Photo by Cache-U-Nuts
" So pefectly barren and sterile... That scarcely a bird is heard to chirp to the rising sun and not even the sign of an animal except rabbits ever ventures to make a precarious subsistance on these plains". Words James Clyman entered in his journal in 1846 after passing by this location.
Looking north from I 80 at the sixteen mile marker east of Wendover Utah, Floating Island rises out of the barren salt flats 12 miles to the north clouded in a mirage. The peak reaches skyward about 900 feet above the playa. There is evidance that Native Americans made seasonal trips to the island and used its rock shelters and caves for thousands of years before 1845 when Kit Carson blazed the first crossing of the salt desert, later called the "Hastings Cut-Off" while scouting for a US Army survey party.
The cache is located in a lone boxcar sized rock formation just off the north end of the island, hidden in a large cavity near the top.
Cache:
- Ammo Box /(Replaced 6/26/08)
- Old plastic containers updated/replaced by the kindness of SuperCacher's Retiredprof & Powerdime :)
- Original cache contents were:
- Log book and pencil
- 1 Vermont Quarter
- 1 dime
- 1 nickle
- 1 penny
If you are not familiar with this area, your adventure should start at the Nevada Welcome Center, in West Wendover. Pickup the free BLM Pamplet on the Silver Island Mountains Back Country Byway. Heed the warnings/ suggestions listed in it. The Air Force Bombing Range Boundry runs just yards east of Floating Island, Public access is strictly prohibited.
Just to the north, the Donner Party passed by in September 1846 very close to this cache site location. I and Ms. Dawg made the trip from the Pilot Mountain Road on our Honda 4 Wheelers. On the ride we observed Bighorn Sheep, Jack Rabbits, Coyote, Golden Eagle and a variety of Lizards. No Snakes or Humans.. Any SUV in good operating condition will do. Leave the Caddy in the garage for this adventure, best gas up the high boy...
Congratulations to Wilby on the FTF..
