Gold Mountain Challenge Traditional Geocache
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(regular)
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Cache is on Gold Mountain at the highest point in Kitsap County (1761').
This cache is located at the highest point in Kitsap County, along with two USGS benchmark (PIDs SY5508 and SY5509). You can log the cache, the benchmarks , and a County Highpoint trip (www.cohp.org) all at the same time.
The summit of Gold Mountain can be approached from the north (recommended for hikers) and from the west (recommended for bikers). The west approach is from the intersection of NE Tiger Lake Rd. W and Mission-Tiger Lake Rd. W and is not on the linked map. Follow the logging road, bear left at the first major fork in road and continue up until you intersect the access road from the south. The elevation gain is just over 1000' and you will be hiking/biking around 8 miles round trip -- 11 miles if you go via the mine from the north. It will take 3-4 hours and will definitely get your heart pumping on the way up. Sturdy hiking boots are recommended.
A map of Gold mountain with the approach routes, a Green Mountan trail map and a few pictures can be found here:
(visit link)
The north approach is from the Gold Creek trailhead and can be made by continuing west from the Bats in the Bellefry cache at the abandoned gold mine located a mile and a half up Gold Creek. A shortcut can be taken by turning right when the Gold Creek trail hits the trees and going straight up the mountain. Either trail will take you to the end of an unmapped and relatively level logging road at N47 32.963 W122 49.229 that leads south to intersect with the access road coming up from the southern approach at the hairpin turn at about 1250' as shown on the USGS Wildcat Lake topographic map.
Follow the access road on up from the intersection to the east side of Gold Mountain and then back west toward the 1761' highest elevation point as depicted on the topographic map. On the way you can take a short side-trip to the KCPQ transmitter and antenna site (there is no man on duty there). You will hear the cooling fans a little past the turnoff as you continue on.
The jumping-off point for the final short climb to the summit is at N47 32.891 W122 47.208, where an old cabin used to be. Only the concrete steps and a pile of rocks remain.
Once you reach the summit you can search for the cache, the two listed benchmarks, a third benchmark that is unlisted but referenced in the details for SY5509, and the four angle iron remnants of the lookout tower legs also referenced in the details for SY5509. A compass and 25-30' tape measure would be useful in locating all of these landmarks. On the way back you can also look for the witness post and azimuth mark near the road on the right.
The cache is a medium-size plastic bucket with a green lid. Initial cache contents are a tape measure, a pen that lights up, a compact corkscrew (so you can open that bottle of chardonnay you packed up the hill), a key chain for your skeleton keys, a calculator, a pocket microscope, a pair of earrings, some Mickey Mouse items (playing cards, key ring, pop-top opener) and a sports watch. There's plenty of room in the bucket for other stuff, so please bring a contribution and add enticement for others to attempt this challenge.
There is a nice view to the north near the new 911 tower by the large concrete building, which is just beyond where you left the road to go to the old cabin coordinates. There is also a nice view to the south if you walk a little south of the road just before the gate for the TV 20 tower, which you passed on the way up. There is also a view to the east if you take the first turnoff to the right as you approach the cabin and cache locations.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Vg'f haqre gur fghzc ng gur uvturfg cbvag.