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Linda's Birthday Cake Traditional Cache

Hidden : 5/30/2012
Difficulty:
2.5 out of 5
Terrain:
4 out of 5

Size: Size:   regular (regular)

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Geocache Description:

This cache is on top of "13 Mile Butte" - I call it "Linda's Birthday Cake".

Vigerous hike to get to it! Watch for snakes and other typical Arizona critters!
There is no access from the south end of the point where the ledge is - once on top be very carefull near the edge... It's a LONG WAY DOWN! The cache is NOT anywhere near the edge! Inside the cache you will find a printout explaining why it's called Linda's Birthday Cake.

Large container with a lot of quality trade items.  Wilderness First Aid Book for FTF (value $40).

At least three ways to get there - I turned north off General Crook Trail at "Snowy Encounter - GC22077", drove down past "F.O.S. Peace - GC3BBEJ" and parked at N34.30.811, W111.39.895 and walked on "relatively level" ground to cache.  This way is about 1 mile of hiking each way and has a decent "cow path" to follow.  Alternate would be to park on General Crook Trail to the east of the cache at N34.30.187, W111.40.355 and climb up pretty steep hill.  GPS says this way is only 0.3 mile but looks pretty tough. Another option is to park on the west side of the mountain (near gravel pit) go up from there. This is the trail where rock climbers go up (about 0.25 mile). You will see evidence of their climbing on this side. 

Either way, I'd suggest using a walking stick or trecking poles, taking plenty or water, and applying about 10 gallons of Deet Knat Repeller!  Knats were horrible but as long as I kept moving the gentle breeze made them tolerable... however, when I tried to stop in the shade to rest, a swarm of them would begin to drag me out into the sun again!  They are just nasty little critters, but will go away with the monsoons... Reminds me, don't even think about going down the Forest Road the way I went when it is muddy.

* I'm adding this to my list of History Caches: 1. The events described in the printout occured over 50 years ago.  2.  This is a historic location overlooking the old General Crook Wagon Road (you can see where the old road criss-crosses the highway).  3.  There are old ruin walls and pottery on this hill (probably Sinagua).

*The views from here are incredible: You can see all the Verde Valley, San Franciso Peaks, Bill Williams Mountain, and all the way down to the Mount Ord area!

I have 11 caches related to this trail - History's View (GC9CFV7), 6424 E General Crook Trail (GC62GG7), Roll Back Time (GC7YYJJ), Turn Back Time (GC7ZWRZ),  In Honor of Those Who Have Died (GC9G4H0) Door to History (GC6K41C), Window to the Past (GC7T43K), 13 Miles (GC23CGF), Linda's Birthday Cake (GC3MHPD), and on the west side of the Verde Valley, Copper Canyon Way Station (GC1MC9J), and History Hill (GC1MC92). Visit my cache at Fort Verde State Park and Museum for more information (Fort Verde GC26VD7).

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Fubhyq or na rnfl svaq - vg'f gur ybpngvba gung'f vzcbegnag. N pbhcyr bs Praghel Cynagf fgvpx hc ng ragenapr gb uvqvat cynpr (frr cvpf).

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)