Where The Girls Are Traditional Cache
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(regular)
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The trails split a few hundred yards above the parking area (N38 5.7509 W 122 51.9494).
You want the first fork to the right. This right turn branches again after a few yards climb and you will stay on the main trail to the left to climb heavenward toward the cache. If you're not climbing, you're not on the correct trail.
Dogs, kids and water welcome.
This is our first cache and placing it was much more complex than we had imagined.
Our ideas for a location were first stymied by lack of cell reception in the first place we wanted to plant one, then by not recognizing the dreaded NPS logo after finding the next "perfect spot". It was only when we came home that we confirmed what we thought was state land was in fact (gasp) owned by the feds. After hiking out to retrieve our erroneously placed cache, we thought of this spot nestled amid a great series of hiking and biking trails along the Inverness Public Utility Water System on a tiny strip of California State Park land. This is our idea of heaven: plenty of shady spots, all you can eat snacks (Huckleberry and Thimbleberry bushes galore) and dogs are allowed (please scoop!). The trails split a few hundred yards above the parking area (N38 5.7509 W 122 51.9494).
The far left trail winds steadily, but gently, up the ridge and offers great birding and views, amazing wildflowers, and a few benches for relaxing. It's nice, but you want the first fork to the right. This right turn branches again after a few yards climb. If you go to the right (but don't!), you'd find is a series of rollers that feel like you've gone downhill both ways. Too bad that's not your trail. Instead you stay on the main trail to the left to climb heavenward toward the cache. We call this one "the stroke trail". If you're not climbing, you're not on the correct trail. You can pick up "Warm...warm...hot!" GC1T03E and "Big Bessie" GC1T040 if you take this trail. Fit hikers can hike to the top and back in under an hour. Those of us less fit, or more leisurely, take much longer. If you make it all the way to the top, your reward is a fabulous view of both Tomales Bay and the Pacific Ocean. Bring a camera, snacks AND WATER. You might consider walking poles or a stick for the trip back down.
The cache is located on a small spur trail off the main trail. It is clearly visible from 8 feet away (in one direction) without geotrampling, turning over logs, rocks, brush, trees, or sleeping deer. The container is a custom cammo jar (bigger than a Skippy jar but smaller than your head).
Of course, you COULD approach from the top, but you'll miss the other 2 caches and it won't be much of a hike. Top down is the way to get here if you're in a chair and want a bit of off-road fun and a challenging, but doable push back up.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
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Arrq zber? Ybbx ng gur onfr bs gur ynetr, qbjarq cvar gerr, gur ebbgf cbvag gb n arneol Uhpxyroreel ohfu, gur pnpur vf haqre gur ohfu. Vg'f cerggl ovt naq uneq gb zvff.