The original A Bridge No More is about 500
feet further down this trail, I highly recommend the walk.
Take a look at where the bridge crossed the river then imagine
driving up that road. It may have been paved at one time but
there is no evidence of that now.
The Final Stage of
GCJQRM. Is also nearby if you can find stage 1.
I came across this location while out placing another cache.
My GPSr map, road maps, and topo maps, all showed that the
bridge was still there. Rest assured it isn't. Best I can find out,
around 10 to 15 years ago, the forest service blew the bridge up,
possibly during the filming of a movie. I also assume that since
there was a bridge here at one time, that road approaching it was
more drivable. If any history buff cachers have information I would
love to read about in your logs.
This road and trail system is part of the Pony Express trail and
wagon roads that pre-date Hwy 50.
There are several ways to approach this site.
First: Starting at Stage
1 of
GCJQRM, it is possibly the hardest (Regardless if you find
stage 1 but if you do so much the better). I got lost twice heading
out from there. Well as lost as a guy can be carrying a GPSr,
compass and topo-map. It is certainly the longest, approximately 5
miles round trip.
Second: Drive to
TR1. You may park there and hike in, it is an approximately 3
mile roundtrip hike. At this location there are no Forest
Service gates or signage prohibiting the entering of the forest in
a vehicle but I don’t recommend it.
Third: Drive to TR2. At this location there is a Forest
Service gate. I have no idea when it is open or closed. If
the gate is open the road is perfectly drivable and you can
actually drive to within feet of the cache. There is no
signage prohibiting driving at this location I assume that the gate
gets opened at sometime. But there is some signage prohibiting
driving on parts of the Pony Express trail, bring a vehicle in at
your own risk.
If you came in using route 1 or 2, I would recommend hiking out
using the lowest road/trail (N38 46.165 W120 29.797), you will walk
along a very old part of the road system. Just be careful and be
sure to waypoint your starting position.
I did have some problems getting a good lock, you may want to check
out the hints. You are looking for a large camo salsa
container.
Update 5-25-09. The cache went missing but is now replaced.
Just a stash note and log so please bring your own writing
device.
SIERRA WARNINGS
Snakes, bugs, bears, muggles, cliffs and snow depending on time
year. You do not have to go down to the river.