Indian Joe Spring Traditional Cache
-
Difficulty:
-
-
Terrain:
-
Size:
 (regular)
Please note Use of geocaching.com services is subject to the terms and conditions
in our disclaimer.
The trail follows a wash in the Argus Mountain range to a spring once used for recreation and more by the early residents of Trona , CA.
Terrain alternates irregularly between an easy hike to a challenge of boulders and vegetation. A path can be discerned in most places, but then there are those couple of pesky spots where you just got to wonder "where did that path go and how did anybody get around that tangle of vegetation & boulders?"
We did it in an afternoon with a 3 1/2 year old and a 9 year old. I carried the youngest some of the way up and most of the way on the return trip, so you may want to leave the youngest ones at home. Potential critters include the usual dangers: rattlesnakes, scorpions, & bees
. The spring is currently running plentifully down most of the wash. Bird watchers will love this area. 
Several side trips are possible from this hike including the Upper Gardens. I think it is also possible to reach the "Hueycache" (GCM82R) from here too, but can't attest to the terrain from this approach.
The cache is a standard ammo can which contains the log book, a toy motorcycle, a nice knife, VX31 SAR patch, recycle pin, plastic whistle, "John Wayne" can opener, and a McDonalds Shark Tale toy.
Two good sources of additional info on this location can be found at the following web addresses:
(visit link)
(visit link)
Wished we had brought with us: Long sleeves, sun-screen, a hat, allergy medicine (a-a-a-choo!! Them flowers sure are a bloomin'!). Glad we didn't wear shorts. 
Once privately owned, the location is now public property. "No Trespassing" signs painted on boulders during the hike are from the days prior to the conversion to public land. One way travel is 1.3 miles to the cache from where I parked. Best access road from Trona Rd is at N35°49.486', W117°20.398'. Original access roads all appear to be blocked by a sand & gravel operation. I parked at N35°49.480',W117°23.100' which is at the end of the only road I know of that gets close enough to start this hike. 4wd was not needed to get to this starting point.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Va gur ebpxf bireybbxvat gur svefg gerrq nern
Treasures
You'll collect a digital Treasure from one of these collections when you find and log this geocache:

Loading Treasures