Alan Rowe Memorial Traditional Cache
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(regular)
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This is a challenging four wheel drive location. You can hike to the site and maybe bike to it, but you better be in good shape. Take extra water. The cache is located at 7814' elevation. When you get to the site the cache is in plain sight. The challenge is getting to the site.
It started in 2001 when a few off road enthusiasts with very different backgrounds, and one similarity, got together to ‘wheel on the trails around Big Bear Lake, in Southern California. The similarity was their vehicle, the Early Bronco, and the initial gathering was called a bash. The camaraderie that the few individuals built in two days was to be called a brotherhood. - The Early Bronco Brotherhood of Southern California, and that, was then shortened to SoCal Broncos.
As word spread about the group, more and more people associated themselves with these few. The group, though not officially “organized” grew in numbers, and quite a few of the members became friends.
On April 4, 2004 a new member joined this Brotherhood, and quickly became friends with several of the individuals already active in the group. His name was Alan Rowe.
A trip to the mountains, and a specific trail, was planned, and had to be canceled. Several members decided to reschedule, but the timing never worked out, for Alan to get a chance to run that trail with the group.
Captain Alan Rowe was deployed for his second tour in Iraq, in August of 2004. On September 3, 2004, Alan was killed by an insurgent IED. We never got to run Heartbreak Ridge with our friend.
In the months that followed some of the members discussed a way to honor our friend, and the sacrifice that he had made for us. One member donated a large steel plate. One member donated the use of a CNC mill. One member donated the professional art/design work. A plaque was engraved to Alan’s honor. On Memorial Day, 2005, some of the brethren loaded their Broncos and made the run to the top of Heartbreak Ridge. One Bronco contained the 300+ lb. plate. Others carried sacks of concrete and some carried water. All carried a driver with a heavy heart, saddened by the loss of a friend.
This year we placed an ammo box and a log at the plaque site. If you can make it up the hill, you are invited to share the tribute to one of AMERICA’S HEROS.
I would like to thank another hero, Viet Nam veteran, Danny Bogner. Danny was instrumental in placing both the memorial and the cache. Thank You Danny! For your service to all of us!
The cache does not hold any swag. There is a log book and some pens.
If you are a Veteran or an active member of the armed forces, we would like to hear from you, and thank you for your service.
Congratulations to FishPoet and Westward Ho for being FTF. Alan Rowe Memorial T-shirts will be awarded, for their accomplishment.
Please Tread Lightly!
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
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