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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
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The W is the double notch in the Knife Edge of the Shield in the Sandia Mountains. Getting there requires climbing 3000 ft. in 3 miles, including steep scrambling above large drop-offs.
We watched the sun set as the last in our group of four climbers finished the last pitch. We weren't too worried - we only had two easy rappels down to the W, then the scramble and walk out to Piedra Lisa trailhead. The first rappel went well until we finished and tried to pull the rope down - it stuck. No matter how we shook and pulled the end, it wouldn't come loose. So I had to climb back up, reset the anchor so it would pull more easily, and rappel back down. By then it was really dark, but at least this time the rope pulled. We took a brief break to watch the lightning glowing in the thunderheads over the Jemez Mountains to the north.
Then the next rappel was the same story. Two stuck rappels on one climb! Nobody should be that unlucky. It was a great relief to make it to the W about 11:00 pm, even though we still had to scramble down in the dark with huge drop-offs on either side. We had to take it very slowly. Finally getting to the bottom of the knife edge was another relief. Just some bushwacking now (there was much less of a trail there twenty years ago). Running into cactus in the dark wasn't the worst of our problems - we were out of water. We'd brought plenty for a long day, but hadn't expected to be out most of the night, too.
About 2:00 am we reached the Piedra Lisa Trail where it crosses the Rincon. And what a marvelous sight - coming up the trail was Gary Tisone of mountain rescue, and he had water for us! We were all mountain rescue members, so you might think we would have been a little embarrassed, but we were just very happy to see him. Gary is no longer with us, but I will always remember him with gratitude as a strike team of one, coming to look for us.
True story. The moral is, don't get stuck on the Knife Edge in the dark, and bring plenty of water.
There is only one way to get to this cache that doesn't require ropes. Take the Piedra Lisa Trail from the south end up to the Rincon, then follow the unofficial climber's trail up the Rincon to the Knife Edge. Then scramble up the Knife Edge to the W. Do not try coming down the Knife Edge from the top unless you are prepared to rappel.
The Knife Edge is aptly named, as it drops off hundreds of feet on either side. Only people who are very confident of their scrambling abilities, with respect for but not a fear of heights, should attempt this. The W is also an appropriate name, as it is two large notches in the Knife Edge, which are clearly visible from below. Look for it from where the Piedra Lisa Trail leaves the road.
The cache is right at the edge of the W. It has to be well hidden, as this is where climbers hang out waiting for their turn to cross the W. You don't need to move any rocks to get to the cache, but it is hidden under rocks, and you'll have to feel for it.
To be sure you are on the right route, here are the coordinates you should pass as you start up on the Knife Edge: N35 14.502 W106 27.973. The hardest moves come just above a gnarly, twisted, dead juniper at: N35 14.452 W106 27.924. If you get past that, it's still not easy, but it doesn't get any worse.
This cache isn't for everyone, but if you enjoy this sort of thing, I think you'll find this the best ridge hike in the Sandias.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Gur pnpur vf haqre n syng ebpx gung vf nobhg 1 k 2.5 srrg, whfg ng gur rqtr bs jurer lbh ortva gb pyvzo qbja vagb gur J. Qba'g gel gb zbir guvf ebpx, be nal bs gur bguref V'ir jrqtrq va nebhaq vg. Engure, fpenzoyr qbja gb jurer lbh pna ernpu va haqrearngu vg.