SR 10 Trail -#1 From The Beginning
Welcome to Washington state Hwy 10! This mini power-trail follows SR 10 from the SR 10 - SR 970 split in Teanaway just east of Cle Elum and runs east towards the town of Ellensburg. This trail consists of micro sized containers and is meant to do heading eastbound towards Ellensburg. This trail is a numbers trail with 23 caches in all. The hides are not rocket science. If you are looking for more challenging or creative hide, then pass on these caches. However, if you are looking different view other than the I-90 route, and are wanting a numbers run, then this trail is for you. Please be cautious leaving and entering SR 10. While this is in no way a busy road, it does have the occasional vehicle on it. When you have finished the mini power trail and ready to hop back on I-90, just continue on SR 10 and onto US 97 which will route you back to I-90.
The History of SR 10
WA State Route 10 (SR 10) is a remnant of the old U.S. Route 10 (US 10) in Kittitas County, traveling southeast along the Yakima River from WA SR 970 in Teanaway to US 97 northwest of Ellensburg. SR 10 was established in 1970 as the successor to US 10 after the completion of I-90 across the Snoqualmie Pass in 1968. The highway was previously part of State Road 3 from 1923 to 1937 and Primary State Highway 3 (PSH 3) until the 1964 highway renumbering. SR 10 begins at the intersection with SR 970 south of DeVere Field in the unincorporated community of Teanaway in Kittitas County, southeast of Cle Elum. The highway travels southeast, parallel to a portion of the Stampede Subdivision of the BNSF Railway through the Yakima River valley and crosses over the Teanaway River before its confluence with the Yakima River. SR 10 continues southeast through Bristol and Thorp before it ends at an intersection with US 97 northwest of Ellensburg. SR 10 follows the route of the Roslyn branch of the Northern Pacific Railway, built in the Yakima River valley by the late 1890s. A roadway was built in the valley and incorporated into the Inland Empire Highway in 1913 and the Southern Division of the Sunset Highway in 1919. The highway became part of State Road 3 in 1923, which was co-signed with US 10 and US 97 during the creation of the United States Numbered Highways in 1926. State Road 3 became PSH 3 during the creation of the primary and secondary state highways in 1937, still co-signed with US 10 and US 97 through the Yakima River valley. US 10 was temporarily re-aligned over Blewett Pass in the late 1930s, leaving US 97 alone in the Yakima River valley until US 10 was moved back to its original route in 1946 after US 2 was extended west from Idaho. During the 1964 highway renumbering, US 10 completely replaced PSH 3 as I-90 was being planned along its route. I-90 opened between Vantage and Snoqualmie Pass in November 1968 and SR 10 replaced US 10 when the state highways were codified in 1970. US 97 was moved onto former SR 131 between Thorp and Virden in 1975 leaving SR 10 without a concurrency and creating SR 970.
The Cache
This is the kick off cache and is the only regular sized cache on the trail. The name was picked not only to signify the beginning of the trail but its also a nod to one of ELP's famous songs and a favorite of mine. This cache will hold replacement containers. You may want to take one or two with you before you start your journey in case a cache is missing down the trail. Please do not take them all! Currently all caches are in place. You may want to consider taking a replacement container with you as you head down the trail and replace a cache that may have gone missing or blown away. Enjoy the trail!