Potholes Reservoir North Forty Traditional Cache

A trip far out into the west sand dunes of Moses Lake / Potholes Reservoir.  Looking at the map cachers will see that this cache is on a remote peninsula that extends south into the Potholes (O'Sullivan) Reservoir.  Sand dunes nature at it's best!  Distant views of Mt. Rainier and the Stuart Range to the W, Mardon & Frenchman Hills to the S, also parts of Moses Lake to the NE and Beezley Hills to the NW.

Check it out on one of the satellite maps so that you can really see where you're headed.  Drive to the end of the road that the Grant County's Only Forest (GC5ZQG8) is on.

Park at the end of the road, very close to the Job Corps Dike (GCGB1X) cache (hidden: 6/2003 - one of the oldest caches in Grant County).  At this point it's you and the GPSr, about 1.2 miles out over the sage covered sand dunes.  There is a foot path from the parking area that will lead geocachers over half way to the cache.

This cache is remote and requires a lengthy walk.  The container is a tall slender camo'd plastic jar set in the middle of a large sage bush.  Please re-cap it tightly and set it back in place standing up to help keep the elements out, since there will likely be long time gaps between visits. 

I walked out in the evening knowing about where I wanted to end up.  The walk took about 35 minutes each way.  Following the path for as far as I could was helpful.  Enjoy the sound of the birds, the breeze coming across the lake and the distant 360 degree views. 

Cautionary notes:  Always mark the coordinates for your parking area so that you can find your way back! -- this is really important folks.  It would be easy to get off course a little out there.  Bring water -- even if the weather is cool.  Let someone know where you are going.  Phone reception out there is decent, so that's a plus.  Probably not a good hike for under 8 years old.  Good hiking boots are advised -- it's sandy out there, with some cheat grass thrown in for extra fun.   Didn't see any, but summertime snake and tick advisory is in effect. Motor vehicles/ORV's are not allowed off road in this part of the dunes. Discover Pass is required.

HOW TO GET THERE: This geocache is off the frontage road on the south side of I-90, W of Moses Lake (use I-90 exit 174 - cache parking is about 12 minutes off the freeway). Take the public fishing/hunting gravel road that heads south and closely parallels the power lines. See the waypoint coords below for exactly where the public fishing road leaves the freeway frontage road. Once on the gravel road, instructions to the cache site area are: go about 2.5 miles and TURN RIGHT AT THE "T" -- then follow your GPS -- we're talking the main gravel road here, not any small dirt paths that branch off.

That is all.