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Virgin River Gorge/ Cedar Pocket Overlook Traditional Cache

This cache has been archived.
Hidden : 1/25/2002
Difficulty:
2.5 out of 5
Terrain:
3.5 out of 5

Size: Size:   regular (regular)

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Geocache Description:

This cache is located on the highest ridge line overlooking the Virgin River Gorge, I-15, and the Cedar Pocket wash from the north. There are stunning views in all directions and a 3/4 mile hike along a high ridge line over some interesting rocky terrain. The drive to the cache site is through Blake's lambing grounds southwest of St. George.

The location of this cache is at a little known but reasonably accessible high viewpoint spot about 10 miles west-southwest of the St. George area. The high ridgeline where this cache is hidden can be readily seen from Interstate 15 in the Virgin River gorge near the Cedar Pocket exit. While the cache is about 2 miles as the crow flies from the freeway, it cannot be approached from the Cedar Pocket area as the terrain elevation climbs too abruptly.

To get to the cache site, take the dirt road that begins at the end of Navajo drive in Bloomington. A high clearance 4WD vehicle or ATV is best, especially for the last couple of miles. Travel through Blake's lambing grounds to a parking area which is about 3/4 of a mile from the cache site. You'll have to walk from there. The last 1.5 miles of motorized travel to the parking site is over a faint, rocky 4WD track that is not on the Arizona Strip or St. George 1:100,000 topo map but can be found on the 1:24,000 topo map. As there are a myriad of dirt roads through this area, it will be necessary for you to study the location of the cache and the roads that go to it carefully on the proper maps in order to find it. Finding your way to the right spot will take some doing, but is half the fun.

At the site where you'll want to park is a concrete square and an old rusted concrete filled barrel. It appears to me that this place was probably the site of one of the old aviation beacons associated with the concrete arrows that are near other notable cache sites in this area. If you come upon an area where someone has constructed a large sheet metal structure on top of some short concrete pillars, you are not at the parking spot, but please let me know what that structure is.

From the parking spot, you'll quickly know in what direction you'll need to hike. Take care not to get too close to the ridge, it is a long way down. You might want to take a lunch with you, as the ridge line has several good picnic spots. Also make sure and take some binoculars and a camera as there are some great views from the cache site including the Virgin River, the Gorge, Cedar Pocket wash, I-15, Mount Bangs, and 3 states. Often, the desert bighorn sheep which inhabit the wilderness area to the west can be seen on the slopes across the wash. Two other nearby cache sites are also readily visible from the ridge line.

The cache itself is an ammo box with some really good items. It is well hidden in a crevice between 2 boulders and is covered with rocks. There is a small camera in the cache. Take a picture of yourself at the cache site, but please leave the camera in the ammo box. Make sure and leave a log entry as well as a contribution to the cache. Happy hunting!

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Ab uvagf. V'yy cbfg fbzr yngre vs svaqvat gur ebnq gb gur pnpur cebirf gbb qvssvphyg sbe zbfg.

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)