.

The Palouse To Cascades trail runs alongside the lake and offers hiking, biking, and caching. There is a parking lot on the road to the boat launches which provides access to the trail. The cache itself is located next to one of the boat launches on a rocky outcropping, which is a good place to view the surrounding lake. During late summer it is possible to park next to the outcropping. Be aware of muggles in the area, as many of them camp around here in the summer. Rehide the cache well so it won't be seen by muggles.

Each year a bogus container appears near GZ at the time of the APE event and gets confused with the real cache. Like last year, I will drop by and remove any that are present. The real cache is hidden in a tree underneath a rock. It is NOT in plain sight and it is NOT attached using a nail/hook in a tree. Make sure you find the actual cache.

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Ebpx va n gerr

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)