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Peak-A-Boo from the top of Iron County! Now don’t get a big “brian head” because you made it over 11,000 feet to the highest point in Iron County. You probably drove here didn’t ya’?
WeatherGuy and Stockley_True pulled a "brian-head" back in October of 2003, when setting out to place this Peak-A-Boo series cache-- we forgot to check for existing caches in the immediate area. Boy were our faces red (not from the glow of the setting sun) when while searching for the perfect location to hide the cache, we happened upon the O' Well cache (WGS84) by Dr. Webe & The Ski Bum at N 37° 40.857 W 112° 49.773. So embarrassed were we, that it's taken nearly a year to log O' Well and post Peak-A-Boo: Brian Head.
Where the heck is Brian Head? Brian Head is a town and ski resort about 12 miles east of Cedar City, in the higher elevations of southwestern Utah. Brian Head Peak, in Dixie National Forest, looms above the ski resort and town at an elevation of 11,307 feet. Brian Head claims to have Utah's highest summer resort base elevation of 9,600 feet and world-class mountain biking, but I digress.
You can easily drive to the summit of Brian Head, but that's not saying you can't get a hike or some exercise in. Familiarize yourself with the area and take a hike or bring your mountain bike and put the mountain to the test! If you want to get a good non-strenuous hike in to the summit, park the car at the bottom of the gravel road leading up to the summit and walk up. It's approximately 2.75 miles (one way) and less that 1,000 feet of elevation gain.
Giddy-Up, where do I start?
Coming from the north:
(Afterwards, you might want to check out Cedar Breaks 5 miles south of Brian Head on SR-148)
· On I-15 southbound, take the Parowan exit.
· Follow SR-143 east through scenic Parowan Canyon and by the colorful Hurricane Cliffs. Brian Head (the town) is about 16 miles and 3000 feet up the canyon.
· Between mile markers 17-18, turn left/east onto a gravel road that should be marked with a Brian Head Peak sign near N37° 40.118 W112° 50.346.
· Follow the gravel road approximately 2.75 miles to the summit.
Coming from the south:
(Don't miss the Zion Canyon Overlook or Cedar Breaks along the way)
· On I-15 northbound at Cedar City, take exit 59 eastbound.
· Head east and follow any signage for Cedar Canyon, Cedar Breaks, or Brian Head. It will be approximately 1 mile east to SR-130, then a few blocks south to SR-14, then east into the canyon
· Follow scenic SR-14 approximately 18 miles up Cedar Canyon to the junction with SR-148. Turn left/north on SR-148 and follow SR-148 approximately 9 miles.
· Between mile markers 18-17, turn right/east onto a gravel road that should be marked with a Brian Head Peak sign near N37° 40.118 W112° 50.346.
· Follow the gravel road approximately 2.75 miles to the summit.
The air is getting thin at 11K, good thing you drove. The views at the summit can be quite impressive, especially toward Cedar Breaks to the south. Obviously, the 'prize' in this geocache is bagging another Utah county high peak and the panoramic views from the top -- the dessert is finding another Peak-A-Boo series cache. Once you've bagged them all you'll be entitled to a "Brian Head," whatever that means. When finished and flush with success, you may want to drive to town, wet your whistle, and possibly strike up a conversation with a local. Tell 'em WeatherGuy & Stockley_True sent ya!
Original cache contents include:
· (Notebook, pens, mechanical pencils and thermometer stay in cache)
· (2) Pkgs. of Advil
· Phone cord, 6 feet
· Mini First Aid Kit
· Pkg. of 15 Kleenex
· (2) Mini carabineers
· Iron Black Full-Sized Devil Duckie
· (3) Pkgs. of Wet Ones Handi-wipes
· Pat Matheny musical CD (unopened)
· Booklet of Souvenir Postcards of Ogden, Utah
· (2) Official Olympic 2002 Utah Highway Roadmaps
· "Oh Brother, Where Art Thou" Soundtrack on enhanced CD
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Ybpngrq fubhyqre uvtu va n ebpx perinffr.