Baldy Challenge Multi-Cache

Several years ago, my oldest daughter and I (with two family members) hiked Mount Baldy.

It was a wonderful hike. It was also completely exhausting, involving a 16 mile hike that started at 9400 feet, climbed 2000 feet, then descended again.

Mount Baldy is the second highest peak in Arizona. There are two trails to ascend Baldy, the West Baldy Trail and the East Baldy Trail.

You can reach the top from either, or hike up one side and down the other. The West trail is more gradual but slightly longer. The East trail is steeper, but has excellent views and interesting rock formations.

The true summit of Baldy is on Indian land, and access is restricted. However, fantastic views of both sides of the peak are still visible. The junction of the East and West trails is the intended final destination, and is on forest service land.To find this cache, hike to the top and back down either on the East Baldy trail, or make a loop of the East and West Trail. Somewhere on the East Baldy Trail is the wreckage of a small plane.

To successfully log this cache, you must find the plane, then answer the following question:

What elevation is the plane crash?
1. 9,450 feet? N33 57.685 W109 30.734
2. 9,832 feet? N33 55.881 W 109 29.513
3. 10,162 feet? N33 56.387 W109 28.249
4. 10,404 feet? N33 54.365 W109 25.413
5. 10,980 feet? N33 54.965 W109 25.201
6. 11,225 feet? N33 57.598 W109 30.832
7. 11,395 feet? N34 00.237 W109 28.413

The correct coordinates correspond to the actual elevation of the plane crash. Once you've found the proper coordinates, you can then find the cache! The cache is located within 5 miles of the East Baldy Trailhead. It might require driving on dirt roads, and may take a little more hiking. If you complete the hike but have trouble finding the cache, email me for clues.

Please post pictures and tales of your trek!