The oldest active geocache in the state of Washington and the only remaining cache with a three-digit code is GCD on Mt. Margaret. We attended a geocaching event near the trailhead and then Jane joined three other women (Bonnie Parrett, Vickie Pryor, and Karen Barak) on a two-mile hike with a 1,600-foot elevation gain to claim the cache.
Vicky and Bonnie lead us up the trail.We picked up several other caches on our way. This was the view from one of them and includes Vickie in the center and lower part of the picture. Lake Keechelus is in the near distance. (You’ll find another picture of the lake later in this post.)The day was cloudy but the view was still wonderful.Bonnie looks on while Vickie checks out the contents of the cache container.Karen, Vickie, Jane and Bonnie upon their returnDave found several other caches while Jane hiked to GCD. This fishing pond hosted one cache.Another cache required that Dave hike wade across Lake Keechelus (fortunately at this time of year it was only ankle deep), cross a stream and climb a hill.
The APE Cache
In 2001, 16 caches were placed around the world as a promotion for the movie The Planet of the Apes. The theme of the caches was that renegade humans were trying to reveal an “Alternative Primate Evolution” by placing artifacts around the world. Only two APE caches remain: One in Brazil and one in a tunnel under Snoqualmie Pass. We sought “Mission 9: Tunnel of Light”, a former railroad tunnel carved by hand from solid limestone and in service from 1910 to 1980. The tunnel is 11,894 feet (2.253 miles) long. The tunnel the less strenuous of two approaches to the cache.
Cave formations are created when mineral-rich water seeps through cracks in the rock above the tunnel.Stalactites on the roof of the tunnel.The light at the end of the tunnelWe found the APE cache on the other side of the tunnel.Originally the cache included a torch from the movie. On the day we were there we found a Planet of the Apes comic book.
Several other caches are hidden in the area.
One cache is to the right of the tunnel. Jane took the recommended path through the woods while a young woman took a more direct route to the top.Jane took this picture of Dave from the top of the tunnel.Jane found a stick with Geopyxis carbonaria (commonly known as elf-cup) on it.
A cache called “Bloody Fingers, Dirty Diapers” was located in this alcove in the tunnel. We took this picture on our way through the tunnel the first time because it was interesting. We thought we had missed the cache but found it in this alcove on our way back.
Spoiler alert: Jane climbed on this piece of equipment to reach the cache container wedged into a shelf above.
Other Area Caches
It took us a minute to realize the eye-bolt through the post might hold the cache we were seeking.
Another cache took us to “One Lane Tunnel” which, fortunately, was not on a heavily traveled road. A railroad track is laid over the tunnel.
Bright graffiti decorated the inside of the tunnel.The Jeep shows there’s not much extra room.Then a truck came through–after the driver folded in the mirrors.Dave made a video as the truck left the tunnel.
A railroad camp where workers lived while building the railroad was located nearby. We counted 12 ruins of shelters and one shelter that was in quite good condition.
Jane is retrieving the log.The rock houses were several yards behind Jane when she took this picture.
August 4, 2022 Vermont’s oldest geocache was closer to our campground near Albany, New York than our campground near Montpelier, Vermont so we treated it separately from other Vermont geocaches. Besides, it was harder to Read more…
2 Comments
Jon Appel · September 12, 2021 at 8:29 pm
The scenery looks fantastic. I look forward to seeing you in a few days.
Susan · October 2, 2021 at 2:06 pm
Looks like lots of fun