"R.I.P. Sandy" Multi-Cache
geoghillie: Washed out by a wintertime flood. Cache is no longer there. Archived.
Geoghillie
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“Killed by a cougar, July 22nd. 1996” are the words found inscribed by a child’s hand in felt pen on a small homemade wooden cross lovingly erected on a lonely river bank.
Today, the black ink has largely disappeared through the ravages of time and exposure, but the significance of that weathered wooden crucifix shines on.
As I know it, the story goes; a Mom, young son and his Grandpa were out with their little dog Sandy hiking along a well used riverside trail when, from out of the dense underbrush sprang a cougar. And, cliché as it may sound, the big cat pounced on the little dog and killed it right there in front of the terrified owners. The boy pelted the cat with rocks as it dragged the remains into the bush to eat them. Some time later, at the site of that horrific incident, a cross was set up atop a cache of river rocks as a memorial to their beloved companion.
The location of this cenotaph is the clue site for the second leg of a multi-part geocache experience. Subsequent legs lead you to a series of remote, deep crystalline pools just perfect for a skinny-dip on a hot summer day. Or, if you prefer, for floating a dry-fly over perchance to rise a summer-run steelhead. The final cache site is a mute memorial to those once great old growth trees which were cut down right to the river’s very edge.
This stretch of river valley is a wild place with a surprisingly good hiking trail. Cougars, Black bears, Roosevelt elk, Blacktail deer, Mink, Raccoons, Willow grouse and many other critters call his place home. Respect their right to be there, but make your presence known so they will welcome you as guests, not dinner. Remember, celebrate life and revel in the natural beauty of this place, much as Sandy was doing.
Of course, CITO, cache in – trash out. Please re-cache container as found.
Container: small lock & lock box, in zip-loc bag.
Contents: Logbook, pencils and sharpener, hand-tied steelhead flies and SWAG.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Abg ng gur Gvxvqb pebff.
Jnlcbvag pyhrf ner ng urnq urvtug ba gerr gehaxf.
Treasures
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