FIRE RESTRICTIONS!!!!
Fire danger in SE NM is EXTREME. To view the latest on fire
or entry restrictions, click on
"Fire Information" at:
SW Wildfire
Management
This cache is made from 4" pvc pipe, about 10" long, with
a screw off cap, so bring something that will fit. It is painted to
match the surroundings.
This cache is a fairly easy hunt located south of US
62-180 between Carlsbad and Hobbs, NM. It is tucked in the nooks
and crannies of a prominent local geological feature called the
Maroon Cliffs. Actually a weathered ridge of red sandstone, the
Maroon Cliffs frame shallow canyons that lead eventually to the
Pecos River plain. Look carefully at some of the sandstone ledges
and flats and you can clearly see the ripple marks of waves on an
Permian Age beach. The red sand of the area has weathered from the
cliffs.
The Maroon Cliffs are in a BLM managed limited use area.
Vehicles are not allowed off roads and quite a few old roads have
been closed. Best access to the cache area is on a road south from
US 62-180 at approximately N32 31.366 / W103 54.040 (about 5.8
miles east of SR 31 & Us 62-180). The cache is about .15 miles
west of this dirt road. There are several roads heading west and
one of them will get you within a couple hundred yards of the
cache.
Use caution on the dirt roads. The one closest to the
cache can probably be done with a passenger car, if it is dry, you
are careful and you don't go too far! Some of the other side roads
have deep sand and holes. The main dirt road going south from the
highway should be good, as long as it is dry. If in doubt, park
along the main dirt road and walk down the side road to the cache -
it's an easy walk.
If you visit the area in warm weather, we guarantee you
will have rattlesnakes and nasty insects for company. We strongly
recommend using a walking stick to poke in bushes and around rocks
before you walk or disturb things.
If you have the time, this is a nice place to hike,
especially in cooler weather.
While placing the cache today, we saw deer, several hawks,
and a porcupine (munching on a cedar bush beside the road). It may
be the desert, but there's lots of critters out
there!
Please re-hide the cache as you found
it!