The Bloom Lake trail is considered an easy hiking trail within the Clatsop State Forest. It's a 2.5 - 3 mile hike with an approximate 800 foot elevation gain. There's a few creek crossings but only one where you might possibly get your feet wet.
One of the things I was told when I first started hiking was to take nothing but pictures and leave nothing but footprints. When I saw the posters on the information board at the Bloom Lake trailhead, I thought it would make for a nice multicache.
But, like many multis, this one too has had needed information at a waypoint vanish. The information board no longer holds all the information of the Leave No Trace Seven Principles so you can now find it below:
1. Plan Ahead and Prepare
Know the regulations and special concerns for the area you'll visit.
Prepare for extreme weather, hazards, and emergencies.
Schedule your trip to avoid times of high use.
Visit in small groups when possible. Consider splitting larger groups into smaller groups.
Repackage food to minimize waste.
Use a map and compass or GPS to eliminate the use of marking paint, rock cairns or flagging.
2. Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces
Durable surfaces include maintained trails and designated campsites, rock, gravel, sand, dry grasses or snow.
Protect riparian areas by camping at least 200 feet from lakes and streams.
Good campsites are found, not made. Altering a site is not necessary.
In popular areas:
Concentrate use on existing trails and campsites.
Walk single file in the middle of the trail, even when wet or muddy.
Keep campsites small. Focus activity in areas where vegetation is absent.
In pristine areas:
Disperse use to prevent the creation of campsites and trails.
Avoid places where impacts are just beginning.
3. Dispose of Waste Properly
Pack it in, pack it out. Inspect your campsite, food preparation areas, and rest areas for trash or spilled foods. Pack out all trash, leftover food and litter.
Utilize toilet facilities whenever possible. Otherwise, deposit solid human waste in catholes dug 6 to 8 inches deep, at least 200 feet from water, camp and trails. Cover and disguise the cathole when finished.
Pack out toilet paper and hygiene products.
To wash yourself or your dishes, carry water 200 feet away from streams or lakes and use small amounts of biodegradable soap. Scatter strained dishwater.
4. Leave What You Find
Preserve the past: examine, photograph, but do not touch cultural or historic structures and artifacts.
Leave rocks, plants and other natural objects as you find them.
Avoid introducing or transporting non-native species.
Do not build structures, furniture, or dig trenches.
5. Minimize Campfire Impacts
Campfires can cause lasting impacts to the environment. Use a lightweight stove for cooking and enjoy a candle lantern for light.
Where fires are permitted, use established fire rings, fire pans, or mound fires.
Keep fires small. Only use down and dead wood from the ground that can be broken by hand.
Burn all wood and coals to ash, put out campfires completely, then scatter cool ashes.
6. Respect Wildlife
Observe wildlife from a distance. Do not follow or approach them.
Never feed animals. Feeding wildlife damages their health, alters natural behaviors, [habituates them to humans], and exposes them to predators and other dangers.
Protect wildlife and your food by storing rations and trash securely.
Control pets at all times, or leave them at home.
Avoid wildlife during sensitive times: mating, nesting, raising young, or winter.
7. Be Considerate of Other Visitors
Respect other visitors and protect the quality of their experience.
Be courteous. Yield to other users on the trail.
Step to the downhill side of the trail when encountering pack stock.
Take breaks and camp away from trails and other visitors.
Let nature's sounds prevail. Avoid loud voices and noises.
© 1999 by the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics: LNT website
The cache can be found at N45 AB.CDE W123 FG.HIJ
A = Leave rocks, plants and other natural objects as you find them.
B = Observe wildlife from a distance + Pack it in, Pack it out
C = Use a lightweight stove for cooking + carry water 200 feet away from streams or lakes
D = Travel and camp on durable surfaces
E = use established fire rings + examine, photograph, but do not touch cultural or historic structures and artifacts.
F = Dispose of Waste Properly
G = Prepare for extreme weather, hazards, and emergencies.
H = Avoid loud voices and noises + Good campsites are found, not made.
I = Plan Ahead and Prepare
J = Control pets at all times, or leave them at home + deposit solid human waste in catholes dug 6 to 8 inches deep, at least 200 feet from water, camp and trails.
Checksum for A - J is 55.
You will find the coordinates to a bonus cache in this cache.