The Sentinel Traditional Geocache
-
Difficulty:
-
-
Terrain:
-
Size: 
(regular)
Please note Use of geocaching.com services is subject to the terms and conditions
in our disclaimer.
This was my first geocache I ever placed. I hope it will last as
long as I do.
This cache is on the Nebo Loop up Payson Canyon. "Nebo" means
"Sentinel of God," Hence the name of this GeoCache. Cache is
located less than 1/10 mile from a paved road, so bring all the
kids and a picnic lunch.
On May 26, 2005 I stopped by this cache to check on it, and was
very disappointed to find it missing. This has been one of my
favorite caches, as it was my first, but also because it was so old
and the logbook so rich with stories. Fortunately, I did have a
cache box, log book, and pencil in my car, so I was able to replace
it. I did not have any toys to place in it, so for now I guess it
is a logbook only. If you feel inclined to help this cache out and
leave some of your swag for others to find, that would be much
appreciated. Most importantly, tho, PLEASE re-hide it at least as
well as I left it so that maybe it will last another four
years...or so.
The elevation at the cache location is approx. 8,264 feet, so
unless you are going in the heat of summer, bring a jacket - I have
seen snow up here in July. It is easy to get to, which means I had
to make it a little more difficult to find. You can decode the hint
if you like, but be warned, that will probably totally ruin it for
you.
Here is a little history about the area and the road which you have
to take to reach the cache:
The road to this cache treats all travelers to some spectacularly
beautiful views. It is built through canyons and along ridges, east
of Mt. Nebo -- the highest mountain in the Wasatch Range. There are
good views of Nebo itself, with its three peaks of almost equal
height (the northern one is the highest). There are also vantage
points where you can pull off and look at other mountains in the
range. Mt. Timpanogos is visible several miles to the north, across
Utah Valley. On most days (unless the air pollution is worse than
usual) it is easy to see even further -- to the mountains rimming
the east side of the Salt Lake Valley, over sixty miles away.
By the mid 1950's, the road was paved most of the way. But it was
still very narrow, steep, and winding. And the highest portions
were not paved at all. You can make it clear across only during a
short time in the middle of the summer. Once on a hot day in July,
we assumed that the road would certainly be open -- but at the very
top there was a deep snowbank blocking the road. We had to turn
around and go back the way we had come, rather than continuing down
the other side. I found out later that the road reaches an
elevation of well over 9,200 feet at its highest point.
Of all the scenic byways in Utah, indeed in all of the Western
U.S., this is one of my favorites. It is paved all the way,
although it is not kept open during the colder months. I suppose it
would be pretty easy to fly off into a gorge if you were to take
one of the curves a little too fast, but it is wide enough that
this is almost never a concern.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Pnpur vf vafvqr n ynetr snyyra gerr, gur bayl bar va gur nern gung jnf phg jvgu n fnj.