This is a mountain bike friendly cache that allows the cacher to
experience two different parts of local history while exploring
great local trails. Hike or bike, this is beautiful country.
This is a two part multi-cache. The coordinates for the second
part are in the log of the first cache.
There is a catch: Part one is on Open Space Land and open to
all. Part two is inside Camp Tamarancho, and a permit is required.
Permits to access Camp Tamarancho are readily available online
(link at the bottom) and at Sunshine Bicycles in Fairfax (737
Center Blvd, Fairfax, CA 94930). Permits cost $5 and help fund the
activities of the Marin Boy Scouts. Plus you get a helpful map
which will take you right near each cache.
PART ONE- Wagon Wheel This cache is near a relic of days
gone past from turn-of-the-century Marin ranchos. How it got here I
don’t know. It could have been a very rough ride. Please look but
don’t touch or disturb.
The cache itself is an ammo box about 30’ above a trail built by
the Bicycle Trails Council of Marin (and about 10’ away from the
object in question). This multi-use trail is one of the few bike
legal singletrack trails in Marin. It was built with thousands of
hours of volunteer labor. The trail is now part of White Hill open
space preserve. The trail was built specifically to pass right by
this point. Most people pass right by without ever noticing this
item. The cache log contains the coordinates for the second part of
this cache. Check out the views. Enjoy the trail. Also consider
grabbing nearby caches Mt. Tops of Marin #2, and Icarus Touches the
Wind.
PART TWO- The Mystery of B-17 Coordinates for this cache
are located in the log book for Part One- Wagon Wheel.
On May 16, 1946, a B-17 bomber piloted by Army Air Force pilot
Ward Skaggs was on its way to Hamilton Field in Novato when it
crashed into White’s Hill. The crash was probably caused by an air
traffic control error. Three crewmen died and six survived. There
were rumors at the time that the plane was carrying nuclear cargo
of some sort, but no confirmation of that has ever been found
[Copied from www.marinhistory.org]. Many know of the B-17 crash in
Fairfax, but few get to see this.
This cache is the location of a piece of the wreckage of the
B-17 crash. There is no log. Find it, and you’ve completed the
cache. US servicemen died in this crash, so treat it with due
respect. The cache is a few feet from a fire road in a nice shady
clearing. There is no need to bushwhack or leave any established
trail.
It is near the bottom of Broken Dam trail, about 600’ from the
intersection of Broken Dam trail and Dead Heiffer fire road. While
you are out there, check out the broken dam and beautiful
suspension bridge built by the Bicycle Trails Council by volunteer
labor. No bushwhacking or going off established trails.
Remember to get your permit and handy map.
Recommended route for cyclists: Irons Springs Road (in Fairfax)-
Alchemy Tr.- Goldman Tr.- Serpentine Tr.-Wagon Wheel Tr.- B-17 Tr.
- Broken Dam Tr. A great singletrack loop with many options for
longer rides and more caches!
Recommended routes for hikers: You have three start options. You
can start from the end of Cascade Drive in Fairfax, CA 94930 (in
the Elliot Nature Preserve); from Buckeye Circle in Woodacre, CA
94973; or from Iron Springs Road in Fairfax, CA 94930. Because you
cannot cross through the center of the Boy Scout Camp, this is a
long hike.
The boy scouts have requested that geocachers looking for the
second part (The Mystery of B-17) observe the following:
- Bicycles are only allowed on the singletrack loop on the
perimeter of the camp. Cycling cachers will need to leave their
bikes and walk the last 500 or so feet from the intersection of
Broken Dam trail and Dead Heiffer fire road.
- Geocachers should not attempt to get to the wreckage site if
there are scouts camping in the area. Please come back some other
time if the area is being camped in, or there are scouting
activities in progress.
- Hiking cachers should approach the wreckage site from the
singletrack trail around the perimeter of the camp. Do not cut
through the center of camp.
- Cachers looking for the wreckage site should be prepared to
identify themselves to anyone inside the camp. The scouts and their
leaders are very geocache friendly, and are not mugglers. This is
private property.
Please respect the requests of the boy scouts. They have been
very generous in allowing access to the wreckage site, and in
allowing the public to access their beautiful private
property. The boy scouts have made many large contributions to the
community and are active geocachers to boot.
Helpful links: Map of White’s Hill Open Space Preserve-
http://www.co.marin.ca.us/depts/PK/Main/os/pdf/CascadeCanyonWeb.pdf
Map of Gary Giacomini Open Space Preserve-
http://www.co.marin.ca.us/depts/PK/Main/os/pdf/GaryGiacominiWeb.pdf
Info on Camp Tamarancho Permits (rough map also available)-
http://www.boyscouts-marin.org/