"Ice Caves,Lost Gold". Traditional Cache
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Off hiway 75,near Bear Claw Trading Post
Ice Caves,Lost Gold". This is a true story. During the Placer days of the Boise Basin(early 1860's) two hoodlums had been systematically robbing lone miners of their gold. But it was beginning to get too hot for them around the Basin, so they decided to get out while the gettin' was good. They saddled up, headed east, and got as far as the old Cottonwoods Road that passed near the ice caves, when they spotted a posse on their tail! They whipped their horses faster and faster and turned off the road into the lava fields toward the ice caves. It was mighty rough going for the poor, abused horses and they soon collapsed. The two stinkers were forced to make their way on foot. stumbling and scrambling through the lava. Exhausted, they finally took refuge behind a pile of lava to try to make a stand.But, the posse was in hot pursuit, quickly surrounded the culprits before they knew what was happening, and shot 'em both dead. The loot-estimated to be at least $75,000 in gold-was not on them. The posse looked around and turned over rocks, but never found the gold They decided the crooks must have stashed it somewhere between the road and the caves before they caught up with them. It was impossible to thoroughly search such an expansive field of lava so the posse went home empty-handed. The gold is still there. True story two. Here's another account that's supposed to be gospel: Two gun-men held up a Wells-Fargo Stage and made off with more than $80,000 in raw gold. Later on, the two got into a big fight and one killed the other and took off with the gold. The posse was hot on his trail, so he turned off the Cottonwoods Road into the lava rocks, picked his way carefully in the direction of the Ice Caves, and finally hid the gold under some lava rocks, He marked the spot in his own secret way and quickly made his get-away, planning to pick up the loot after the trail had cooled.But, it didn't work out that way- his picture had been out on "Wanted" signs for some of his other crimes, and he was picked and chucked into a Montana prison. When he finally got out,years later, he went back to where he thought he had buried his gold and searched and searched and never could find the spot. He still out there looking. There are lots of other stories about the Ice Caves being used as a robbers' roosts and places for hiding ill-gotten gains. The robbers all seemed to know about the caves. Next time you're out poking among the rattlesnakes, keep an eye out for that lost loot. So all you Geocacher's go out and find that "Lost Gold" If you want to read more good stuff,buy the book 'Idaho and the Magic Circle' By Betty M. Bever.
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