Wehinahpay 02 Traditional Cache
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(small)
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Welcome to Wehinahpay Mountain Camp. This Cache was established primarily to allow Boy Scouts at camp to meet requirement number seven of the Geocaching Merit Badge but it is open to all. If you are a Boy Scout in camp you should plan on about a three mile (round trip) hike with about a 500 foot altitude gain from the flag poles. Please see the details further below. If you are not a Boy Scout in camp this will not be a park and grab.
This Cache is located at the back corner of Wehinahpay Mountain Camp. The camp was established in 1927 and is located in the beautiful Sacramento Mountains of South Central New Mexico at 8,500 feet of elevation. This prime camping property on 320 acres is owned by the Conquistador Council and operated under a Joint Venture agreement between the Yucca and Conquistador Councils of the Boy Scouts of America. Wehinahpay Mountain Camp is surrounded by the Lincoln National Forest and offers a wide and exciting variety of quality Scout camp programs. The camp is known for its beautiful wooded rolling hills, cool mountain weather, low humidity, lack of mosquitoes, good wholesome food, a fantastic camp staff, and wildlife. This is the land of Indians, Conquistadors, Mountain Men, Settlers, and famous Outlaws such as Billy the Kid. Now it is your turn to experience the history and adventure of We-Hin-Ah-Pay, “The place where morning sun gathers.”
Scouts in Camp. If you are a Boy Scout in camp please be careful that you do not cross any fences as you will be leaving camp. The easiest route is to follow road past the rifle range and C.O.P.E. areas all the way through the bone yard to the back gate then turn right and follow the fence up the hill. From the gate you will be only about 600 feet from the cache. You will find this last 10th of mile to be very steep and rough going with many fallen trees. There is no path to follow so just stay along the fence. Remember if you cross the fence you are leaving the camp so be careful.
If you are not a Scout in Camp and wish to hike. Please be prepared for a strenuous five mile (round trip) hike. Proceed down Potato Canyon Rd to the Gateway to Wehinahpay Mountain Camp. Please note the No Trespassing signs, all visitors to Camp are required to check in and out of camp. Do not attempt to drive through the camp to reach the Cache. You will need to be sure to check in at the Ranger’s house (first house on the left). During the summer months or when events are taking place at Camp you may be directed by signs or individuals where you need to check-in (look for signs directing you to the registration area). When you check in get directions to the back gate and follow the instructions for Scouts in Camp. If the white gate is closed then the camp is closed.
If you are not a Scout in Camp and wish to drive. If you are not a Boy Scout in camp you may be able to drive within a quarter mile of this cache if you have good weather and good ground clearance on your vehicle. Do not attempt to drive through the camp to reach the Cache. At N 32° 46.090’ W 105° 39.520 there is a turn off to the left (when you are westbound on Potato Canyon Rd). Do not continue on Potato Canyon Rd (marked as 437A) if you reach the Gateway to Wehinahpay Mountain Camp you are on the wrong road so please turn around and go back to the turn discussed above. This turn will put you on Pepper Canyon Rd (Forest Road 437). This is a long and winding road that gets less and less used as you continue. Please watch this road and use your own judgment as to when it becomes too rough for your vehicle. I have made it up this road in my 12 year old V8 2WD 150,000+ miles pickup truck in dry conditions many times but the end part of the road is as much as I would want to put my truck through. There is only one other road (trail) that you will see off of this road and that turns off to the left so just keep to the right. I would not attempt to drive beyond N 32° 45.179’ W 105° 41.850. This is a good spot to leave your vehicle and go the last ¼ mile on foot. A sign here shows Forest Road (Trail?) 437 going to the right but I have been told by locals that the Forest Service considers this to be closed and therefore an illegal road (trail?). Again, this is a good spot to leave your vehicle and go the last ¼ mile on foot. Walk up the trail that is more or less straight across the intersection. This trail leads uphill and has many large fallen trees across it. You will not be able to drive up this trail. As you reach the crest of the trail you will see an old camp fire site. The cache is just a little down the hill from this fire site. As you go down you will see the remains of an old downed fence line. This fence line marks the boundary of Wehinahpay Mountain Camp.
As long as you enter Wehinahpay Mountain Camp from here, visit the cache and leave the Camp right away you do not need to check in or out.
Please enjoy your visit to Wehinahpay Mountain Camp and happy caching.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Whfg qbja gur uvyy sebz gur pbeare bs gur srapr yvarf
Treasures
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