GCJKHY A Drive In The Woods #2 – Top Of The World (Traditional Cache) in Washington, United States created by MarcusArelius

This cache has been archived.

MarcusArelius: This cache was originally almost a drive up. Since the area has changed it doesn't fit the series anymore and lo longer has good access.

GCJKHY ▼

A cache by MarcusArelius Message this owner

Hidden : 6/1/2004

Difficulty:

Terrain:

Size: Size: regular (regular)

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Geocache Description:

Well things have certainly changed since this cache was placed 11 years ago. This is no longer a drive up cache. But the 2.5-3 mile hike (depending on your route) will be rewarded with a 360 degree view and a 50 caliber ammo can. Bring a camera and a lunch.

In 2009 they decommissioned the road from the watershed gate to the 4x4 hill climb. Now they have also closed the road "to" the watershed gate at the shooting pit which is about 2.5 miles away from the old "sane" parking spot. And it sounds like the 4x4 hill climb was terminated with extreme prejudice.

The elevation at the top is 4500 feet, that’s a 2700 foot gain from the freeway. You may have to cross a few patches of snow well into early June. In winter the terrain goes up to a five since you will need snowshoes or a snowmobile.

The roads are unimproved but any car with 5 good tires can make it to the parking spot (in the summer). It should take about 25 minutes to drive the 5 miles from the freeway to the parking spot.

Driving Directions:
Take I-90 to exit 47.
Turn south at the exit.
Turn right on the gravel road and travel 1.3 miles west.
Turn left (south) on Forest Service road 5510 (N47 23.530 W121 30.494)
After 2.1 miles you should pass an open gate (N47 23.183 W121 31.326)
Continue up until you get to N47 21.853 W121 31.878

Choose your route it's 2.5 to 3 miles and 1200 feet of elevation gain from here.

About the “Drive In The Woods” cache series:
I like to take long drives in the woods and did it a lot before caching prompted me to start hiking. But hiking is not for everyone so this series is intended to get you into the woods without needing a backpack. Most cars can drive forest service roads just fine, but high clearance, and 4-wheel drive, are a plus for the type of roads that I like. But I don’t really know how to rate the terrain, they are not physically demanding, but do require some driving skill.

Here are the other caches in this series:

A Drive In The Woods #1 - Dead End
A Drive In The Woods #3 - Mine creek
A Drive In The Woods #4 - The Falls
A Drive In The Woods #5 - A River Runs Through It
A Drive In The Woods #6 - No. Fork Falls

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Haqre gur fghzc ol gur gerr jvgu gur orag bire gbc.

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)