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Hard Hike, Easy Find Traditional Geocache

Hidden : 5/11/2007
Difficulty:
1.5 out of 5
Terrain:
4 out of 5

Size: Size:   regular (regular)

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Geocache Description:

aka, "Blame it on SD Rowdies."



In the San Diego Banter Forum thread, SD Rowdies posted this picture.

Although I have hiked the trail into the "Valley of the Valley Pillar" many times, I never really gave a thought to getting to the top of that peak until I saw that picture. So, you can blame Harmon for the presence of this ammo can on that peak.

The name of the cache comes from something Night Hunter said a couple of years ago when Princess Toadstool and I were lamenting an experience we had involving a challenging hike to a remote location that resulted in a DNF. He said, "If it is a hard hike, it should be an easy find." I agree. And, this is a fairly difficult hike which will require some rock scrambling to find the cache. Wear some old clothes, not those brand new $80.00 North Face or Patagonia pants from R.E.I., because you are going to be hiking through an area that was burned in the Horse Fire of July, 2006. Navigating though the burned branches can be challenging at times, depending on what line you take up and down the peak, and, I guarantee, regardless of how careful you try to be, you will get charcoal on your clothing.

You can get to this cache from the "Valley of the Valley Pillar," or from a "secret" trail that goes below the main trail into the valley. I have included two extra waypoints to help you find the best approach depending on whether you are heading down, or starting your approach from the valley floor after finding some of the caches down there.

When you see this view of Lawson and Gaskill Peaks, you are getting close.

Access to this cache is from Lyons Valley Road. Parking is available at the Horsethief Canyon staging area.

PLEASE NOTE: Access to this area from the Barrett Honor Camp road is prohibited.

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Snpvat Ynjfba naq Tnfxvyy Crnxf sebz syng, qbhoyr-orq-fvmrq ebpx, pnpur vf gb lbhe yrsg.

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)