5/13/06: Placed a smaller container in the same location hopefully to avoid future muggling.
This cache takes you on a nice connector trail which allows students and commuters to move from the University Park subdivision to primary and secondary schools and the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) without dodging traffic on the Parks Highway. It also provides access to the Chena River and a view of the "Tanana Chief" sternwheeler.
The cache is a pleasant walk from any of several lodging locations along the Chena River close to the airport (access the bike trail from the east side of the Parks Highway). Alternatively, a fun mountain bike loop to access the cache involves parking near the West Ridge ski trails behind the (UAF) Arctic Research Building (map), riding down the Tanana Loop Hill through the traffic circle to the new Chief Thompson Drive/Campus Entrace. Continue south across Geist Road on Loftus which will take you to the bike trail to the cache. After visiting the cache, you may follow the bike path along the east side of the Parks Highway approximately 3/4 of a mile to Geist Road. Cross Geist Road and look for a dirt trail heading north across some of the UAF experimental fields. Follow that trail and be treated to an up close view of the university's research reindeer herd. You'll hit pavement again at Sheep Creek Road opposite the Georgeson Botanical Garden. After taking a moment to smell the flowers and check out the vegetables in the garden, you can turn left and follow Sheep Creek Road around to the ski trail access just north of the UAF sign and ride the ski trails (map) back to the parking lot. Alternatively, you can turn right onto Sheep Creek Road and return to the parking lot via the Tanana Loop Road hill you first came down.
Be sure to record the mystery cache code word from the cover of the cache log book . You will need the code word to find an upcoming bonus mystery cache.
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