Harrison Peak Arête Traditional Geocache
-
Difficulty:
-
-
Terrain:
-
Size: 
(regular)
Please note Use of geocaching.com services is subject to the terms and conditions
in our disclaimer.
This cache is located on a sharp ridge on the south side of Mount Harrison. The hike is great and the view spectacular. This is my first cache, so let me know what you think.
To get do the trailhead, take Pack River Road to its end (20 miles from Hwy 95. Note that the last 6 to 7 miles are pretty rough – high clearance vehicles a good idea). Figure an hour to drive this. From the Trailhead, take the trail (#217) to Harrison Lake, approximately 2.5 miles. This is a non-motorized trail in all but winter months.
At the lake, make your way on one of a myriad of trails to its NE corner. You will find one last campsite and behind it, a faint trail that heads up to the low ridge north of the lake. Cairns will help guide you. Your intermediate destination is a large cairn on top of this shorter ridge (coordinates:N48°40.932' W116°39.142'). From here, follow another faint trail north toward the Harrison ridge (also marked by cairns). This will bring you to the shortest path through the talus to the arête. Once on it, head toward the peak. The cache is located before the scrambling and exposure might get uncomfortable for some. Nonetheless, folks attempting this should be comfortable with mountain hiking and scrambling. You will need to use your hands from time to time. Total distance from vehicle is a about 3.6 miles – you will also climb from the trailhead at ~4800' to the cache site at 7,000'.
Note that the sky was overcast and there was not a lot of room to do averaging, so the coordinates may not be spot on. Still, it shouldn’t be too hard to find. You may want to read the hint and bring the spoiler pics just in case. Cache is an appropriately marked 50 cal. ammo box.
The views from the cache site are spectacular as is the setting. The ridgeline drops hundreds of feet pretty precipitously on either side of the arête.
Original contents:
* US Geocoin TB (this coin would like to see the world)
* “Joy of Geocaching” Geocoin (Yours to keep or send on)
* Teton Piton TB (wants to visit lofty heights around the world)
* Sierra cup
* Silver Mtn Brews, Blues and Reggae mug
* First Aid Kit
* Garmin E-trex carrying case
* Carabineer LED Flashlight
* Bruce Springsteen Nebraska tape
* Bottle of water
NOTE!!! First person to Find – please take only ONE of the Geocoins and leave the other for the second-to-find.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Jura lbh frr n ynetr onynapvat ebpx whfg orsber gur bzvabhf ynetr bireunatvat oybpx ba gur evqtr, lbh ner pybfr. Gur pnpur vf nobhg svir-srrg orybj guvf gb gur fbhgu.