GCYQNY Revenge of the Dark Star (Multi-cache) in Utah, United States created by MOCKBA

This cache has been archived.

BlueRajah: This cache is being archived. Cachers have placed "Needs Maintenance" logs or "Needs Archived" logs, with no response from owner.

If you replace the cache feel free to contact me it can be easily unarchived. It will need to meet current listing guidelines. Do not post responses on this cache page, contact blue.rajah.ut@gmail.com.

Thank you,
BlueRajah
Volunteer Geocache Reviewer - Utah

Geocaching Guidelines: http://www.geocaching.com/about/guidelines.aspx

bluerajah@geocachingadmin.com

GCYQNY ▼

A cache by MOCKBA Message this owner

Hidden : 10/6/2006

Difficulty:

Terrain:

Size: Size: micro (micro)

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Geocache Description:

updated 4/2/2012: part one is said to be missing. To enjoy the final part, you should BYO blacklight. Attributes updated accordingly

The newest and possibly the meanest member of my family of Dark Star caches, it is a two-part cache based on a seldom-utilized physical effect.

Both parts are in two inch-tall, screw-cap painted aluminum canisters. The first one, tucked under a table-slab, contains something you need to locate the second part, a short distance to the West.

There are numerous trail options to get here, some of them legacy of the XIX century prospecting boom, some left from Eagle Scouts projects in the 60s, connecting to the abandoned ridgeside fire road in Red Butte Preserve. But of course the easiest option is to follow the grade of Emigration Canyon RR. The turn-of-the-century electric narrow-gage railroad forked near the ridge separating Burr Fork from Brigham Fork, with a spur to the East serving Pinecrest Resort, and a switchback to the West accessing sandstone quarries not far from the cachesite. In 1917, the rails were salvaged for construction of a narrow-gauge line to Alta (it was pretty hard to factory-order so much metal during the war), and voila, here comes a trail.

More recently, the county contemplated connecting this rich trail system in Freeze-Brigham-Burr-Killyon drainages with the BST and Research Park, but some snobby homeowners voted down the connector which would have brought us the riffraff to the slopes overlooking their backyards.

Although Brigham Tunnel is such a prominent landmark here, I am in the dark as to what it was supposed to do and when. No patented claims ever emerged from it. There are local rumors about gold mining up in Brigham, and an 1897 report on Hazel-Bess Co. analyzing gold ores from Emigration Canyon, so it is tempting to connect the dots. Then of course there is a tale about a female body found in there in the 70s, and how the tunnel was then blasted shut at 2000 ft mark, which makes a good Halloweeen story again with hardly any proven substance. I would really appreciate any more tidbits :)

Be forwarned that you will most likely get your feet wet. Sun and Moon's, down the road, is a kind of a cult-following place to warm yourself up. The place has been known for decades as the Crompton's and before and after it, since at least 1940s but with quite many out-of-business seasons, by a half-dozen other names. The ex-Crompton's Portabella Sandwich has survived all the perturbations though :)

This cache was originally placed for the 5-Star Game. Thanks to Shaker-SLC for equipping it with a proper log. History credits go to Carlstrom & Furse.

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

[Part I (no longer needed):] yrsg pbeare [Part II] qnex

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)