Old Wagon Road Traditional Cache
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Size: 
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A nice hike up a rocky trail to the circa 1870's wagon road.
********Parking at N45 41.445 - W121 43.999********
Thanks to Scott Cook for The Curious Gorge book that let us know about this place. You start on I-84, walk part way on old Columbia River Highway and hike up the hill to the old wagon road. Beautiful stonework and views. This cache is only accesible from the east bound side of I-84. The parking area is located 1.8 miles east of the Wyeth exit. If you are coming from Hood River you will need to go to Wyeth and turn around. You will drive past the slide barriers at the base of Shellrock Mountain. I think there are three of them and just past the third one there is a turn off with a white rectangular Highway Dept. sign. Step over the guard rail and walk along the old highway until you come to a pipe bent into a curve that heads you up the hill. It is a rocky trail but not too steep. It zigzags up the hill until you get to old wagon road. You can walk along the road for about a half a mile. Cache contains lots of goodies. Hope you enjoy the hike and the history.
For you "loopers" you can hit all 4 geocaches in this lower area and end right back at your vehicle. Climb up the hill to this cache and then continue on up the hill. The trail will head in a westerly direction for a while and then back in an easterly direction. Just as it starts to head back to the west you will see a red marker in a tree and a faint trail heading east. This will soon turn into some Indiana Jones territory. Follow this trail until you come to the knotted rope hanging down. You will need this to help get up the steep slope. This is probably the maintenance trail for the power lines. Once you get to the top be careful on the trail. It is narrow and drops off to the left - leave the little kids at home. There is one dicey spot where part of the trail has slid down the hill but you can make it if you are careful. Stay on the trail until you come to the creek and GCKFTF is easy to get to. After that cross the creek and head down the hill towards GCKFTT - Mossy Road. After that cache stay on the old road until you come out of the trees and up the hill. When that open area ends follow the trail around the bluff and make your way up the trail. You will have to do a little brush beating to get to the base of the falls and GCKHQ0. Then you can make your way down the trail by trail or rocks. Head towards the highway and head west around the corner. When you pass the cement and steel supports head back to the left and you are on the old highway again and right back to your vehicle. Total GPSy miles in just under 2 miles.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
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