** This cache is now over 20 years old, originally placed on Aug 27, 2003 when I wore a younger man's bike shorts. **
When I was a kid I played a computer game called "Bane of the Cosmic Forge." I never really knew what the word "bane" meant, but it was a fun game and I saved the world despite my ignorance ... blah blah blah. 20 years later I finally looked up the word and I think it is appropriate word to include in the name of this cache.
The Montara Mountain cache had been on my to do list since I started geocaching because it was the one cache closest to my home. Until today, I have to confess that I've just been a bit too lazy to go up the hill to check it out. The last entry on the "Montara Mountain" cache reported the cache missing and sure enough when I trekked up the hill, the cache was gone, BUT I was prepared with a back up cache to put in its place (so my adventures wouldn't be for nothing).
This cache is very mountain bike friendly (although you may have to push your bike up some of the steep parts). You shouldn't have any trouble on foot. Because of the open exposure and steep climbs at a few points, I recommend you bring lots of water and do it on a cool day.
The views on the way to this cache are incredible. And what goes up must come down (hence the fun in using a mountain bike to get there). There were tons of smiling people on the trail when I was up there and I can see why the last cache had disappeared due to its high traffic exposure.
For you history buffs, the decaying "paved" road going up either side of the mountain was the old coastal highway that used to connect Pacifica and Montara. They must have moved the road to the coast because too many people were getting car sick on the old road.
You can approach this cache from several places on either the Pacifica or Montara side of the mountain. If people find other approaches to the cache, let me know and I'll add them to the cache page.
PLEASE cover up the cache completely with rocks so it is not visible from any angle. If the rocks you find on the cache aren't sufficient, go find some more! More rocks can be found all over the area (isn't nature wonderful?!).
OK... enough talking about the cache. Get off your computer and go have fun getting to this cache!