The four caches are Colony Mill Quarter Cache, Colony Mill Two Bits Cache, Colony Mill Three Quarter Cache & Colony Mill Outta Cache
Print out the Hints info, even if you don't read it. I expect you'll need it.
For the last three years, the Tehipite Chapter of the Sierra Club has organized a hike along this cultural artifact. If you should attempt
this, watch for signs of laboriously-built retaining walls of native rock, culverts across creeks, blasted rock, more-than 75 year-old
pavement and the superb civil engineering effort accomplished without computers and bulldozers. This road was hand-built!
Unfortunately, this effort was directed at felling and
milling Giant Sequoas. Fortunately, Roosevelt declared the area one of America's
first National Parks, and with the help of the Militia, the damage was halted...
This road was the only way into the park until 1926, when the General's Highway was built. Because it is so narrow, visitors would
wait at the Post Office, and convoy in on the one-way road.
We, (the Tehipite Chapter), also regard this as a premium wildflower hike. Imagine 10 1/2 miles of garden 8 feet wide. In an ordinary
year it is spectactular. In a colder, wetter year, it has no comparison!
Some notes:
This is a strenuous hike for many people, and will require an all-day effort. In return, though, you will (possibly) find
four caches and become one of the few that ever traverse this unique historical trail. It's rated 4 for effort and 3 for terrain
so that I have some headroom for more difficult caches.
In order to accomplish a shuttle hike, you need to wait until the Crystal Cave Road is open (May 15th.).
The gate is opened each day at 10pm, and closed at 5pm. During the late spring and summer, the lower elevations may
be really hot. Uphill group goes to the trailhead at North Fork, the downhill group drives up the General's Highway to the
Crystal Cave road 'til about 3 miles after the Marble Fork Bridge. If you don't shuttle, then it's a 17 mile round trip with 4000
feet of gain. If you do shuttle, it's still 4000 feet of vertical gain or loss. Plan on an early start.
We saw two snakes, one a baby rattler, the other unidentified. Several trip members wound up with ticks. Check often,
if found, remove at once. They seem to like the area under the waistband of your daypack. Take lots of water.
In the town of Three Rivers, we found excellent muffins, coffee and icecream at Pat's Emporium (at the North Fork Road bridge),
and wine-tasting at the Three Rivers Winery, several miles down the road to Visalia. (look for the Clydesdales).
For additional detail, see "Day Hiking Sequoia", by Steve Sorensen, page 59 & page 109. Manzanita Press.
USGS quad: Giant Forest.
click here
PS: The NPS is considering opening this trail to mountain bikes - for detail try this web site.