This great Geocache is located on the top of a ridge peak
between Gem Lake and Lake Estelle. To start off with, this is not
an "easy" cache. Between the scramble over a talus slope and
slippery bear grass on a 40 degree slope to the hike up the final
ridge, it's an adventure.
The cache site is 1000' above the lakes, at an elevation of 6721'.
The views are unmatched in the area, especially since you can see 4
lakes (Gem, Estelle, Moose, Darling) at once (if you are in the
exactly the right spot and "jump" a little to see Darling...)
The cache is right on the line separating the Kootenai National
Forest from the Idaho Panhandle National Forest.
As for Mountain Peaks, Mount Pend Oreille is to the northwest,
Smith Mtn is to the northeast, the Lunch Peak Lookout is due west,
and Moose Mtn is due south.
This hike has an elevation gain of 2100 feet, and it's 5 miles
round trip. Of course 1/2 of that hike is off trail so that makes
it a bit more difficult.
To get to the Cache site, travel 16 miles up Trestle Creek Road
275 to Lightning Creek Road 419; turn north and go ¾ mile to the
trailhead for Gem Lake Trail No. 554. Hike up the Gem Lake Trail
for 1-1/2 miles until you get to Gem Lake. The trail section (up to
Gem Lake) is in fine shape. The rest of it is, well, you get to
find your own "path." On the eastern side of the lake at the swampy
area, follow the talus slope on the southerly hill up to the
"saddle" (48 22.692, 116 07.600) - then follow the ridge to the
cache site. I don't recommend a "straight-shot" from the lake up
through the brush, as it's a bit "discouraging" at times, if you
know what I mean.
An alternate route for this Cache is to turn off on Moose Creek
Road 1022 right before the Gem Lake trailhead. Follow this out to
the Moose Lake trail 237 trailhead. Hike out to the Lake Estelle
Trail 36, and then follow this to Lake Estelle. Then bushwhack up
to the Saddle, follow the ridge up to the Cache. This route is a
little flatter (though about twice as long) on the lower section,
but about the same elevation gain above the lake.
One other warning: If you are skittish about hiking in
Grizzly/Black bear country, you may want to skip this hike. On my
way up the very steep slope I saw a very, very large, very round,
dirty-blonde bear's rear end for a few seconds before a large head
looked back at me. Then he quickly disappeared up toward the ridge.
There have been grizzly sightings here (there used to be a
laminated "grizzly sighted" sign at the trailhead, but it's gone
now), and I’ve seen a few others a bit farther northeast years
ago.
I recommend this hike for those of you who like to get off trail
every once in a while and go where a lot of people don't. The Cache
is a Nalgene Bottle which originally contains 2006 Green Jeep TB,
Krokodile Lure, hiking towels, car. |