Silver Creek #1 Traditional Cache
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(small)
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Are you ready for another GeoRoo adventure? Cords were very difficult, so read the hint. This is #6 in my mining series of caches. Beautiful hike along Silver Creek road/trail that will lead you to 3 caches and Mineral City. Once bustling miners town of thousands is just a memory now. You are looking for a 3x5 inch container at the Betty adit. No need to enter the mine to locate the cache.
Travel back in time and relive a part of our state history. Mineral City in the late 1800's was once a town of 15 blocks with stores, saloons, hotels, and residences. Hope that a cross mountain railway to the riches of Monte Cristo died out in the early 1900's and this town died a slow death. Now all that remains are the mines and a few artifacts if you look carefully. Drive US 2 and turn off at Index. Go past Index and drive 9 miles on the Index-Galena Rd. UPDATE: Index-Galena Rd. is washed out and not expected to be repaired till 2015-16. Access via the Beckler Riv. Rd FS 65 over Jacks Pass near Skykomish. East gate is now open to the public. 9/14/12. Turn right at N 47 53.410 W 121 26.415 Cross the river and you are at the long gone town of Galena. Go about 300 ft. and take the next right at unsigned FR 6335. N 47 53.472 W 121 26.534 Either park here or continue 1.3 miles. If you have a SUV or 4x4 you can make it most of the way or to the end. The first 1/2 mile is the worst. Drive until you can't drive no more! Stay to the right at the end of the road. Elevation about 1,300 ft. 1,000 ft of the road slid off to Silver Creek and is now a trail. Be very cautious here as it's a long drop to the creek below. After you negotiate the slide area you'll come to a mine on your left and cache location. Please post any coordinates if you can get a signal lock. From the road end it's about 1/4 mile to the cache. Continue on to my Silver Creek #2 and Mineral City in some of the most scenic low valley walking you will find in Washington. If you are an experienced hiker you can continue along the road and pass over Poodle Dog Pass and drop down to Monte Cristo. Miles of little visited country await. Enjoy
Warning and Update 9/14/12 Gate from the east is open to the public, so you can access Galena via the Beckler River Rd. near Skykomish (FS65). Road and bridges are becoming more and more deteriorated, so use extra caution. Cabin owners are maintaining the road/trail, so there is minimal care to assure access. Replaced the cache with a 3x5 inch metal box, please cover and hide well. Not recommended for children or pets.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Gb gur evtug bs gur zvar ba gur bhgfvqr jnyy. Furys pbirerq jvgu n ebpx cvyr.