Part of a series of caches placed at the former docks serviced by the Mosquito Fleet ferries of the early 1900s. Read more about this location's history and the Mosquito Fleet series below. This is a 2-stage multicache ending with a small pill-sized bottle containing a logbook and pencils.
First, go to the coordinates above, the Harper Fishing Pier.
Walk to the end of the pier and count the old posts in the water that are not attached to the current pier. You're looking for just those within 10 feet to the east of end of the pier (look down). Don't include the big piling far to the east or any to the north or south - just count the ones that are close to the end of the pier.
Now do the math:
A = the number of old posts you counted
B = the number of hours you can park at the parking area (look for the sign)
C = A + B
D = B * 3
The cache is located at N 47 31.31[A], W 122 31.1[C D] .
As you walk back the pier, look down in the water for the abundant Puget Sound critters living at this location - rock crabs, anemonies and starfish.
This cache is easiest done at low tide. It can be done at high tide but with a bit more difficulty. Check the tides at http://www.tidelinesonline.com/washington.html. The closest location listed there is Harper, Yukon Harbor. Please close the cache container tightly and rehide it carefully.
This is the first of a cache series highlighting the many former Mosquito Fleet docks scattered throughout our region. See our cache page for the others in the series.
About Harper Dock and the Mosquito Fleet
Prior to the construction of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge, the Kitsap Peninsula depended on a fleet of steam powered passenger ferries as its primary connection to cities to the south and east. At its peak, this fleet served 26 docks between Kingston and Olalla. Some docks have been renovated and used for other purposes, while many others are long since gone, except for a few posts in the water.
The Harper dock was the predescessor to the Southworth ferry dock in service today. In the early days, the May B. and the Reliance provided passenger service between Seattle and dock here, Colby and Manchester. Auto ferries took over in the late 20's to serve the growing need for vehicle traffic to and from the peninsula. The Harper dock served auto ferries until the construction of today's Southworth dock, to the southeast of this location.