Othello Tunnels Traditional Geocache
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Difficulty:
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(regular)
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The Othello Tunnels cache is located in Hope, British Columbia.
Designed by engineer Andrew McCulloch, the Othello Tunnels were built from 1911 to 1916 to complete the Kettle Valley Railway system. The abandoned railway tunnels are an impressive site and formed the backdrop for several major movies (Rambo - First Blood, Shoot to Kill, and Far from Home: Adventures of Yellow Dog).
The cache is located just off the old Kettle Valley Railway grade, a leisurely walk or bike ride that will take you through the Othello tunnels and the spectacular Coquihalla Canyon Gorge. The "path" from the railway grade to the cache is a bit more challenging and will require some scrambling over rocks, old stumps and logs.
The cache is a large lock & lock container initially containing TBear the travel bug, Terry the turtle (headed for the "Niagara Creek" cache on Vancouver Island), a Pelican flashlight, a mathematical compass set, HotWheels #24/36, a staple puller, the Field Guide to Noxious and other Weeds of BC, the handyman's secret weapon, playing cards, flagging tape, paint markers, decals, flags, a limited edition Yukon coin and more.
Good Luck!
Update Jan 1st 2014: Access to the cache when approaching from the east through the tunnels may be restricted at times when BC Parks feels there is a danger due to rock movement or falling ice. The cache site can still be accessed year round by approaching from the west along the Kettle Valley Trail (though this does avoid the tunnels which are the highlight of the trip!).
Update June 26th 2017: Cache container replaced with a new lock & lock and added new logbook and trade items. Could not find the original container. If anybody does find the old one, please return the original logbook to the new container if it is salvageable. Thanks! Phatcache.
Update June 27th 2018: The old cache container has been found! Contents have been combined into the newer large lock & lock and all three logbooks dating back to 2002 are present and accounted for. Thank you everyone for all your great feedback over the years.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
[CAUTION: Hint now includes a spoiler to prevent dissappointment for those travelling long distances to find this destination cache. Do not decrypt in advance if you enjoy a challenge!] Ybbx hc, gur uhtr snyyra gerr xabjf gur jnl gb gur pnpur. Whfg hcuvyy sebz gur fcyvg va gur ybt, gur pnpur vf haqre n ynetr ebpx - lbh znl or fvggvat ba vg! Gurer vf ab arrq gb pebff gb gur abegu fvqr bs gur cngu, CYRNFR QB ABG FPENZOYR NYBAT GUR YBT BIRE GUR CNGU!