On July 19, 2009 Amanda's Trail south of Yachats was dedicated. It was the culmination of a desire of Loyd Collett, former director of Cape Perpetua in the 1970's to create a trail that would commemorate the Coos Indian woman. She was captured by soldiers in May 1864 and marched, blind and barefooted leaving a trail of her own blood, from Coos Bay over Cape Perpetua to the Alsea Sub-agency in Yachats. The Amanda's Trail cache series honors this woman's legacy and her 80 mile journey.
This cache marks one end of the Amanda Trail and joins the other trails that run throughout Yachats. "Agency Creek" cache (GC1A0VA) sits at the location of the Sub-Agency at the northern end of the Village.
The march over Perpetua was made by members of the Coos and Lower Umpqua tribes and Amanda was among the survivors of the 80 mile “hike” which killed almost half of the "Siwash" (used to describe the coastal natives.) After arriving at the sub-agency, which many considered a prison camp rather than a reservation, many more perished from starvation and disease. It is unknown whether Amanda De-Cuys survived the late 1860's or if she was ever reunited with her 11 year daughter, Julia, who was left behind because she was half-white and her father refused to marry her mother.
The Alsea Sub-agency is a black spot on the history of this village at the edge of the ocean, the "Gem of the Oregon Coast" and hopefully Amanda’s Trail will help ease the stigma. As stated by David Petrie, Cultural Director of the Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua, and Siuslaw Indians, "The dedication for this area has been a catalyst for connecting the community and city, the native and non native. It literally allows a healing process, a common ground."
Many people contributed to the dream over the thirty-five years. Land donation for the trail and tireless work for 24 years by Joanne Kittel; the leadership of the Yachats trails committee; participation of the Confederated Tribes of the Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians; and providers to safeguard the preservation of natural plants and animal species. The 3.2 mile trail is a gateway from Yachats to Cape Perpetua and is recognized as a portion of the 300 mile Oregon Coast Trail.
PLEASE DO NOT DISTURB THE NATURAL PLANTS AND REPLACE CAREFULLY. YOU DO NOT NEED TO GO OFF TRAIL TO REACH THIS CACHE. Parking can be at Windy Way (north) or parking waypoint. PLEASE do not block driveways.
The Amanda's Trail Geocaching series includes 4 additional segments: Amanda's Trail - Perpetua; Amanda's Trail - Monument; Amanda's Trail - Kittle; and Amanda's Trail - Indian Pipe.
If you are trying to complete the Scenic Yachats tour to earn the Yachats Geocoin make sure you record the password which is on the inside cover of the cache. The Passport can be viewed and printed at goyachats.com/Geocaching. See GC4FTEN for details.
The cache container is a camod 4 X 6 lock-n-lock hidden within reach of the trail.