You are seeking a small snap-lock container hidden in Beaman Park. You can either park at the Creekside Trailhead for a scenic .6mi relatively flat hike, or at the Nature Center for a .5mi downhill hike. The cache is hidden right along the trail next to the big signal tree. BYOP
“Signal Trees” such as the one you will find at the GZ were once used as a navigation tool by Native Americans. A young tree would be strapped down and then allowed to grow, leaving a characteristic bend which served as a permanent trail marker. The typical signal tree (or “trail tree”) has an abrupt bend several feet from its base. The main trunk then extends horizontally for several feet terminating with a rounded nose, or notch that juts out at the end of the bend. One or more main branches grows vertically from this horizontal segment of the trunk, each becoming a new supporting member for the upper branches of the tree. The horizontal portion of the trunk often slopes downward [either by design or perhaps from the weight of the vertical limbs over time]. The growth of signal trees may be stunted by this unnatural bending. Many of these trail marker trees are 150-200 years old - this means their lifespan is coming to a close and they are more and more likely to be destroyed by the expanding human population.
The tree featured here is estimated by park staff to be around 100 years old. This timeline does not match up with the presence of Native Americans in the area. However, the bend in this tree is very clearly a man-made, and points directly toward the nearby creek. There is a history of moon-shining and hunting in the area. You will have to leave the origins of this tree to the wonders of your own imagination.
Congrats to tjheath62/the 3 caballeros for the FTF!
