A Birthday to Remember Virtual Cache
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Starting from Woods Lake Trailhead, this is a beautiful 7-mile (approximately depending on which trails you take) hike through spectacular Mokelumne Wilderness. The difficulty of the terrain won’t be evident until the last 400 feet or so at which there is some very steep, rubbly rocks where you need to use EXTREME CAUTION.
I have no idea who John Zander is, but apparently he summitted Round Top on 9/23/98. He left an aluminum dog tag engraved with his name and that it he was on a birthday hike. He also left his children’s names and that he hopes they follow in his footsteps. To log this cache, please e-mail me with how old John Zander turned on his birthday hike in 1998 (or send picture of tag).
I was thrilled to find this at the top because I didn’t want to leave a traditional cache in a wilderness area. Amazingly, this cache has remained at the top of Round Top for 5 years despite some brutal winter weather conditions. In fact, this cache could probably only be found a couple months out of the year (late summer, early autumn) as this particular pocket of the Sierras tends to average significantly more snowfall than most other areas.
Although the coordinates should be pretty accurate (you’re at an elevation of 10,365 ft with nothing else around), it should be noted that the tag is not in an area where you should have to look or reach over a cliff to get to it. There is at least a 1,000’ sheer drop-off to both the north and south. However, this makes for spectacular 360-degree views for probably 40 miles or so. Winnemuca and Round Top Lakes are immediately below you as well as great views of Caples Lake, Upper Blue Lake, Lake Tahoe, Pyramid Peak, Mount Tallac and the rest of the Crystal Basin.
8/12/06: Multiple finders have reported the dog tag is missing. If you post recognizable pictures from the top it is fine to log this cache. Then I will e-mail you with John Zander's age (whether you want me to or not
).
8/20/07: I checked for the dog tag myself and could not locate it. Please post pictures of yourself or group at the top. Your GPSr with coordinates showing your location will work, too.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Gur gnt vf nggnpurq gb n jver gung vf fgvpxvat bhg bs gur ebpxf.
Treasures
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