This cache is located on state trust land. The State Land
Department has no problem with this activity, however, a Recreation
Permit is required to legally access State Trust Land. These
permits are easily obtained by phoning (602) 364-ASLD. This is a
recording in which people can request a permit application. The
permits recently increased in price - $50 for an Individual Permit,
and $75 for a Family Permit. The permits are good for one year from
the date of issue, and allow legal access to any State Trust Land
in Arizona.
The coordinates listed above are the Initial Point for the state
of Arizona. They are the coordinates for a monument and marker upon
which all other survey markers in the state are based. This marker
is on the top of Monument Hill near the confluence of the Salt and
Gila Rivers. It was originally constructed as a border marker
between the USA and Mexico after the Treaty of Guadalupe Hildago
which ended the Mexican American War. It was later used as the
basis for the Salt and Gila River Baseline and Meridian.
Starting at this point, the rest of the state is marked out in
north and south Townships and East and West Ranges. Each Township
is basically 36 square miles. This is further divided into 36
Sections, numbered 1 through 36, each being roughly one square mile
or 640 acres.
So, where is this cache? Is it in the Phoenix area? Is it in the
local of a Yellow Jeep? Or maybe up by the YCJP in the Prescott
area. It might even be near some BUFPUT. You will need to do some
research to find this one.
The legal description for its location is the SW 1/4 of the SE
1/4, Section 29, T5N, R2E, Salt and Gila River Meridian. That
description is for 40 acres located somewhere in Arizona. You will
be able to determine the degrees and minutes of both the latitude
and longitude from this information. The following partial
coordinates, when used to replace the decimal portion of the
minutes from the above description, will pinpoint the location.
Ndd° mm.453' Wddd° mm.543'. With a little research on land
surveying methods, you should be able to find the location of this
cache.
The cache is VERY well hidden. It is a plastic container about
3" in diameter and 4" tall. It is painted to blend in with the
surrounding area, and it is completely hidden from view. Therefore,
I rated the difficulty as a 5. Good luck. (If you do find it,
please restore its hiding spot and the surrounding area to the same
level of difficulty.)
Update 4-23-02:
The cache is located on State Trust Land. You will need a permit to
legally enter the area. Also, the area to the south of the cache
(across the water) is closed to motorized vehicle travel. You will
need to hike/bike in from the south or drive in from the north.
Update 1-30-03:
The area to the south is totally fenced in and there is no access
from that direction. There is access from the west if you can find
the way in. Otherwise, the best way may be from the north.
Update 3-06-06:
The area to the south is now open. There is new construction in
that area and part of the route may be blocked or fenced off or
maybe restricted. It's worth a try since it is shorter and more
direct.