"Tank" you Traditional Geocache
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(regular)
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Located in the Virginia Range Mountains just north of Carson City, Nevada, at an elevation of 6838 feet. A 4WD vehicle is recommended due to some rutty or rocky areas, but a high-clearance 2WD can negotiate this road as well. The road is modestly maintained since it is used as an access to service radio relay towers, reservoirs, and any active mines. From Virginia City, take Ophir Road, follow it for 3 1/2 miles and park when you get near the water tank.
The cache is an medium-size green ammo box located about 150 yards from the water tank. It is an easy hike to the nearby hilltop that overlooks the Washoe Lake and valley area. The views of the Sierras and panoramic areas are great. TahoeJoe and I ride our mountain bikes here frequently, ususally starting at Carson City and riding to Virginia City. The numerous dirt roads make for a great way to explore many areas of the Virginia Mountains. One peak, Mount Davidson, is nearly 7900 feet high, and has the bonus of another cache. You will pass Planter Box and Tri-Valley Cache in the nearby area. The alternative route, Goni Road, from Carson City is longer, steeper, higher in elevation, and snow-bound frequently during winter and early spring, but two other caches--Tavo's B-Day and Here Today Goni Tomorrow Caches--can be directly accesed by taking that route.
Historical Information courtesy of TopDeadCenter: The dry reservoir next to the water tank is Five Mile Reservoir. The water on the Comstock was of poor quality, and in short supply. In 1869, the Virginia and Gold Hill Water Company hired Herman Schussler to solve the water supply problem. The solution was to build an inverted siphon system. The source of water was from Marlett Lake, above Lake Tahoe, at an elevation of 7840 feet. Specially constructed pipe carried water across southern Washoe Valley to the mountains above Five Mile Reservoir. From there, wooden flumes carried the water down to the reservoir and ultimately to Virginia City and Gold Hill. Work began in June 1873, and was finished six weeks later. Initially the system delivered 2.2 million gallons of water daily, all by gravity. The system is still in use today, although the wooden flumes have been replaced by underground pipe. You can still see the cuts in the sides of the mountains where the wooden flumes were in place.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Pbirerq ol ebpxf ng gur uvyygbc. Cyrnfr er-pbire gb nqrdhngryl uvqr gur pnpur nsgre svaqvat. Gunax lbh.