Highwood Mtns. Summit Series - Windy Mt. Traditional Cache
Highwood Mtns. Summit Series - Windy Mt.
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This cache is the first in a series of Highwood Mountain caches located on major summits. The Highwoods are one several "island ranges" that dot the plains of Montana east of the Rockies. Windy Mt is on the northern edge of the Highwoods and is located in Lewis and Clark Nat'l Forest.
Directions: Park at the Trailhead for Forest Ser. Trail 411 on the Thain Creek Campground Rd. There is good signage for this. Hike northward on FST 411 to FST 454 (also well marked with a sign). FST 454 wraps around the southern base of Windy Mt. Unless you desire a serious goat scramble, DO NOT LEAVE THE TRAIL UNTIL YOU REACH A WOODEN SIGN THAT SAYS WINDY PK ELEV ....., this is on the eastern flank of the mountain. After finding the cache you may want to continue on FST 454 to FST 431 which takes you back to Thain Creek Campground for a nice 3-4 hour day-hike loop. Along the way you can pick up another couple of caches: No Brigg Deal and Thain't Too Hard.
These trails are open to hikers, horses, mountain bikes, and dirt bikes. ATV's are not allowed. From the trailhead to the cache is about 3.6 miles with a 1500' rise in elevation. Most of the the trip is on well-groomed, but often steep trail. The final ascent is off-trail and steep. If the final push doesn't take your breath away, the view certainly will!!!
I am a firm believer that a cache should be hard to get to or hard to find, not both. Look for a medium ammo can at the base of tree with just enough cover to prevent mugglization.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Onfr bs cvar gerr
Treasures
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