Zuckerruebensirup: My hubby and I swung by here with a replacement cache yesterday, and discovered the reason the original cache has gone missing: the park has added a bunch of mountain bike trails through this previously quiet area...one of which passes within six inches of the cache site, and offers a view straight into the hiding location for about 50' of trail before making a sharp turn just as you reach the tree in question.
I considered shifting the location a few feet away, but feel that it would still at high risk of exposure to the potentially heavy traffic in the immediate area; as well as allowing slower on-foot cachers to become a nuisance or danger to high speed bikers on the trail.
So, I am sad to report that this cache will be going down into the halls of history...but am glad to see that many more people will now get to enjoy the sight of the big knarly tree which it used to call home. Thank you to everyone who visited this cache, and kept me informed of its condition. [:)]