Hidden Frog Pond Traditional Geocache
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(small)
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A camo'd container a step from the Hidden Springs Trail, next to a seasonal frog pond.
Santa Teresa Park isn't exactly known for its lakes. It does have some ponds, but most of them are part of the golf course. There is one seasonal pond that's somewhat hidden. You have to climb up the Hidden Springs Trail just above the Ridge Trail junction. Where the trail levels off, there's the pond, at least in the winter and spring. In the summer, it dries up. In the winter, when the rains fill up the pond, it overflows down into the creek below it, which creates the waterfalls in Laurel Canyon. (See the "Hidden Secrets Trail.") You won't find any fish here, but you may see ducks. In spring, you may see tadpoles in the water. Take the Hidden Springs Trail to get here. Don't do something crazy like bushwhack over the ridge or come down through the bushes from Coyote Peak. Poison oak is everywhere in the hills, as well as snakes, lions, tigers, and bears. The container is reachable from the trail. Make sure you close the container securely and hide it out of sight. Watch out for muggles. This is a popular trail. Keep going up the trail to the "Coyote Junction" and "Peak at Coyotes" caches, or go down to the Ridge Trail and pick up "Let Sleeping Bears Lie" and "Ridge Trail Rest." The easiest way to get here is to come up the Hidden Springs Trail from the Pueblo Area. (See "Pueblo Santa Teresa.") If you park here, be sure you buy a parking ticket, or else you'll get a very expensive ticket. Next to "Free St. Teresa" is free parking, but you have to walk farther. Update 6/8/11: This cache started as a decon. It was muggled. I replaced it with a large camo'd micro for now, but much closer to the trail. You can reach it without leaving the trail if you lean over. Sorry, no goodies or pen, but it has room for very small trading items. Update 1/18/18: The cache container was damaged by park maintenance. I replaced it in the same place with a camo'd pill bottle. It has a pencil in it.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Haqre ebpx