This is the 1st cache in a series of 41 running along the NCT in NW Lake Co that make up a small geo-art. All of the caches are either large or regular sized hidden in a typical manner. None are more than 150 feet off the trail and most are much closer. It is dry and mostly hard packed and level with very few tree roots across the trail so it's perfect for hiking or biking. We've attached reference points to this cache where the trail crosses a few roadways if you want to break up your hike into smaller chunks but most of the sections will be a good hike.
Your cell phone signal will be very sketchy here but its GPS will work fine. No Sprint or T-Mobile. No Verizon in most places. Some AT&T but not everywhere. If you're using a phone to geocache we strongly advise you to save these on your phone beforehand. Don't know how to do that? Ask the COs for help.
Tyndall Rd. and Elk Hwy. are all weather roads as is the paved Free Soil/8 Mile Rd. USFS 5024, USFS 8436, and USFS 8438 are seasonal and USFS 5514 is officially closed. They are not plowed in Winter and may be wet or muddy in the Spring. USFS 5024 and USFS 8438 are easily drivable. We did not go down USFS 8436 or USFS 5514 so you're on your own with those two. Need a map? You can find one showing all these roads and where the NCT goes here at https://www.fs.fed.us/ivm/ .You can even download a geo-enabled PDF map from there.
The small amount of bushwhacking here is very easy as there are no thorny bushes, poison ivy, or other nasty plant life to contend with but the tree cover is heavy in many parts. We don't know how the mosquitoes are here since we didn't see any but the trail does pass very near some very wet areas so they're probably voracious in the Spring and early Summer. Hunting is allowed in season here so wear bright orange if you're coming in the Fall. The NCT is open in winter and you can ski on it (it's not groomed) and that does not mean caches are above the snow line although some are but most are not.
All of the caches have been hidden in places where there is plentiful material to cover them back up, so you know what to do. The ammo cans are all staked to the ground or tied to an eye hook with few a exceptions so please don't try to remove them. It's not necessary.
This cache is not at the posted coordinates. You'll need to figure out which of these statements is correct to find out where it is hidden.
Lake County's original name was Aishcum after a Potawatomi chief whose name meant "increasing" or "going farther" N 44 08.014 W 086 02.403
Lake County's original name was Aishcum after a flavor of Jello that somehow just never caught on N 44 07.796 W 086 02.300