What are all these old things at the end of Decker School
Road?
You picked a fine time to leave me, Loose Wheel
click to enlarge |
A long history obviously surrounds Nicholas Flat and the popular
pond that's part of the area. But few people turn in the other
direction, where a variety of human artifacts are spread about. The
1967 topo map shows as many as eight structures in this area, all
now gone. I have been told that a fire around 1999 destroyed the
last of them. |
Take a short walking tour, less than half an hour, and find
this three-stage cache.
|
The first stage I call A Great Figure. Of the three stages, this
is the only one whose purpose I haven't figured out, though it's
clearly related to water flow. (Big Eagle suggested that it may be
related to allowing for thermal expansion, which makes sense.) The
clue and coordinates found here will lead you to the other two
stages. I've printed the clue and coordinates on small cards so
that you can take one. Please leave the rest. Don't recap too
tightly; a light touch should be sufficient. |
Decker Oak Grove
click to enlarge |
The final container is SMALL (but not micro), and I recommend
against trade items except those which will fit in the small ziploc
bag provided in the cache.
Tequila Babies
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While the distance is short and no actual bushwhacking is
required, you will walk through grass, which will harbor ticks on
occasion. You will follow a social trail through chaparral and may
have to push the brush aside a bit. You'll need to step over old
fence wire which is near but not quite on the ground. I saw little
or no poison oak, but you can always find it anywhere in the Santa
Monica Mountains. All these dangers are minor but worth
mentioning. |
Thanks to Big Eagle for the final concept.