One of a series of four mountain tops surrounding Lake Pend Oreille
(Blacktail Mtn, Scotchman Pk, and Schafer Peak are the other
three). Its dedicated to the Skydivers (you know who you are!).
Bring two strong legs, two good lungs, a big heart, and, if you own
them a pair of trekking poles. I highly recommend USGS Packsaddle
Mountain Quadrant Topo Map and some adjoining charts if you feel
the need.
Finding this cache will entail a 16 mile round trip hike with an
elevation gain of 3800 feet! Because of the distance you may even
consider turning this into a two day event. For reference it took
me 5.5 hours to do the hike - but I was moving right along the
entire time! I placed this cache on June 6 and had to negotiate
some snow at the top but it wasn't too bad. Be sure you are
equipped with the ten essentials of hiking, this is not a drive-up
cache; the weather up here can turn for the worse quickly!
There are a lot of ways to get to the summit; I only know of one
sure one as most of the forest service roads in this area are
gated. Take the Bunco Road exit (south edge of Silverwood) east
bound off US 95 coming from either Sandpoint or Coeur de Alene.
Follow the signs to Lakeview along this road; however once past
Mile Post 10 proceed up the hill (Rd 278)not down into Lakeview
(total distance from US 95 - 26.5 miles). Park at the Bridge over
the Northfork of Gold Creek (47 58.220 116 24.480); you'll see the
trailhead signs. Trail splits at about 1/2 mile; take Trail 111.
You'll be following Gold Creek up to and past it's headwaters
crossing it many times. You wont need to turn on your GPS until you
break out of the forest at the six mile point. When you reach the
old forest service road go right about 100 feet and look for signs
for trail #76 (topo says #76 sign says #78 but there's only one
trail) to Packsaddle Lookout.
The entire trail is very well marked and well defined. The trail
starts out fairly flat in open brushy country then enters an old
growth Cedar and Fir forest and begins to climb in earnest. Next
you'll hike through an old clearcut replete with huckleberries,
Indian Paintbrush, and Subalpine fir. Finally you'll enter a mature
sub alpine forest in the last mile or so. There are actually four
different summits up here with spectacular views from each. Take
some time to explore the old lookout site at the actual summit.
While heading up to this cache I saw bear (2), Elk (12), Moose (4),
in addition to all the usual stuff. Oh, I almost forgot - the cache
is an ammo can hidden off the summit a ways to avoid accidental
detection. Be sure to check the spoiler pictures and hints as you
don't want to trek sixteen miles and not find it. GPS coverage up
on top is a leadpipe cinch - my unit was tracking 12 birds with an
epe of 10 feet when I posted the cache. Should be no problem to
find. If you're interested you can even log a benchmark at the
summit. For further information on this Fire Lookout site and
others click the link. Conrad's Forest Fire Lookout Page