Mountain Marsh Cache

[Loren :)]

I just visited the Mt. St. Monument Headquarters, about 2 miles from my house and had a nice long chat with the helpful gal at the front desk.

 

Road 83 is closed as posted on their website. No motor vehicles. One can walk-in. 11.2 miles one way.

 

The gal and I went over ALL the alternate routes coming in from the south. Here's the problem. Most of the land south of the 83 is privately owned and gated. We could find no way that did not end in a private gate. Others may know a way?

 

A Forest Service personal did drive the 83 a couple days ago several times to break up the snow. He is doing the same today.

 

83 is expected to open in about 2 weeks. The gal made sure I understood that 83 will have to meet certain criteria to open.

1. The mountain judged safe enough.

2. Snow level high enough so the Forest Service can maintain the trail facilities.

 

Mt. St. Helens Monument Headquarters 360-449-7800 When the menu comes up push O for Operator.

 

New Road Conditions will be updated at :

http://www.fs.fed.us/gpnf/recreation/curre...ons/roads.shtml

and:

http://www.fs.fed.us/gpnf/recreation/curre...s/special.shtml

 

Loren

[+EraSeek]

Thanks for the info Loren. I also saw your post and the find by someone in New York. Quick vacation!

[+Prying Pandora]

Thanks for the great info, Loren! We're looking forward to going back when the road is open. I wonder if the guy who logged it today really found it. He found 5 other caches today as well, all in New York, and every one of his other finds has been in New York. Perhaps he logged the wrong cache by accident?

[+Cruiser Guy]

We'll have to plan a redo for this cache. I know I will be going back down after it. Maybe another group would be interested in going once it's open?

[+LittleBlue]

I think the mountain knew how much I wanted to find this cache and I couldn't make the previous date . I'll be there! Sorry I missed all the fun!

[+culp686]

as soon as you all have a plan to go we are ready.. went last time and didnt get it so now we are ready to try again.

[+hydnsek]

as soon as you all have a plan to go we are ready.. went last time and didnt get it so now we are ready to try again.

Me too! Although May weekends are getting pretty booked with other geo-activities!

[Loren :)]

See, here's the thing, about Mountain Marsh. If you look at it's past history only one person has logged a find earlier than Mid May. When my son Dan and I logged the Cache in May of 2003 it was a sloppy wet snowy, rainy day, BUT FUN!! It was gated at the Snow-Park.

 

Those interested in the Mountain Marsh Cache might also want to do the C.C. Bigfoot Hide-A-Cache. It starts in the same area and has a fair amount of history to it.

 

Let's see, this guy flies into Portland, OR after a morning of Caching in NY. Rents a car, drives 50-60 miles, hikes in and out of the Cache site 22.4 miles, Probably has a quick lunch at the Cougar Bar and Grill Cafe. HEY!! I think I saw this guy. We were there for a late Breakfast. Har!!!!!

 

Loren

[+justybug]

See, here's the thing, about Mountain Marsh. If you look at it's past history only one person has logged a find earlier than Mid May. When my son Dan and I logged the Cache in May of 2003 it was a sloppy wet snowy, rainy day, BUT FUN!! It was gated at the Snow-Park.

 

Those interested in the Mountain Marsh Cache might also want to do the C.C. Bigfoot Hide-A-Cache. It starts in the same area and has a fair amount of history to it.

 

Let's see, this guy flies into Portland, OR after a morning of Caching in NY. Rents a car, drives 50-60 miles, hikes in and out of the Cache site 22.4 miles, Probably has a quick lunch at the Cougar Bar and Grill Cafe. HEY!! I think I saw this guy. We were there for a late Breakfast. Har!!!!!

 

Loren

what, isn't that what you do on your weekends??

[Moun10Bike]

[quote name=Loren Apr 29 2005' date=' 08:17 AM]See, here's the thing, about Mountain Marsh. If you look at it's past history only one person has logged a find earlier than Mid May.

You're not kidding! Here's what the site looked like for me on my first visit:

 

 

(Granted, this was in December!)

[+Prying Pandora]

[quote name=Loren Apr 29 2005' date=' 08:17 AM]See, here's the thing, about Mountain Marsh. If you look at it's past history only one person has logged a find earlier than Mid May.

You're not kidding! Here's what the site looked like for me on my first visit:

(Granted, this was in December!)

Holy Cow! And I thought we had a big snow adventure going to Steve's Secret Stash that day!

[Loren :)]

Thanks to all for the kind words. What a warm welcome to the Forums.

 

For a good read on the snow conditions at Mountain Marsh go to C.C. Bigfoot Hide-A-Cache

 

Start at the earliest logs and concentrate on the early finds and Did Not Finds. You'll get a grip on the situation. Understand that the "expected to open in 2 weeks" is just a guess based on past experience and current condition. That said it has nothing to do with reality 2 weeks from now.

 

C.C. Bigfoot Hide-A-Cache's starting point is .21 miles from Mountain Marsh and is on the right side of right creek that gives so many trouble. HOWEVER it is also on the wrong side of the creek that gives nobody trouble. Huh!

 

It's a Marsh, there are small creeks, adapt and overcome. LOL

 

Loren

[nolenator]

I did those two caches solo and if you get turned around as I did, lordie help ya. I wonder if the cross country ski map would help? I believe this is the MAP.

 

Peace, Nolenator

Edited May 1, 2005 by nolenator

[Loren :)]

Nice Map Nolenator. We walked in on 83 from Marble Mountain Sno-Park. This, by chance put us on the right side of both creeks, which may give future lookies something to ponder.

 

I see the NY finders log has been removed. BOY HOWDY!!! Hate to be upstaged by some NY super cacher.

 

Loren

[+Blac Raven]

Thanks for all you have done for the group who was unable to complete it a week ago. I will definitely email you to let you know we are coming. Nice exchanging emails with you . And hope you will be able to accompany us on our second trip.

Definitely will be looking to meet you someday. .

Blacravin

[nolenator]

Since I like to cross country ski, the signage I found out by the caches made it easier to at least follow a trail. Peace, Nolenator

[Loren :)]

Blacravin put a bug in my ear on the Steve's Secret Stash site that got me pumped up on this little fun project. Definiatly keep me posted on the trip down. Did you note I logged the Plan B for P&C ?

 

By the way anyone heading up on the mountain area from the Cougar side might want to stop by the Mt. St. Helens Monument Headquarters in beautiful "downtown" Chelatchie Prairie. Or at least give um a call. It's a bit out of the way for those coming in from Woodland. 20 miles round trip from Jacks Restaurant

 

They have a HUGE wall map of the area. You can practically see the locks on the gates.

Here's their locaton:

SR 503 (NE Yale Bridge Rd)

Latitude: N45° 55.582'

Longitude: W122° 22.779'

 

Here's Drive times from/to Mountain Marsh which is just a few miles past Ape Caves

Maps & Driving Times

 

Loren