Carnegiea gigantea f. cristate 03 Traditional Cache
Carnegiea gigantea f. cristate 03
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(regular)
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There are several rare Crested Saguaros near trails in the Cave Creek trail system. Take a minute, enjoy this example of one of nature's marvels.
The cache is located where you can take a picture to share.
Even when saguaro cacti grow in their normal form, they rarely grow symmetrically. Saguaros sometimes grow in odd or misshapen forms. The growing tip occasionally produces a fan-like form which is referred to as crested or cristate. Biologists disagree as to why some saguaros grow in this unusual form. Some speculate that it is a genetic mutation. Others say it is the result of a lightning strike or freeze damage. At this point we simply do not know what causes this rare, crested form.
Free Parking is available at the Cave Creek Trailhead.
N 33 58.344
W 111 51.991.
Alternatively you can enter from Spur Cross. The parking is about 2 miles south of the actual Trailhead. There is a $3 fee to use the Spur Cross conservation area.
Spur Cross parking is at:
N 33 53.174
W 111 57.112.
Follow the Spur Cross Trail to the trailhead which is labeled "Skull Mesa Trailhead" and is located at :
N 33.54.763
W 111.56.824.
This is in the Sonoran Desert, and appropriate caution should be taken. Take more water than you think you need, watch for critters and thorns. The final leg to the cache is bushwacking up the side of a hill.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Gur Fndhneb va dhrfgvba vf ng:
A 33.54.852
J 111 55.225
Ryringvba vf 3059 srrg.
Gur Pnpur vf "nzbat fbzr ebpxf".