Beacon Ridge
Ascent
This is the first in a series
of 3 caches that will lead you on a loop hike of Mt. Wire, also
known as Big Beacon in reference to the 1960s airplane beacon
located at the summit. The 3 caches are:
Beacon Ridge Ascent
(6-stage multicache)
Beacon Ridge Summit (an easy puzzle cache)
Beacon Ridge Descent (5-stage multicache)
You can find and log any of the individual caches,
and if you complete the entire hike, you will score 3 finds (or as
many as 10 including others on the way).
The caches will lead you up the southern ridge to
the summit and then down the southwestern ridge. This is a
steep hike, but well worth the effort. The caches are
strategically placed to provide rest stop excuses at regular
intervals. It involves approximately 5.5 miles of hiking and
2,200 feet of elevation gain. Other than a few short side
trips to cache locations, the entire hike is on a trail in
excellent condition.
Begin the hike at the Sunnyside Avenue Bonneville
Shoreline Trail parking area, where you can find the
Hogle Picasso cache just a few feet away. After passing
through the gate, turn right and follow the trail east up the
hill. This route will travel through a valley which is more
pleasant than the standard route (cooler, more scenic, fewer bikes
and a really great cache on the way).
I tried to be a bit creative with the 12 stages of
these caches, so you can expect a variety of containers and hiding
methods, and even an easy puzzle cache up on top. Bring a
pen and tweezers!
Each stage contains the coordinates for the next
stage. Following are notes for each of the 6 stages:
Stage 1 - Elevation 5,035 feet. Small plastic
container.
Stage 2 - Elevation: 5,365 feet. Ammo
can. As you continue from #1, keep heading east past a trail
intersection, and pick up the excellent
Wagner Springs Tank Cache by Running with Loppers. A bit
further on you will come to an intersection with the upper
Shoreline Trail. Head southwest to: N 40 45.208 W
111 48.306, and then turn right and begin hiking up a steep trail
going north.
Stage 3 - Elevation: 5,790 feet.
Plastic match tube. After leaving #2, head north about 50
feet to the main trail and continue up. Upon reaching the
Pipeline Trail, cross and hold course for #3.
Stage 4 - Elevation: 6,185 feet.
Nano-sized metal vial. This one is very small, but the hint
should make it easy.
Stage 5 - Elevation: 6,550 feet. Small
sprinkler pipe contrivance. Getting up there!
Final - Elevation: 6,815 feet. Small
Tupperware box. Please be sure it is well hidden before
leaving.
Although most of the stages contain logbooks or
sheets, there is no need to sign any but the final.
To continue the 3-cache series, proceed to
Beacon Ridge Summit.
Photos taken during the cache placement:
