Here Lived Silas Hoyt... Traditional Cache
Hidden : 2/16/2021
Difficulty:
1.5 out of 5
Terrain:
2.5 out of 5

Size: Size: small (small)

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Geocache Description:


... or not?

Occasionally you spot things on different map layers that bear investigation. This was such an occurrence that piqued my interest and induced further research which I just had to follow up on.

Archive

From Trails Magazine, Winter 1938 issue:
Big Tujunga Canyon, though devastated by fire more often and more completely, perhaps, than any other area of the mountains of Los Angeles County, has always been a leading favorite with mountain lovers of Southern California. This second largest canyon watershed in Los Angeles County, 87 square miles in area, repeatedly burned in the great fires of 1878, 1896, 1900, and 1919, and many others of less consequence has, through it all, managed to preserve places of great beauty and interest.
Of the Big Tujunga of the days that are gone, the record is none too clear. We know that it played a big part in the early Spanish and American settlement, that it furnished water for early days farming, timber for long forgotten cabin and hacienda, grazing for herds of the old days and refuge for many a lone outlaw or bandit band.
Silas Hoyt came to the Big Tujunga about the year 1888 and settled on a quarter-section at the junction of Vasquez Canyon, known to all of the old-timers as the Hoyt Ranch. His first cabin was a pretty poor shelter and two years later, in 1890, he built the cabin which illustrates this story. It stood on the east bank of the stream, just below Vasquez Canyon, on property now called Pinecliff and occupied by a more modern structure, but to all the old mountaineers it was 'Hoyt's.' Nothing is now left of either, the ruins having been buried in a landslide several years ago.

archive

He was an eccentric old chap and many stories are told of his life and his peculiar ideas of business... He disliked the city and the rapid development of the adjacent valley areas, and only left the canyon on the few occasion when it was necessary to go.
The old man nearly lost his eyesight thru the combined irritation of wood smoke and heavy eye-brows, which not only curled into his eyes, but grew so long that they hung to his cheeks below. This condition was relieved, and he was possibly saved from total blindness, when Dr. Hansen, discovering his trouble, trimmed the shaggy brows and furnished him a wash for their care."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

You, on the other hand, should have no trouble following your GPS to these coordinates where you'll find the remnants of some earlier residence. Whomever it belonged to, one can certainly understand why they chose such a picturesque location. I sat here for some time imagining listening to the flow of the stream while Beelzebub tried to escape his tether. I hope you enjoy a similar reverie.
If you've no time for such folly and just want to grab the cache and proceed, you'll find it about fifteen feet west of the posted coordinates, due to the difficulty of obtaining satellite reception. Cache is a large PB jar painted to be less conspicuous. If desired, FTF can claim the elusive genuine w01f pathtag contained therein. Please rehide very carefully so it remains safe from unintended discovery.

The Grizzly Flat Trail is one of the most pleasant little diversions I have found in a couple of decades hiking and exploring the front range. Recent clearing and trail restoration have made the moderate climb to Grizzly Flats far more passable and well-worn than I had anticipated. First winding through the river bed flats, with verdant river crossings and bamboo thickets, then climbing steadily up to outstanding ridge views, until finally winding round the shaded mountainside, you'll reach Grizzly, Flat(tened) in about 2.5 miles, and that's including the little detour to pop in on Silas Hoyt.

Please note: According to the Forest Service website, and the parking lot signage, a Forest Adventure Pass is required for closest parking at Stonyvale Picnic Area. There are other options/approaches if you want to save your $5. As always, be aware of local potential hazards: ticks, snakes, poison-oak, coyotes, even mountain lions are at home here. While there is shade and water enroute, you'll want to prepare adequately. Terrain rating will definitely be higher in times of high water flow.

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

orgjrragurgehaxf

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)


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