Desert Falls Oasis Traditional Cache
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(micro)
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Micro cache requiring some careful hiking to get to. Bring drinking water and a camera! Bring own pen to sign log. Total distance to this cache is only about a ½ mile, but plan on about two hours due to terrain and time to explore and take pictures.
WARNING! Getting this cache requires patience and careful footing, but the view is worth the effort. You’ll be climbing down steep terrain and squeezing between big rocks (standing, NOT crawling!). Not terribly difficult, but there is a steep drop off on one side, so just go slow and be careful. We’ve taken the kids, and they were fine, but this little adventure does require everyone to pay attention to safety. Open toed shoes or sandals are not recommended. If you continue past The Joshua Tree cache and continue down into the valley, following the trail and staying to the right, you’ll find one of our best kept secrets around here: a hidden, gorgeous Desert Falls Oasis! This little trail and waterfall are so cool, that this hide isn’t meant to be sneaky or require anything decrypted. Plus, because of the high valley walls, GPS accuracy is only about 20 feet. We’ll walk you all the way through it just to get people to see our little secret spot. This is also a perfect little hike to practice CITO. Ready?
Okay, to start this cache find, park at the scenic overlook spot just before the tunnel entrance on the Alamogordo side of Hwy 82. Now walk about halfway to the tunnel. You’ll be stepping over the guardrail and following a little footpath trail down into the valley. The crossover point is at: N32 56.786 W105 51.548. You’ll see it. Keep your footing and stay to the right (steep drop-off to your left as you descend), hugging the valley wall (not literally). Down the trail and over and around and between rocks, you’ll pass the Joshua Tree cache on your left. Find that cache, then rest a bit, drink some water, admire the view and press on! Once you reach the valley floor, you’ll see and hear the creek produced by the falls. This part may require climbing over large rocks, but no special gear is required. Just give each other a hand up in places and be careful. Follow the creek and quickly you’ll find a perfect crossing spot. Hop across and go to the falls. Wow! Who knew this was here? Climb up to the wide flat area on the left of the falls, and you can walk all the way up to the pool at the bottom. The cache is here on this level area. You’re looking for a 35mm film canister with a Geocaching label wrapped around it. Like we said earlier, the GPS accuracy down in here is only about 20 feet (averaged for five minutes), due to the limited view of the sky.
Unfortunately, some people believe that any great hidden spot like this requires graffiti, so someone has spray painted crap in white paint on the left wall. You’re looking for the word “Cold” or “Gold” (couldn’t tell what that first letter was). Stand in front of it and face it. Now, crouch down and look where your toes were pointed. You’ll find the cache hidden in the space. Got it? Sign the log!
Now, explore around and enjoy our little hidden Desert Falls Oasis. For added cool points, look up on the right side near the top of the falls…see the shape and letters? Email us the shape description and letter names for fun extra credit.
March 2013 UPDATE: Cache has probably been muggled. We aren't in a position to go check or replace, but then, that wasn't the point of this cache anyway. If you make the trip, follow the directions and find the falls and pool, consider the log virtually signed and log your find as found! Enjoy this spot!
Additional Hints
(No hints available.)