Vanishing Hill Country Quest Mystery Cache
la escondida: The new development makes the current locations not as safe. I'm removing it for now and will see what I can make of out it. It'll be back. Thanks to all.
Vanishing Hill Country Quest
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A nine stage expedition along this southern corner of scenic Kendall County.
Superb examples of the Hill Country’s rugged attraction are in abundance as you drive through these former ranch lands. Take a day when you feel like a Sunday drive - this cache will take a little while and the road is long. Each stage will point out a little lesson in flora, fauna and geology. Take your time and just look – there is beauty all around you! Don’t forget to listen. Noisy hawks overhead, song birds in the trees and that grunting and rustling is probably an armadillo.
The Hill Country was created by the Balcones Escarpment, the wide crumbling edge of the Edwards Plateau. Somewhere between 10 and 20 million years ago, the Cretaceous rocks were uplifted and the Edwards Plateau was created. Continued erosion has formed the landscape of today. Beneath the surface is an amazing system of aquifers, streams, rivers, and caves. Most of the water for the Hill Country comes from the Trinity Aquifer. It has a slow recharge rate and water is always our most precious resource. All of Kendall County lies in the contributing zone for the Edwards Aquifer - the source of water for San Antonio. Don’t waste it!
On your drive through the former Inguehuett and 711 ranch, you will stop close to Champee Spring; it is the source of Cibolo Creek. Lush colonies of Texas sotol can be seen on the hill sides. Stage 2 is near a dwarf Sabal palm. Please do not step on it or harm it any way. It is an exciting and rare thing to see at this elevation. Second growth cedar and a few old growths are visible as are white and red oaks. Many of the old ranch buildings and stone water tanks are intact. Just think how deep the well pipe must go from up here. You may also be treated to the sight of wild turkeys or a herd of elk. The valley views and the panoramas extending to the horizon are first class and probably are the best reason to drive out here.
Have a good time, enjoy the scenery and I hope you find the drive worth your time.
• If you are not interested in another scenic view or undeveloped beauty – don’t waste your time with this cache. It’s entire premise is the views. The road is approximately 13 miles long one way.
• Don’t cheat, it won’t be as much fun.
• At stage 4, look across the road. You are very near Champee Spring.
• I apologize, but the container locations are not safely accessible for the mobility impared.
• A grassy shoulder is usually available for parking, but -
PLEASE! PLEASE! PLEASE! PAY ATTENTION TO WHERE YOU HAVE PARKED AS GRASS FIRES ARE EASILY STARTED BY HOT VEHICLES !!!
• You will need to cross the road for most of the stages. Or just make a circle at each location to park on the cache side of the road. Traffic is light to none. But pay attention.
• This area of pristine Hill Country is slated for development. A 5,000-acre subdivision is proposed and fortunately is in litigation due to deed restrictions. Phase one calls for 149 lots on 1,976 acres and eventually 1,579 houses.
• Look where you step and when you reach - A good place for a container is also a good place for a critter.
For some reason, it is sometimes difficult to get an exact lock on coordinates at this location. Just look in the most logical place, I have not made the containers difficult to find.
Eight camoed pill bottles easily findable, but not all hidden in the same way.
+ Exit Ranger Creek Road off I-10
These six caches are in the same area: GCMHHE GCJNVT GCTP77 GCTP5Z GCTP8X GCTVOA
Additional Hints
(No hints available.)
Treasures
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