Gun Sight Hill Traditional Geocache
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(small)
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Gun Sight is my name for a hill which looks like, well, a gun sight as you drive west down the hill to Elbow Falls (see photo). The cache is on the summit ridge. The round trip distance is 2.5 kms with an elevation gain of approximately 300 meters. It is a steep hike through open forest with no trails.
The objective is the summit of the hill located between Prairie Creek and Powderface Creek. I parked in the Powderface Trail parking area at N50° 51.912’ and W114°47.532’. However, after Dec 1 and during the winter you will have to park outside the gate at Elbow Falls which will increase the hike by a few hundred meters. Make your way to the top (SEE ROUTE UPDATE BELOW) aiming just north of a rocky outcrop about ¾ of the way to the top. There is an obvious den of something bigger than a Bushy Tailed Wood Rat at the base of the outcrop which should probably be avoided. Although there are steep sections this is generally a very pleasant hike with great views unfolding as altitude is gained. The final approach is a bit of a scramble to a very pleasing mountain like summit. Signs of oil industry activity are apparent on the ascent, probably a heli portable 3D seismic survey. I noticed this activity earlier in the year in this area as well as the Sibbald / Jumpingpound areas. I suspect that this was the same group which apparently did in the “Kenobi 11 - Cobble the Beaver Cache.” I have uploaded a few photos but need more as my view shots suck. You hill climbing cachers with good cameras need to add to the gallery. The climb took me about 40 minutes at a fairly leisurely pace.
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ROUTE UPDATE: During his journey to the cache, reastick discovered a climbers’ trail that offers a better and more interesting access route to the top of Gun Sight Hill. This route was also used by j2d2 who has shared some navigational information in his log. Based on his information, head west on the Powderface trail for approximately 1.2 kms to the co-ordinate I have added as a waypoint (WP001) were you should see a trail heading up the hill in a northerly direction. Part way up the trail you should pass some well used climbing crags.
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The cache is a small LnL in a hanger, in a spruce tree, see spoilers.
It is above any normal snow accumulations 5' off the ground.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Unatvat nebhaq.