Dripping Springs Overlook Traditional Cache
Hidden : 6/9/2009
Difficulty:
2 out of 5
Terrain:
4 out of 5

Size: Size: regular (regular)

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Geocache Description:


This cache is hidden on a small peak just west of the Dripping Springs Natural Area and just north of Squaw Mountain. The 4x4 parking spot will allow you to get an early summer start since it and the cache are just outside of Dripping Springs Natural Area. If you don't mind starting your hike a bit later, or only have 2 wheel drive, park north of the peak in the Dripping Springs Natural Area (small fee required) and hike from there.

The area is rough and rocky but beautiful. As you can tell from the pictures, the vegetation is much varied, from dense areas of trees, flowers, and bushes in the canyons to grass and rocks, rocks, and more rocks in the higher areas. Interleaved shelves make the hike much easier if you stay away from the very rocky south side. I hiked up the ridge just north of the 4x4 parking spot, followed the natural shelf "paths" along the ridge until I got to the main peak. Then I stayed just north of the ridge top until the path to the summit was obvious. This approach required no rock scrambling at all. Elevation change was about 750 feet. Geocaching.com's rating form rated this one a 4.0. The terrain rating could go higher if you take another approach, so pick your route carefully. If at any time you find yourself in danger of a big fall, backtrack and find another route - no climbing should be necessary.

On the way out, I took the east ridge down, then followed a side ridge down to the main canyon. The side ridge disappeared into a narrow canyon. This canyon has a small dam with an interesting pipe loaded with brass valves. There's water here, and from a few yards away from the water, an old deer carcass; perhaps a mountain lion made a kill here. See coordinates below.

Watch for snakes, especially when retrieving the cache, and there is a fair amount of acacia in the area, so wear shorts at your own risk.


Cache is on top of small peak on the left side of the picture

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Frr cvpgher

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)


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