Bear Cave Traditional Cache
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This is a very unique place near a popular campground. Many people pass by not knowing what is nearby. There is a well traveled trail into this site and adequate parking at the trailhead. Due to the steep terrain, most people probably don't venture up the trail. Everyone we've encountered on the trail are there because "old timers" have shared the secret.
As a child, it was always a treat to hike from the cabins in Turkey Flat to the “Bear Cave.” Well, “Bear Cave” really isn’t a cave, and I’ve never seen any signs of bears in the area. But as children, we imagined this magical place was where bears lived.
At that time, a gentle path meandered through the trees. It passed two small oak trees that had grown together so closely, they produced thick layers of bark where they touched, and it looked like lips kissing. We would struggle to pull the lips apart. With the construction of the road in the 1960s, the trail and kissing trees were wiped out. The current trail is much steeper, and the 2004 fire also destroyed much of its beauty on the distant hills, but you will agree it is still a very unique place–a place you can’t help but marvel at its dripping stream and moss covered rocks. It’s a real “must see.”
This cache is located at the end of a very steep trail off the road to Twilight Canyon Campground. The trail head is located at N 32 38.114 W 109 49.756 ( in Twilight Canyon, .59 miles from the end of the pavement.) Since the trail drops down below the road grade right away, it is not immediately visible.
Follow the trail into the canyon, then climb up the hill. A good walking stick will help going up and back down. The trail is about .25 miles long, but is very steep after the stream bed. In fact, steep doesn't describe it--UP is a better word. You will go up, and then really up, and when you think your there you will go up, then when it levels off you go up some more! I do not recommend it for young children or inexperienced hikers.
Be aware that the terrain may cause your GPS to jump around a bit and the cache will be inaccessible once snow sets in.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Lbh'yy svaq gur pnpur orsber nal npebongvp nagvpf ner erdhverq.
Treasures
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