C ongratulations to KtTris for FTF!
There's a number of locations that I have been sizing up as I go up and down the Beeline. I finally decided to make a challenging multi-cache. It begins at Stage Prime, which is a short 1.6 mile roundtrip climb up an easy hill (400 feet elevation), albeit with no trail. From this point, the locations will take you up and down the Beeline Highway to the "Finale" destination.
Stage I is a short hike of one mile from parking area to the cache. This gradual route follows the dirt road down to the wash, then up to the saddle. At this point go cross country to a grouping of rocks with a lone Saguaro cactus, for a total 2 mile roundtrip. Mountain goats can shorten the hike to 1.5 miles roundtrip by climbing straight up the northwest side of the hill from the wash. Look for a striped rock. There are great views of Tonto Basin to the southeast of the hill.
Stage II is a 4 mile roundtrip climb of 800 feet elevation. Park at the designated site, then follow the "road" up. When approaching ground zero, resist the temptation to go straight to the cache. Instead, hike east of the cache then follow your GPS to the west. Check out the great view of the Beeline Highway to the north and south.
Stage III is the easiest hike, about 2 miles roundtrip with very little elevation climb. It is also the smallest container. Take FR 177 from the north end to the parking area. In good weather and on dry roads, a passenger car should be able to make it to the parking area. At this point, I strongly recommend hiking as the road becomes very bad and there will be nowhere to turn around. Look for a group of rocks with an adjacent dead tree (may want to take the spoiler picture with you on this one because there is alot of GPS bounce from the rocks).
Stage IV is a 1.3 mile roundtrip climb of 450 feet elevation to a bench overlooking Tonto Basin. Additionally, there is a waypoint listed in Stage III, which will make the hike a horseshoe shaped affair which while slightly longer, is much easier than heading straight at the cache. Catclaw, scruboak, manzanita, and other horrible plants await you, especially if you choose the wrong path.
Stage Finale (or "finally") is a 5 mile (roundtrip), 400 foot elevation climb to a hill called Table Top. Park at the listed coordinates, then, follow the primitive ATV road up towards the cache. Please note that there is no need to enter the gun range (plus it's illegal and potentially dangerous to do so).The cache is hidden away from the edge to avoid muggling, but be sure to go look out over the cliff, which is spectacular!
The point of this cache is to see the Beeline Highway and it's surrounding countryside from a number of vantage points. While not required, I would really like it if you took pictures at each stage.
You must visit Stage I, II, III, IV, and Finale, and sign the log in the final stage to get credit for this cache!
I strongly advise taking not only a pen, but notepaper as well, since there may be additional information on the next stage that is only found in the previous stage. You may be able to shorten the hiking distance a little by using an ATV, but only hiking (or horseback) can take you to all the stages. In general, be prepared to bushwhack through catclaw, oak, manzanita, etc. Also watch out for snakes, which really seem to like rockpiles.
Except for Stage Finale, all caches are hidden at the crest of hills, so use the coordinates to get close, then use your geosense.