Black Tower Traditional Geocache
erik88l-r: Cache owner has not logged on in 3+ months, nor responded to previous requests, so we'll stick a fork in it and call it done.
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(regular)
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This cache is a concrete, eco-friendly, nature mimicking container that has an opening at its base. It is located at the base of a small tree, surrounded by brush vegetation. Inside the container there is a waterproof logbook and plenty of space for travel bugs and exchange items. The intent of this cache is to become an attraction, sort of a lighthouse for Geocachers in the island, so that they’ll have the opportunity of enjoying the beauties of the great forest in which the cache is located.
This cache is located on another beautiful location of the Toro Negro Forest. The only access to the cache is probably the best one possible; a short hike threw the dense subtropical rain forest. The foliage is so thick that for the most part of the hike, your GPS unit will be acquiring and loosing reception. Your GPS will be able to guide you to the trail head named “La Torre” for the tower in Spanish. If you have difficulty finding the trail head, you can always stop by the office of the “Departamento de Recursos Naturales” (N 18º 10.436 / W 066º 29.371) and ask them for final directions towards the trail head. These guys even have a map of all the trails in the forest. Just ask them for a copy if you feel like taking your time exploring all the natural marvels of the forest. The hike to the tower has a couple of variations that can add and subtract the distance towards the cache. All of these variations are going to funnel into one trail that consists of the last mile of the ascent. This last mile will take you up a narrow hard packed dirt trail that has rugged rocky pavement. Please, do not interpret the paved trail with an easy nature walk, as most of the rocky pavement it is covered with moss and vegetation, that makes the pavement more of an obstacle that an aid. The elevation gain is very moderate and the slopes angles are minimal, not even representing an obstacle. Hydration is strongly recommended threw out the movement to the tower and in the case that an emergency replenishment of water is necessary there are numerous watering holes all around the location of the cache. Bring good hiking boots or ankle supporting shoes as I discourage the use of running shoes for the hunt of this cache. Twisted ankles can be a very common injury, so please save you the pain and just enjoy the experience. I recommend all Geocachers to take your time and enjoy this visit to the Toro Negro Forest. When you contact the guys from “Departamento de Recursos Naturales”, get a camping pass for the Toro Negro Forest and enjoy their countless waterfalls and natural pools, and then continue with your search. The Toro Negro forest consists of about 6,736 acres of a very rich collection of natural wildlife and geographic diversity. There is about 9 rivers and numerous rock walls that would tempt you to spend hours and hours of rock climbing. In order to get to the Toro Negro Forest you will have to take Highway 52 from San Juan to Ponce and just before arriving to Ponce take the exit in the town of Juana Diaz. That exits will put you on route 149. Continue on this route heading north and drive for about 45 minutes uphill until you reach the scenic route, road 143. Once you reach route 143 make a right turn heading east. To make sure that your turning at the right place, just look for the little gas station that also works as a “lechonera.” Once you are in route 143 east follow the road until you enter the Toro Negro Forest and you see the office of the “Departamento de Recursos Naturales.” That will be the starting point of your adventure for the “Black Tower.” For those of you that read this description to this point and all of you good Geocachers, with attention to details, there is a freebie on this cache. Once you find the Cache and begin to enjoy the views that the tower offers you, look at your feet and you will see an old benchmark place by the U.S. Geological Survey on 1941. The benchmark was partially destroyed, maybe on a desperate attempt to remove it. Fortunately for us, it is still there. All visiting Geocachers, take this as the Racso Challenge, so look around and find it. If you do find the benchmark, please post a picture of it on this log.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
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