HAAF #7: Buckeye International Traditional Cache

This cache has been archived.

keltickacher: Looks like this one was burned over again - third or 4th time. I may replace it down the line with something a bit more fire proof. Thanks to all who visited over the years!
Jim
KK

More
Hidden : 9/3/2005
Difficulty:
2 out of 5
Terrain:
2 out of 5

Size: Size: regular (regular)

Join now to view geocache location details. It's free!

Watch

How Geocaching Works
Looking for a different adventure?

Please note Use of geocaching.com services is subject to the terms and conditions in our disclaimer.

Geocache Description:

Failte!
Seventh in a series of caches honoring the men and women who served and trained at the old Hobbs Army Air Field in Hobbs,NM, during WWII.

Do not turn in at the road to the ranch house - public land access to the old field is further west!

FIRE RESTRICTIONS!!!!
Fire danger in SE NM is HIGH. To view the latest on fire or entry restrictions, click on
"Fire Information" at: SW Wildfire Management

 

Buckeye Auxiliary Air Field #4
Hobbs Auxiliary Air Field #4 was one of six satellite fields set up around the Hobbs Army Air Field during WWII. These fields were used for emergency landings, practicing take-offs and landings and dispersal of aircraft in the event of attack. This field was also known as Buckeye Auxiliary Field (named for a small community nearby). This is the only one of the six auxiliary fields that is not now an active airport (Hobbs & Wink) or on private property (most of this one is on state land including the cache loaction).

This airfield came back to life in the 70's as a smuggler’s drop off for loads of narcotics being flown out of Mexico. Local law enforcement referred to it as “Buckeye International Airport”. Electrical power lines and oil wells blocked the runways in the 1980's, ending the bustling trade.

The desert has reclaimed most of the runways. You can drive on a couple of them down lanes in the mesquites to very near the cache. Be careful of the mesquites - they have thorns that can flatten any tire! The cache is just off one of the runways under a mesquite bush (that’s a nice hint since there are probably 10,000 per acre).

The usual desert cautions apply here. Most things out here bite, sting, stick or are just cranky. Look before you reach!

The cache was burned up a few years ago in a wildland fire and the container was replaced with an ammo can by a visiting cacher, Grand Hi Poobah. That proved to be fortuitous on 6-9-11, when it was again burned over. The cache survived with no damage and was moved a bit to an unburned area.

Slainte Mhath & good luck!

 

Additional Hints (No hints available.)



Advertising with Us