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A fairly easy hike into one of the several nearby coal mining ghost towns.
Fairfax, another company town along the Carbon River, came into existence around 1896. The Northern Pacific Railroad, (NPR) extended the trunk line from Carbonado, to Fairfax in 1897, where it dead ended. There was a roundhouse at Fairfax that turned the engine around so it could pull the rail cars. The train made one trip per day, pulling passengers, and coal as far as Tacoma, Wa. Rail was the only way into or out of Fairfax until Highway #165 was extended to Mount Rainier National Park in 1923. The town had all the amenities. There was a general store, a large hotel, butcher shop, stables, post office, and school, (which was later expanded to accommodate the first in the area, heated swimming pool).
Fairfax continued to produce coal for the ever growing Pacific Northwest, until the Great Depression hit in 1929. Within a couple of years, the need for coal by the large industries diminished, and most people moved on. Today, all that’s left are a few foundations, and some garbage, left by the families that once lived there. There is still an estimated 21,000,000 tons of coal in the main Fairfax mine.
To get to this cache, drive south on Highway #165 through the towns of Burnett, wilkeson, and Carbonado. Cross the O’Farrell Bridge at: N.47° 02.521’, W. 122° 02.471’, and continue approx. 2.25 miles. Here you will find several large boulders at: N.47° 00.681’, W.122° 01.265’. This is the road/trail into the townsite. Continue past these boulders on highway #165 for approx. .75 miles to the recommended parking at Evans Creek: N.47° 00.189’, W.122° 00.383’. There are a couple of closer spots to park, but I can’t guarantee your vehicle will not sink out of sight as you pull off the road, or that these areas are on public land. If you choose to park anywhere else other than the recommended area, its park at your own risk. Unfortunately, this road is fairly narrow, with virtually no shoulder. Please be watchful as you walk on this road as it sees a lot of traffic, especially during the tourist season.
The cache is located on Burlington Northern Railroad land. Please be respectful. If anything of “historical significance” is found, it will have to be reported. You are looking for an ammo box. The cache contains lots of goodies, including a new, unactivated travel bug for the FTF. Please rehide the cache well. Good boots are advisable, as this area stays wet most of the year, and may be very muddy. Have fun, bring a camera, and maybe a fishing pole. The Carbon River Gorge is beautiful.
**UPDATE** The November and December floods of 2006 have washed out half of the main rd.(hiway165) at the location of the boulders, and townsite road. The main road is still passable, and in fact the road crew graveled a shoulder within 200 feet of the boulder location, making it a much shorter walk than the above listed parking coords. at Evans Creek. When I checked on the cache 5-5-07, I just parked right across the street on the new graveled shoulder, next to the boulders. This should make this cache a little more enjoyable.
RECOMENDATION:
Do not follow your GPSr directly from the boulders to the cache, unless you have a masochistic hunger that needs to be fed! The easiest way to the cache would be down the old trail/road into the townsite, and around to the cache in a "C" type of route, counter clockwise. Very little bushwacking if done this way. Good luck!
7-10-13 UPDATE
There was a question of legally parking and accessability. According to the Superintendent of Parks and Recreation-Kent Baskett, it is perfectly legal to park off of the spur rd. leading to the town site. Disregard the "NO Tresspassing" signs. Kent wasn't sure who put up the signs, but they are incorrect.
Freak of Nature
Congratulations to Innkeepers on their FTF!
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Abegurnfg pbeare bs znaznqr fgehpgher