Trinity Alps Treasure Hunt
Posted: Sun Aug 04, 2013 12:21 pm
Who's up for a treasure hunt? There a pack full of goodies just waiting for you in the Trinities.
Last week I found myself off the trail and down in a ravine below the lost trail. I knew that I could keep following the creek down and would eventually meet up with another one that I could then follow up to the trail. So I kept going. Down more and more. Eventually, the going was too hard forward so I dropped my pack in order to work my way on with the plan to reach the trail, find my hiking buddy, and then return down for the pack from the original spot. Well, when I did try to return, I couldn't find it before it was time to get back before dark. Then, the next day I was too exhausted from my previous days' exertions to go down safely again. Without my goods, we didn't have the stuff to wait out my body to replenish so we left - and the pack is still there for you! There's a 2 year old REI pack, a new Radiant sleeping bag, a 5 year old quarter dome tent, and various other clothes and goodies. Most of all, it's an adventure! And it's bothering me that all that stuff is out there.
The place: In the limestone Ridge area below Pony Mountain. I set off from Pony Camp to go to Whites Creek Lake. The path NE is pretty weak and I ended up going east down the ravine (and eventually west up Whites Creek). I left the pack a good way down the ravine well below Pony Camp in a small stand of trees close to the creek (though not right on the creek, I believe). Most of the area is bare of trees and of the trees that are there, most are dead/burned. I purposefully found a set that had a few live trees so it would stand out. I also noted that there were no live trees west/upstream from the set for many hundreds of yards.
In short, going down along the creek, you will hit areas with trees and areas without. At the start of one of the areas, there is a stand of trees that includes a few live trees and which is relatively close to the river (as opposed to way up on the ridge). The gray pack should still be there.
If you do take up this challenge and find the pack, prepare for a slog. It is gettable, but the terrain is pretty darn steep and tiring. You need to be in very good shape. Good luck!
Last week I found myself off the trail and down in a ravine below the lost trail. I knew that I could keep following the creek down and would eventually meet up with another one that I could then follow up to the trail. So I kept going. Down more and more. Eventually, the going was too hard forward so I dropped my pack in order to work my way on with the plan to reach the trail, find my hiking buddy, and then return down for the pack from the original spot. Well, when I did try to return, I couldn't find it before it was time to get back before dark. Then, the next day I was too exhausted from my previous days' exertions to go down safely again. Without my goods, we didn't have the stuff to wait out my body to replenish so we left - and the pack is still there for you! There's a 2 year old REI pack, a new Radiant sleeping bag, a 5 year old quarter dome tent, and various other clothes and goodies. Most of all, it's an adventure! And it's bothering me that all that stuff is out there.
The place: In the limestone Ridge area below Pony Mountain. I set off from Pony Camp to go to Whites Creek Lake. The path NE is pretty weak and I ended up going east down the ravine (and eventually west up Whites Creek). I left the pack a good way down the ravine well below Pony Camp in a small stand of trees close to the creek (though not right on the creek, I believe). Most of the area is bare of trees and of the trees that are there, most are dead/burned. I purposefully found a set that had a few live trees so it would stand out. I also noted that there were no live trees west/upstream from the set for many hundreds of yards.
In short, going down along the creek, you will hit areas with trees and areas without. At the start of one of the areas, there is a stand of trees that includes a few live trees and which is relatively close to the river (as opposed to way up on the ridge). The gray pack should still be there.
If you do take up this challenge and find the pack, prepare for a slog. It is gettable, but the terrain is pretty darn steep and tiring. You need to be in very good shape. Good luck!
