Rockslides do occasionally happen out here. If for any reason you feel unsafe going up to get the cache, it is OK to send me a picture of the container taken from below.
An example of what can go wrong on a hike to Amethyst Cove can be found in this CBC news story from 2016.
A small cache with a big story. If you think getting to the cache is challenging, read the story! The cache is hidden where Ebenezer would have begun his crossing on foot of the Minas Channel.
Waypoints along the way indicate the trail. First, follow the trail to Cape Split. About half a km along the trial, the first waypoint marks a turnoff leading East to the trail to Amethyst Cove. Note that getting down to the beach involves over 100m of very steep trail (not quite a cliff, but close in spots) that has a rope to hang on to. The terrain rating on this cache should be taken seriously and you are recommended to bring a buddy. Gloves are strongly recommended.
Consult the tide timetables before embarking on this cache, as at high tide there is no way to get to the cache. Two hours on either side of low tide is certainly safe. So departing from the parking lot 1-4 hours before low tide is recommended (60 minutes from lot through the woods and down the rope, 60 minutes along the beach to the cache, and the same on the way back). The walk along the beach is just under 3 km (one way).
Cache is up above high tide mark, on the left (east) side of a great big rock.
Amethyst Cove and the beach along the way have lots of really interesting rocks, by the way.
These stories are for the type of person suggested in a quotation from Joseph Howe: 'Give me the man who will go rambling over his own country and find its features a fund of interest - who will clamber over the rocks and plunge into its forests, who will dip his digits in its streams and tear his breeches in its brambles' -- Preface to King County Vignettes.
On Valentine's day, 1809, Ebenezer Bishop of Greenwich made an incredible journey. He wanted to propose to his sweetheart, Anna Lewis. Anna lived in Halfway River on the Parrsboro shore, a 150 mile journey by road.
Torn with fear and jealousy that some other suitor might be in a more favored position than than he to press his case, he seized his chance when the Minas Channel became completely filled by an ice-jam.
On February 14, 1809, after trekking to Amethyst Cove, he set out across the 3 miles of ocean, jumping across the ice cakes. The crossing was witnessed by his friend Nath Loomer of Scott's Bay. Below is an excerpt from an article written in 1965 by Mary Black, recounting the true story as it was told to her by Mrs. Burpee Bishop, a member of the same Bishop family.
The day promised good visibility, without wind to disturb the open water at either end of the ice-pack. Taking the notched board, which Nath had prepared for him to help span the gaps in the ice-pack, he started off, leaving his friend anxiously watching his progress.
The surface of the ice-jam was as rough as a wilderness of broken stone. Outside pressure had thrust mud-stained pan onto pan of ice. These looked to him like huge slices of bread or giant pancakes, one thrown carelessly on top of another. Some cakes were wedged tightly together, others had been hurled with such force that they were standing on their beam ends. When one of the pans tilted under his weight he found how heavy and treacherous they could be. In places the dirty red water showed through, and once he had to go a quarter of a mile out of his way to avoid it.
He had a bad moment about midway across. A light snow had fallen the night before and obliterated some of the joinings, thus making it difficult to see which was the safe course. Stepping confidently over an innocent appearing pan, he felt it begin to sink beneath him. Sweat broke out on the palms of his hands and his back. He threw himself flat on his face and, with the aid of the notched board which fortunately caught onto a secure point of ice, he was able to pull himself back up onto the pans.
Again the board aided him to cross the narrow spaces of open water. Having learned from these experiences what to expect, he began to make good progress when suddenly the ice-pans began to move unsteadily and he heard the ominous grinding sound of the coming tide. This running tide presented an added hazard; the gun and snowshoes on his back began to hamper him, but his one thought was that having come so far successfully he must make the greater effort to reach the shore --- and Anna.
From the Blomidon shore, Nath watched the receding figure. Presently he saw something resembling a seal at the water's edge and as he watched he saw Ebenezer scramble up onto the cliff where he stood silhouetted against the snow. Ebenezer waved to Nath, then he turned and made his way up the face of the cliff. Once reaching the top, he soon disappeared and was well on his way to Halfway River. Although he made the three and a half mile journey across the channel in fairly good time, it was late afternoon before Ebenezer reached the home of Jesse Lewis. When he entered the kitchen, Anna was standing in front of the high fireplace preparing the evening meal. Going up to her, utterly oblivious to either his appearance or the members of the family sitting in the room, he held out his arms to her and said, "Anna dear, will you marry me?" Turning to him she smiled and said, "Why of course, Eben."
A full account may be found in Kings County Vignettes, Volume 3, published by the Kings County Historical Society.
See also this reinterpretation of the story: https://grapevinepublishing.ca/6654/beyond-museum-walls-love-conquers-nature-the-love-story-of-ebenezer-bishop-and-anna-lewis