Deepest Cave In The World??
This is a puzzle cache and is not at the listed coordinates. Read on for details.
When I was growing up in the...well, in a decade somewhat prior to the nineties, my dad often took me hiking in Neff's Canyon. He would also tell me that the deepest cave in the world was in that canyon. If he knew the location, he never shared it with me - understandable given my penchant for daring exploits in mines and caves.
Much more recently, I had the opportunity of searching for the cave with lesdubois. We soon learned that it is very, very hard to find, and its location is virtually undocumented. However, we were successful and I have since mapped out a very efficient route to the cave. This puzzle cache will take you there.
The cave is sealed and cannot be entered without a lengthy approval process. Nonetheless, visiting the location of the entrance is a unique experience, and it is fun to imagine what lies below.
Since the cave itself is likely within the Mt. Olympus Wilderness, the cache is not located there. The listed coordinates, however, will get you to the cave entrance, and the easy-to-answer questions below will provide you with the cache coordinates which are outside the Wilderness boundary. You can grab the cache on your return hike.
Getting to the Cave
Park in the Neff's Canyon trailhead parking lot (saved as a waypoint). Start by hiking up the trail and then the dirt road. Continue to the next waypoint, "Neff's Cave Turn". Turn right and hike up the (dry?) riverbed. This riverbed will take you all the way to the cave, so you can now navigate to the listed coordinates. There is some bushwhacking and rock hopping up the riverbed, but it isn't too bad. Further up, you will likely encounter water in the river. Good boots and long pants are a great idea!
Elevation gain from parking lot to cave: 1,500 feet
Solving the Puzzle at the Cave
Answer the questions below at the cave site and use the numbers in parentheses after your answers to complete the coordinates.
Suggestion: You may be glad to have reading glasses and a small flashlight when examining the padlock.
1 - Which three letters appear on the back of the padlock at the entrance?
ABC - (A = 7)
RFF - (A = 8)
YYT - (A = 5)
PDL - (A = 9)
2 - What series is the padlock?
1501 (B = 8)
7 (B = 0)
850 (B = 7)
700 (B = 4)
3 - Standing on the cave entrance and looking out, what do you see about 40 feet up and to the right?
"L & M 1989" graffiti on the rock wall (C = 9)
The roots of a dead tree on the rock in the shape of a "C" (C = 4)
A metal cable extending down into the cave (C = 5)
A large diagonal crack that you can see through (C = 2)
4 - As you stand looking out from the entrance, you will see a large splotch of color that looks like paint on the wall up and to your left and about 10 to 12 feet away. What color is it?
Yellow (D = 1)
Red (D = 6)
Orange (D = 3)
Black and blue (D = 9)
Now, plug your answers into the coordinates of the cache:
N 40 40.4AB
W 111 45.6CD
Go get it!
I recommend reading the fascinating (and colorfully written!) history of Neff's Cave. A quick Internet search will also yield remarkably varied statements as to the Cave's position in the list of the deepest known.
This cache is part of the Cardio Art series. Be sure to take one clue with you before leaving the cache! Also, you can easily pick up The Best View in Utah! on the same hike.
Driving Directions to Neff's Canyon
From Wasatch Boulevard, turn east on 3800 South toward Millcreek Canyon.
Turn right at the stop sign onto Park View Drive.
Follow Park View as it wraps around to the east and south.
Turn left onto Park Terrace Drive (4175 East).
Follow the dead end and then White Way to the parking lot.