Elephant Mountain Traditional Cache
offline.cacher: The general rule reviewers use to archive a cache is that the cache owner has been notified (through a log entry) by the reviewer and that no response has been forthcoming. This is the case with this cache. As a result it has been archived.
If the owner would like to discuss this issue, please contact me through my geocaching.com profile. Include the GC code for the cache.
Thanks
offline.cacher
Virginia geocaching.com reviewer
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(regular)
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Cache is located at the summit of Elephant Mountain. This is a hike on established mountain trails, but some sections are steep and they may be impassable in winter. Please plan accordingly! This one is not recommended for children or novice hikers. Average roundtrip hike time is 4 hours. Long pants recommended. Be careful during hunting season and wear bright colors! This is National Forest Land.
Cache is an ammo box at the summit. We placed it to call attention to the wonderful Elephant Mountain, Reservoir Hollow and Indian Gap Trail system, which seems to have fallen into disuse. It needs some love and attention. Pay close attention to the trail and bring a topo map or similar to avoid getting lost. "Fine Trails of Rockbridge" available at local booksellers and the Lexington or Buena Vista Visitor Center has a good description. You shouldn't need your GPS until you are close to the summit. The final 1/4 mile or so is steep and overgrown in spots.
Start your journey is at the Trailhead which begins on US 60 halfway between Buena Vista and the Blue Ridge Parkway (look for the pulloff on east side of road and small hiker sign). Alternate route is to pick up the Reservoir Hollow Trail at the end of 12th Street in town (more elevation gain this way). Spur trail to Elephant Mountain is at the midpoint and has a wooden sign with arrow. Very infrequent plastic yellow diamonds mark the spur trail. Don't get sidetracked on the old Indian Gap Trail which is before Elephant Mountain spur. It followed the creek down to Laurel Park, but was washed out by a flood some time ago.
We pooled our stuff to start out this cache. Original contents include Virginia Live Passionately button, Handbells button, Atlanta Braves Washcloth (new! from Japan), magenta tree frog, dollhouse teacup set, bookmark, old portuguese money and Canada Support Our Troops Geocoin.
Congratulations ithink314 for being First to Find!
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
N fgbar ubhfr vf n fgebat ubhfr.