Caché Del Cerro Traditional Cache
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(small)
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This is a well hidden cache along the Camino Del Cerro Trail. It is located near, NOT IN, an abandoned mine (stay out, stay alive) which provides some neat rocks and formations to look at. The cache is a .62 mile hike from the trailhead with an elevation gain of 256 feet. Watch out for rattlesnakes because during the summer we have seen three in a single day along this trail. Lastly, be sure to enjoy the great view of the city on one side and the desert on the other.
This location has been a favorite of my family’s for years. We hike this trail several times per year and love to relax and picnic near the abandoned mine. It is a short hike just strenuous enough to get the blood flowing and wake you up. I highly recommend trying this right at dawn with the cool air in your face and the sun at your back. The road to the trailhead is entirely paved and includes a parking lot. Older kids can make this hike easily, but the trail really isn’t suited for a stroller so I recommend leaving younger ones with a babysitter.
The abandoned mine is an interesting sight with rock formations and tailings to interest any rockhound. Sadly, vandals have tagged up the entrance, but it is fascinating nonetheless. All the openings to the mine are protected by barbed wire and signs which I advise you to listen to. There are three visible openings. The main entrance is just off the trail and will be obvious as you walk towards the cache. A ventilation shaft is visible just behind the main opening. A second much smaller entrance is located about 200 feet north of the main opening and is surrounded by its own barbed wire fence. (Please let me know if you discover any other openings in the area.)
From my experiences I can confirm that there are critters in the area. Over the years we have seen dozens of snakes, including rattlesnakes, scorpions, lizards, rabbits, birds etc… Be especially careful of rattlesnakes especially in the summer. We will usually see one most times we hike, but have seen up to three separate ones on the same day one of which was surprisingly large. We have also seen a few javalina, a gila monster, coyote, bobcat, and even a skunk. That being said I beg that you be careful because I hear that critters, including bears and mountain lions, love to use abandoned mines as shelter.
The cache itself is well camouflaged so be sure to bring your glasses and keep a good eye out. The cache is NOT inside the mine so don’t even think of searching there, but it is right outside. Watch where you step because the rocks in the area are very sharp from erosion and many are loose even some big ones. We seeded that cache with a few travel bugs and a whopping $1 for the first to find. Good luck and happy caching.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Lbh npghnyyl arrq n uvag?
Ernyyl?
Svar.
Vg vf arne n ebpx.
Un Un Un.
Treasures
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