Hurst Bridge - San Rafael Swell Traditional Geocache
Hurst Bridge - San Rafael Swell
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(small)
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This cache is hidden in a small canyon at the base of the San
Rafael Swell, approximately 15 miles north of Goblin Valley State
Park. A good four or five-hour hike on terrain that is not all that
rough, there's no scrambling or climbing. A small container, no
trade goods, just a log book and pencil.
After a long hike what better reward than to see a natural arch
that very few people will ever see and a geo-cache to boot. Also
you'll have bragging and story telling rights to both. I discovered
the hiding place for this cache at Climb-Utah.com, an excellent
site for those that like everything from repelling right down to
the family walk with the kids. We fit somewhere in the middle, the
Broken Down Old Folks category. **** The cache container is a small
OD green Decon container from my army days. Small, in that there is
just enough room for a logbook, a pencil and possibly your
signature card if you so desire to leave one. AFTER YOU'VE LOGGED
IN, MAKE SURE THE LID SNAPS SHUT TIGHTLY. **** The hike into the
cache is about 2.5 miles, for a total of five miles, 900 foot gain,
and taking from four to five hours round trip. Carry enough water
for a full day. Do as you please but I strongly suggest that you do
not try for this cache during the summer months. This is a Spring,
Fall, or Winter hike, and not to be done in the heat of the summer.
Side note: If you're going to use the climb-utah trail notes
understand they use Degrees, Minutes, Second and we Geocachers use
Degrees and Minutes (MinDec). **** Of all the territory in Utah we
(J&L Lee) have fallen in love with the San Rafael Swell. A very
scenic and enjoyable place to visit as long as your gas tank and
canteen are both full.
###################################################### You will
encounter large areas of cryptobiotic crust along this route.
Please avoid disturbing all cryptobiotic crust. Stay on existing
trails, walk in wash bottoms or on slickrock. Go out of your way,
literally, to avoid cryptobiotic soil. Cryptobiotic crust requires
five to ten years of undisturbed growth before it even becomes
visible as an irregular, blackish mat on the soil surface. A single
footprint by a careless hiker can destroy decades of growth.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Prqne Gerr, Rlr Yriry