Reckless Disregard Traditional Cache
Marko Ramius: The cache owner is not responding to issues with this geocache, so I must regretfully archive it.
Please note that if geocaches are archived by a reviewer or Geocaching HQ for lack of maintenance, they are not eligible for unarchival.
Thank you for your understanding.
Marko Ramius
Volunteer Cache Reviewer
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(regular)
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A regular size cache located within a hundred yards of the backbone cache.
Dedicated to the 1,158 firefighters who fought the Coral fire between November 24th and November 27th
Congratulations to Sr. Hikers on the FTF!
This area of the backbone trail, with it’s wind caves, is just off of Corral Canyon Road where it borders the Malibu Creek State Park and rides along a ridge offering wonderful views of the coastline and the Channel Islands. It is at the junction of trails leading into at least three different canyons. It is enjoyed and used equally well by hikers, mountain bikers, equestrians, and those just driving up for the views.
In November of 2007,here was a state of emergency was still declare in the area, as Malibu and the State of California were still recovering a series of wild fires that struck the month before. The news media in both print and television were carrying images of Hundreds of firefighters, from both northern and southern California as well as other states, who preparing to spend their Thanksgivings not with their families, but pre-deployed in a series of make shift camps due to the still elevated fire danger and the expected Santa Ana winds. The area around the caves was well posted for no open fires.
The Coral Fire began on Thanksgivings day at about 3:23 in the morning. Before it was contained, it had burned nearly 5,000 acres, destroyed 53 homes and 27 out buildings, destroyed 37 vehicles and damaged another 43 homes, with an estimated lost of at least $100 million and a cost of response of over $4,000,000.
This fire was not like other recent fires. It was not started by an act of God. There were no power lines sparking or being downed by the high winds. No broken glass bottles acting as magnifying glasses in bone dry tinder. No traffic accident igniting the brush. No, this fire was started by purely human actions, by individuals with total and reckless disregard for law, common sense and the lives and safety of those around them.
Fortunately there was no reported loss of human life, however six firefighters were injured battling this wind driven Brush Fire. Some of the fire fighters were injured in the early morning hours when the fire over ran their positions as they struggled to contain, or hinder the fire’s spread while allowing the residents a chance to flee the blaze’s onslaught.
After an investigation, five individuals were arrested and charged with causing the blaze. The five suspects are charged with felony counts of recklessly causing a fire with great bodily injury and recklessly causing a fire to an inhabited structure. One suspect’s lawyer stated, ”They were having fun," …. "They were just having fun, not doing anything illegal. He also added that he was "baffled" by the charge involving "causing bodily injury," since the injured were firefighters, including one who received second-degree burns to the face. "Isn't that his job?" he asked rhetorically about the firefighter. "Doesn't he assume the risk?"
The damage to Wildlife and the environment is a different story and may yet impact the recreational use and access of the Backbone trail for all. The watershed has receive a devastating blow that will take years to heal. The pressure on local wildlife is immense.
There is a move to limit access to this portion of the backbone trail. There are some who are pushing to limit or prohibit camping in the area including parkland and private campgrounds. Others want to block all access from
Coral Canyon road. Only time will tell the final toll of these reckless acts.
The cache itself is located near the origin of the fire, but about 20 yards away in an unburned area of scrub. You can follow several animal tracks to the cache without impacting the environment. The cave, where the fire started, is in the monolith to the southwest. You can still see the perimeter of the burn as you hike along the trail.
I offer the cache and the cave as a learning opportunity to discover the effects we each personally can have on the world around us, and nature’s attempt to recover from the Reckless Disregard of the few.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
haqre ohfu