This letterbox hide is not at the posted coordinates but very close nearby. Plan on a mile roundtrip, with a little over 300 feet in elevation. TThis is a letterbox hybrid which also contains a handcarved stamp, stamp logbook, and ink stamp. Please do not remove them: they are NOT trading items!
Carr Lake is more of a pond than a true lake, but the trail system surrounding it is scenic and easy to hike or mountain bike. Recent logging tore some of the trails up, but they are being restored, and there are signs to guide you. There are multiple potential trailheads where you can start, so your journey can range from 2.5 to12 miles depending on your starting point and route.
To find this letterbox hybrid, take the Carr Loop Trail #412 to the listed waypoint, then head south on the logging road to the posted coordinates. You will pass a small pond (not Carr Lake) to the west. Hiking is possible, but the trails are not difficult on a mountain bike (most are beginner or intermediate at most). The posted coordinates are where the logging road ends. From here, project a waypoint at 184 degrees for 0.1 miles. Alternately, just hike south to the edge of the Mogollon rim. The cache is hidden in a rock pile near a very small bush but at least 20 feet from any tree, just before the slope begins to drop towards the edge steeply. It is a large flat rockpile. There is a very small gorge to the east, and the rim runs south from there. The views are spectacular.
This letterbox was planned fall 2021, and the we handcarved the stamp over Thanksgiving. However, the FR300 was closed before it could be placed. This is "He who must not be named" top of the rim mountain biking area in the summer. It is rare to see another person on the trails. No motorized vehicles are allowed on these trails (except for NFS and logging trucks).
If you are unfamiliar with letterboxes, go to http://www.letterboxing.org. Please do NOT take the handcarved stamp, ink pad or stamp book. They are not trade items!
A basic letterbox hybrid should consists of the following (this is my criteria not that of Groundspeak):
1. a stamp
2. a distinct pad of high quality art paper for collecting stamps, that is distinct from the log book, and is large enough to leave impressions from your own personal stamp.
3. An inkpad. Some geocachers omit this because it can dry out, but water can be added to the pad if needed.
A "true" letterbox would also have the following elements:
4. a hand carved stamp
5. require route finding addition to GPS coordinates: in other words the GPS leads you to the starting or intermediate point, but then a description is necessary to find the final container.
6. Be listed on letterboxing.org or similar listing.
This is a true letterbox hybrid, having all of the above components.