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Stafford Lookout Site Traditional Geocache

Hidden : 08/04/2007
Difficulty:
2 out of 5
Terrain:
3 out of 5

Size: Size:   regular (regular)

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Geocache Description:


View from Stafford Lookout Site looking NW toward Esmeralda Peaks

Stafford Lookout Site is located 12 miles NNE of Cle Elum. The lookout was built by the Forest Service in 1935. It was an L-4 cab at the south end of a ridge at elevation 3784 feet.

To get there, from Hiway 970 east of Cle Elum, take the North Fork Teanaway Road. After passing 29 Pines Campground (about 7 miles), bear right onto Stafford Creek Road (FR 9703). Then after a mile, turn left onto Standup Creek Road and drive to the trailhead. The last mile of road is rough with several deep water berms, so a high clearance rig is recommended. There is a foot bridge at the trailhead that crosses over Standup Creek. You will then hike south on the old lookout road. Its a fairly steady uphill walk to the lookout site. Total hiking distance (one-way) is 1.1 miles with a 620 feet elevation gain. At the end of the old lookout road, the last 200 feet to the site is a trail.

The cache container is an ammo can, hidden in the rocks on the east downhill side of the lookout site. There are a couple of spoiler photos (below) if you need them.

On a clear day looking south you can see Mt. Rainier. To the right of Mt. Rainier, about 5.5 miles away, is Teanway Butte, another old lookout site, and home of The Butte cache by Rentakid.

Foot Bridge at the Trailhead crosses over Standup Creek

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Gur pnpur vf va gur ebpxf ba gur qbjauvyy fvqr bs gur ybbxbhg fvgr. Gur pbagnvare vf na nzzb pna pbirerq jvgu n juvgr syng ebpx (frr fcbvyre cubgbf). Fgnaq ng gur obggbz bs gur ebpx cvyr, snpvat gur ybbxbhg fvgr. Gur juvgr ebpx gung pbiref gur pnpur vf gb gur evtug bs gur byq gvzoref.

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)