Down the Drainage Multi-Cache
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(regular)
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You're looking for a small, red, plastic tube about 10" long as full as it can be with swag. The second cache highlights the view of the city, and is fairly close. It's a small white bucket that has similar swag. The scramble up the hillside isn't too bad, and day or night, this cache promises a beautiful vista and a great photo opportunity.
"Up the Drainage" may have been a more accurate title, but it just doesn't have the same ring to it.
I was amused that there aren't more geocaches up here in the foothills of Frenchman's Mountain, so I thought I'd do my share and place a few. Access from the end of E. Charleston Ave., have a mile or so hike up the gentle slope of the alluvial fan, and enjoy the view. You can also get fairly close (~0.3 miles) by driving a HC vehicle up a dirt road accessed from Los Feliz St. off Montana Ave. (back down and around the corner from the end of Charleston).
I think these several small canyons along the western base of Frenchman’s are fascinating. Most of them are of solid rock in the drainage. The drainage can maintain water for many days or even weeks, depending on the time of year. I’ve seen water in this canyon 4-5 weeks after a steady winter rain. Each one can have its own ecology that may include freshwater shrimp as well as a heaping dose of varied microbials. They serve as natural water bowls for the fauna of the area.
Be careful hiking up this little canyon because I’ve seen several potentially dangerous species of animals in the area including coyotes, rattlesnakes, and various arthropods like scorpions, tarantulas, and bees. The bees, in my experience, are a bit aggressive. On the not so dangerous list, but worthy of note, are a variety of lizards. Also, in springtime, especially after a rainy period, the flowers are breathtaking, especially if you’re asthmatic. Once, I even saw a human! A few live in the area.
The rocks are very rough, and pair of leather gloves might come in handy.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Tebhaq yriry naq haqre n cvyrf bs ebpxf.