Baty Butte Traditional Cache
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Difficulty:
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Size: 
(regular)
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Ammo can near the top of Baty Butte, elevation 5045.
While looking for hiking trails on my topographical map of Clackamas County on CD I happened upon this trail. The topo maps on the website do not show the full trails so I made a copy for you in the photo gallery. My CD comes with all publishing rights, so use it freely without charge. Contact me and I'll email you a pdf version that hasn't been shrank.
Take the Molalla Forest Road as if you were headed to Table Rock trailhead, but continue straight at the turn off for that trail. The turnoff for Lost Meadow Road is marked as a waypoint. Drive on the steep road to the trailhead waypoint.
Be prepared to stop between the turnoff and the trailhead to take in some spectacular views of the back cliffs of Table Rock with Rooster Rock to the south. You'll get even better views from the top.
The mosquitos about drained us dry, so bring some repellant during mosquito season.
We ran into small patches of leftover snow along the trail on July 5th when placing the cache. Continue to the waypoint marked RIDGE. It is at the spot where you turn around the east ridge of the butte. There is a clear way along the top of the ridge with many stumps and run-off catchments. Just keep the downhill slopes/dropoffs on either side of you as you go up.
You will come to a large, gnarled Douglas Fir at the start of the rocky part of the ridge. You will have to carefully work your way along the ridge top, with sheer drops on either side.
When you reach the summit, sit on the topmost point and look south. You will see a five trunked tree (see spoiler photo), the cache is three feet or so to the right of this tree. Don't fall backwards, there is a long drop off that takes five seconds for a rock to hit bottom.
In the picture of myself standing on top of the butte you can catch a glimpse of a rare plant, Cliff Douglasia, near my left foot. It is rare to see them this far south, please take care to not disturb the plant.
Just to the west of the cache location is on old tree with wire on it, apparently someone installed a lightning rod on the summit some time ago. There was a lookout tower on Baty Butte at one time, so maybe the wire is associated with that structure.
If the weather is clear you can see (in order) Hood, Olallie Butte, Jefferson, Three Fingered Jack (behind another butte), The Sisters, Table Rock.
Additional Hints
(No hints available.)