A Rocky Start Traditional Cache
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(small)
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Since this is my first cache, I thought the title appropriate as it pertains both to the site and to the contents of the cache. This is a 2" X 6" round container with a few trade items.
The site is close to the convergence of the North and South sections of the 804 Trail, which before the 1930’s was the only means of travel between Waldport on Alsea Bay and Yachats. There was a ferry across the Alsea and then a wagon trail went down onto the beach (at low tide!) for six miles before climbing back up onto the basalt bench about .75 of a mile north of Smelt Sands. The county road then continued on south to the Yachats River where canoes were necessary to cross the river. The road followed local Indian trails that ran to shell middens along the beach areas where they harvested shellfish.
After the construction of Highway 101, the 804 Trail continued as an active trail along the coastline. In the 1970’s, home construction began to encroach upon the trail and a long battle ensued to have the county vacate the road. After reaching the Oregon Supreme Court, it was determined that the 804 Trail North would become part of the Oregon State Parks Department.
This cache lies between a cache on the northern part (“Daisy’s Wood”) of the 804 Trail, another is south and there is a multi-cache at the Commons. For the North Trail and northern part of the South Trail, the parking is at Smelt Sands. Because of the high density of ocean view homes, there is no public parking along Ocean View Drive, Marine Drive, or Aqua Vista Drive. Access the 804 South Trail from the parking lot at the Yachats Commons or Yachats State Park.
CAUTION: This is a high Geomuggle area! Great caution and sneakiness (stealth is highly overrated!) is required. The cache disappeared in early 2011 (beach cleanup? more likely....muggles!) but it has been replaced 4/20/11. Please exercise caution to prevent it being found again.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Sbhaq orgjrra n ebpx naq n uneq cynpr.