WEST-PEAK CACHE Traditional Cache
-
Difficulty:
-
-
Terrain:
-
Size: 
(small)
Please note Use of geocaching.com services is subject to the terms and conditions
in our disclaimer.
Topographical maps of Boney Mountain show a feature called Tri-Peaks, depicted on the map by three small contour rings at 3,000 feet. This feature is a massive jumble of massive volcanic rocks forming a playground for the curious and unlimited places to hide geocaches. Within this jumble are cavern rooms, underground passageways, narrow defiles, and a deep cave. This cache is near the top of the western peak, at a wonderful viewpoint.
For those not familiar with Tri-Peaks and even for those who have been there a few times, route finding can be very confusing. The easiest way to get to Tri-Peaks is from the Circle X Ranch trailhead parking for the Sandstone Peak Trail. Distance to Tri-Peaks is about 3 miles. Follow the Backbone Trail west to the sign for Tri-Peaks and carefully follow a poor trail to a rocky ridge. At N34 deg. 07.301 min. W118 deg. 57.022 min. find a pipe topped with a boundary marker that (on maps showing the Circle X Ranch and Pt. Mugu State Park properties) indicates a corner of park properties. From this point follow a faint trail immediately past the Tri Peak Cache (GCJ2PZ) to a painting on a rock wall. There are two ways to proceed from here.
One way is past the Nice Room Cache (GCMA5K). Figure out a route to the right of the rock with the painting. You will eventually have to descend through a narrow hole to the room with that cache. From the big room take the Narrows west. When you emerge from the Narrows at a Bay Tree, contour on the rocks in a WSW direction to N34 deg. 07.344 min. W118 deg. 57.030 min. Turn south and follow a pass in the rocks to a flat area with beautiful views. Look for the cache hanging in a Bay Tree at eye level with your right shoulder against a rock face.
A second way is go left from the painting, working you way north under and over until you emerge at a point between the cache coordinates and the coordinates listed in the paragraph above. It will be necessary to pause underground to let your eyes adjust to the lack of light to find your way. Take your time and find the easy way. In some places it may appear that a heroic climb is needed, but if you look under for small passageways, safe routes are there. This way is shorter, but you miss out on some of the fun. Just for fun do it both ways. You will be amazed and surprised. Hope you are not claustrophobic.
The harder way to get to Tri-Peaks is from Newbury Park, up Boney Road, past the Old Cabin Site to the top, about 5 miles each way. Hike along a ridge from the high point above Newbury Park toward Tri-Peaks. Hike toward and to the left of a large rock. Follow the trail up through the poison oak and watch for a small hole under the rocks on the right. Pass through two holes in succession and come out in the big (Nice) room. A poor reception waypoint between holes is N34 deg. 07.349 min. W118 deg. 56.987 min. From here follow the directions given above from the big room.
Once here it is worth spending a couple of hours exploring. Oh yes, the cave. Just to the west of the coordinates ending in 07.344 min. and 57.030 min. there is another hole in the mountain from which sometimes people leave a string to follow. Others take the string so you cannot count on it being there. The Cave is now a puzzle cache: GCPEYC. To do it you would need to be equipped as a spelunker and could spend an hour or so in total darkness trying to find the last room some 100 feet below daylight.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
fznyy fdhner cynfgvp obk jvguva n fcbe
Treasures
You'll collect a digital Treasure from one of these collections when you find and log this geocache:
Loading Treasures