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Dow Mountain Lookout Traditional Geocache

This cache has been archived.

ruck: After seeing runhills DNF with the statement the gate was open, knew today was the perfect opportunity to check it out since I didn't have any plans and the weather looked good. Decided to approach from the west, parking a little over 1/2 mile from the summit. Walked up a steep fire road which soon became an overgrown fire road, meeting up with the old road to the summit in a few more hundred feet. Once at GZ, searched and searched to no avail. Although I had planned to replace, after seeing all the clearings and even more flagging and boundary signs, I'm thinking the area will be getting logged soon. Therefore I'm going to archive this one and possibly replace in the next year or two, depending on area activity.

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Hidden : 2/24/2008
Difficulty:
2 out of 5
Terrain:
4 out of 5

Size: Size:   regular (regular)

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Geocache Description:

Site of the former Dow Mountain Fire Lookout tower. Built in 1942, it was a 12x24' house with 1/2 2nd story. 1963 it was converted to a 40' wooden DNR live-in tower. A flat spot is all that remains.

"Best Winter Walks and Hikes: Puget Sound" by Harvey Manning, describes Dow as an island. Sensationally located close to Hood Canal, beside the craggy mass of Mt Washington, and recommends walking up the road to the summit, making a nice 6.8 mile round trip with 1,700' elevation gain.

Dow Mountain Rd is gated with a sign saying closed to all but Cushman Maintenance. I've read that a realtor at the bottom says people park at her office and hike up. She also warns about strange "protective" people living on the road.

Alternate route is past Price Lake. Another gated road, closed to motorized vehicles between October and April, due to wintering elk. This route is 9.5 miles with 1,700' elevation gain on DNR land. All but the last 2.5 miles, (up an overgrown spur), is very bikable once all the snow melts. Active logging currently in progress.

Cache is an ammo can located at the base of a cedar, very near the summit.

Additional Hints (No hints available.)