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The Trail to the Cuyamas
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Before a band of winding asphalt carved through Tepusquet Canyon, there was a trail simply known as "The Trail to the Cuyamas". It was a vital path that connected people traveling to or from Santa Maria and Cuyama during the 1800's. For many years, this canyon was my home, and though time has brought changes, my love for this place, rich with stories and landmarks, remains. This cache is my way of sharing some of that history and a few of the local landmarks with you.
Finding the Cache: Visit the six waypoints to solve this multi-cache. The waypoints are spread out along 10 miles of the road, so you will probably want to drive to these locations. The spots themselves are all on the shoulder of the road. You're welcome to tackle them in any order you prefer. However, for a smoother journey, consider starting either near the Sisquoc River and progressing towards the pass, or vice versa, depending on your approach route.
At each of the six waypoints, follow the instructions provided in its description to find what you need to retrieve. Gather all the clues, and you'll be able to combine them to unlock the final coordinates. The Cache is hidden on the side of the road with permission from the property owner.
Many of the virtual waypoints are located near existing geocaches within the canyon. This offers a great chance to log some extra finds along the way.
Important for Fire Safety: Please park only in dirt pull-off areas. To prevent fire hazards, do not park on grass or any vegetation. If a pull-out appears overgrown, don't stop there! Instead, please contact me and I'll gladly help you find an alternative way to gather the clue for that location.
Please note: that cell phone reception is limited in much of the canyon. If you're using the Geocaching app, it's a good idea to print out the information you need ahead of time, or save the cache descriptions to an offline list before you head out.
As you explore Tepusquet Canyon, please be mindful and respectful of the residents and their property. Kindly avoid parking in driveways. Unfortunately, over the years, some visitors have not treated the canyon with care, leaving litter at pull-outs or attempting to take items from private land. These actions have unfortunately created a negative impression of people passing through. If you happen to see any litter, your help in picking it up would be greatly appreciated so that we can help counter that impression.
About Tepusquet:
There are various stories about what the name Tepusquet (pronounced 'tep us squay') means. Many believe it refers to a 'copper coin.' Others suggest it describes the color of the serpentine rock outcrops found in the area, or perhaps the hue of the Manzanita plant, both of which have copper-like tones. Interestingly, the book San Ramon Chapel Pioneers and Their California Heritage suggests the canyon is named after a Chumash village called Acupusque.
The antique grader pictured above played a pivotal role in shaping Tepusquet Canyon. This image is of the actual machine that first widened and smoothed out the road that you travel on today.
Stage 1
Take Me to the River
N 34° 51.650′ W 120° 15.500′ (Approximate location of the Bridge)
Parking at: N 34° 51.735′ W 120° 15.430′
The impressive bridge you see here is a relatively recent and deeply significant addition to the canyon. For decades, many families in the canyon advocated for this permanent structure to become a reality.
Historically, each year a temporary dirt crossing was built in the summer. However, as soon as the rains came, they inevitably washed it away, forcing residents to take Santa Maria Mesa Road instead, potentially a substantial and time-consuming detour to reach town or to get their kids to school. More importantly, the nearest emergency responders are located in the town of Sisquoc. Without a permanent bridge, the precious time needed to respond to an emergency can be significantly lost due to the added journey to reach someone in need.
The book San Ramon Chapel Pioneers and Their California Heritage, recounts how one resident died trying to cross the river after the road had washed out. More recently, as reported in the Lompoc Record, ambulances have gotten stuck trying to navigate the dirt crossing, on one occasion necessitating a life-saving airlift for a patient.
I recall one memorable morning on the high school bus when a substitute driver, despite our protests that she was heading the wrong way, insisted on following the official route, leading us all the way to the washed-out river crossing. Of course, we had to turn back. Inexplicably, she then scolded the two of us on board, accusing us of wanting to make the bus late! It made no sense to me then, and it still doesn't today. Thankfully, those days of detours are over, and there's now a reliable bridge for travel to Sisquoc.
| A |
As you walk on the bridge, look at the bolts used on the brown railing on the bridge. Each bolt has a 3-digit number on it. Record the last digit.
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Stage 2
Last Call...
N 34° 51.930′ W 120° 15.280′
Cell phone service is unreliable throughout most of Tepusquet Canyon. You might often see cars pulled over in this specific spot, with drivers making a last call before losing reception on their way home, or stopping to connect before heading into town. While landline service exists within the canyon, this particular location often serves as a reliable spot for making necessary calls. In fact, when landlines are down, this area could be the first place to get an emergency call out.
If you are using the Geocaching App, you will want to save the geocache listing to an offline list before you go any further.
| B |
Locate the power pole with an X made out of reflectors. To the left of the X there is the pole number on a yellow placard with a barcode at the base. Record the last digit on the pole number.
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Stage 3
A School with A View
N 34° 53.250′ W 120° 14.005′
From this vantage point, you might catch a glimpse of the historic one-room Tepusquet schoolhouse peeking between the Coast Live Oaks. The school building pictured below is now a private residence. According to San Ramon Chapel Pioneers and Their California Heritage, the school first opened its doors in 1884. In its early days, there was no well or running water, meaning students had to carry buckets of water from Tepusquet Creek up to the school each day. Over the years, the school served a varied number of students, typically ranging from six to forty annually. Finally, in 1950, the little schoolhouse closed, and students then began attending schools in the nearby towns of Sisquoc and Garey."
You can see the Bell from Tepusquet School and the bells from Garey, Suey, and Olive schools by the flag pole at Blochman School in Sisquoc.
| C |
There is a mile marker at this spot. Obtain the last digit on the mile marker (the hundredths place) |
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Stage 4
A Road to Nowhere
N 34° 55.430′ W 120° 13.185′
A recent article in the Santa Maria Sun referred to Colson Canyon Road as a 'Road to Nowhere.' Sadly, in recent years, this once-accessible route to fantastic trails and backcountry has been closed to the public due to funding constraints. I have many fond memories of my childhood and teenage years spent exploring the trails and camping in this part of the Los Padres National Forest.
In January 2023, heavy rains triggered significant mudslides, and Colson Creek washed away sections of the road. Although some portions of the road are managed by Santa Barbara County and other portions by the United States Forest Service (USFS), a 1985 cooperative agreement designates the USFS as primarily responsible for road maintenance. While some property owners retain access, the portion under USFS jurisdiction remains in disrepair due to the substantial cost of restoring it and reopening it to the public.
Interestingly, the book San Ramon Chapel Pioneers and Their California Heritage reveals that Colson Canyon was originally known as Callsen Fork, named after a person named Nes Callsen.
| D |
Locate the brown sign that says "National Forest Boundary Gate", it has a pad lock on the part that changes the status of the sign from open to closed. What is the brand name stamped on the lock? Record the number of letters that make up the name.
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Stage 5
Fetching Two Pales of Water
N 34° 56.710′ W 120° 13.735′
Suey Creek held a special significance in the canyon as one of the few places that historically had year-round running water. The name 'Suey' itself is derived from the Chumash word for Tarweed. In times past, before reliable wells were common, people would make their way here to collect water for their households.
I recall hearing a story of one determined resident who made a daily journey of over a mile with a 250-foot climb (almost a 5% grade) to get water for her family. Each day, she would descend the hillside with two empty 5-gallon containers, fill them up at the creek, and then carrying over 80 pounds of water, make the arduous mile-long ascent back home, a can in each hand.
Even in more recent decades, it was not unheard of to see a car pull over at this spot, its driver dipping a bucket in the creek to replenish an overheating radiator with the stream water, hoping to make it the rest of the journey home. However, I strongly advise against this practice. The water contains a significant amount of minerals and silt, which, combined with other debris, could cause permanent damage to your vehicle.
| E |
There is a mile marker at this spot. Obtain the last digit on the mile marker (the hundredths place) |
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Stage 6
Cigarette Springs
N 34° 58.840′ W 120° 12.500′
The origin of the name 'Cigarette Springs' remains a bit of a mystery to me. What I do know is that this spot has historically been a vital source of water in this upper part of the canyon. It provided, and continues to provide, a crucial supply for both the residents and the livestock that call this area home. Please note that the spring itself is located on private land.
| F |
Just downhill of the pullout there is a mile marker. Obtain the last digit on the mile marker (the hundredths place) |
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Final Stage
?
N 34° 56.???′ W 120° 13.???′
| Final Location: |
N 34° 56.(A-1)(B+2)(C+5)′ W 120° 13.(D+2)(E-1)(F+6)′ |
Check Sum = A+B+C+D+E+F=43
The cache is located within 10 feet of the main road and hidden with the permission of the property owner. Please help me be able to keep the cache at this location, if you see litter at this spot, please help by picking up the litter and dispose of it properly in town. From GZ if you look past the cache, you can make out a remnant of the original trail to the Cuyamas. Please be respectful and do not cross the fence or go down the hill.
You can validate your puzzle solution with
certitude.
(you will need to drive to either Waypoint 2 (N 34° 51.930′ W 120° 15.280′) or Reference point 1 (N 34° 59.254′ W 120° 12.332′) in order to get cell signal)
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