Virtually Pilot Butte Virtual Cache
This cache has been locked, but it is available for viewing.
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Virtually Pilot Butte is a virtual cache atop Pilot Butte in the city of Bend, Oregon.
One of the more interesting facets of Geocaching is the introduction of folks to geographic areas, terrain features and historic sites they may never have known about. Pilot Butte has been part of the culture of Bend since the earliest visitors used this prominent land feature to find their way. Today's residents use it for relaxation and exercise
Pilot Butte rises almost 500 feet above the basaltic flatland and was formed about 188,000 years ago as a result of a fault vent from the main Paulina Crater, many miles to the south. As the volcanic material erupted, it exploded, sending cinders and ash hundreds of feet in the air over a period of weeks or months. Due of the prevailing winds (not to much different from today) the light material was characteristically deposited to the north and east of the main vent, the steeper side being to the south. The volcanic remnants of the vent can be seen on the hiking tail just below the summit.
Pilot Butte is managed by the Oregon State Park system. An auto road will carry you to the top for views of Bend, the Three Sisters and surroundings. A very nice nature trail was carved out of the side of the butte a few years ago. Both are favorite hiking trails for residents of the area: a 480-foot gain in about a mile or about .8 miles by the steeper trail. Some folks do the butte twice on every visit and many climb or run it every day of the year. (Beware the ice of winter, however.)
There is a Nature Trail handout prepared by Ken Johnson’s Biology II students at Mt. View High School. Take time to learn about the eighteen features they point out. The printed handout runs out during the summer. Perhaps the State Park System can fund this interpretive guide year around.
The following coordinates will take you to the start of the hiking trails: N 44° 03.463 W 121° 16.735 (WGS84). Do enjoy the walk!
The newly improved summit of Pilot Butte has six interpretive boards. Plan to spend some time learning about Central Oregon.
The summit still has the original volcanic stone monument with places for the original three small bronze plaques. Our original confirmation question was about the information on one of these. The plaque was removed on August 9, 2006 and was to have been replaced "soon". We have decide to wait no longer. Read on for the new confirmation question.
The coordinates of the summit of Pilot Butte are those of this Geocache. There is a cast bronze disk in the center of the new improved interpretive area. Email us the distance to Mt. Hood that is cast in the bronze disk and we will confirm your posting.
It might be noted that Oregon State Parks will not permit a traditional Geocache in Pilot Butte State Park due to the heavy use of this Central Oregon treasure.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Jr qba'g guvax lbh ernyyl arrq n uvag!