Remembering Renfrew Traditional Cache
-
Difficulty:
-
-
Terrain:
-
Size: 
(regular)
Please note Use of geocaching.com services is subject to the terms and conditions
in our disclaimer.
A view-packed backroads drive up to Gold Hill, where you'll visit a lone pioneer gravesite: that of Alexander Renfrew, who died in 1876 at age 60, and was buried on his claim.
A 4-wheel drive with clearance is needed for this hunt as the final miles of road are not maintained, quite rough, and during wet times may have large mug bogs. This cache is at 4,450 foot elevation, and thus unaccessible due to snow about half the year. Depending on snowfall, you can get to the cache June through October/November.
The cache is a .50 caliber ammo can near Renfrew's grave, and was hidden well with duff and twigs. Since this area is popular with hunters and Oregon history buffs, please rehide well, taking care to make it look natural. Otherwise, the cache could easily be discovered.
Here's how you can make a day (or weekend!) out of this incredible view- and history-packed area:
1) Access the Gold Hill area via Calapooia River Road.
a) from the west, cache your way up the Calapooia River to our Linn/"Lame" County Civil War football cache (GC75DC) at what we call "the crossroads" and log a find!
b) From the east or west, turn north off Hwy 126, drive past Blue River Lake, then turn left onto Calapooia River Road just after the pavement ends. Make your way to our Linn/"Lame" County Civil War football cache (GC75DC) at what we call "the crossroads" and log a find!
2) From the crossroads, make your way up to this cache. Along the way, be sure to stop at 44.13.238N; 122.20.989W, where you can dig for crystals on the up- or down-hill side of the road. You can even find crystals lying right on top of the road! Just don't dig IN the road. Just before this spot is a short rough road leading up to the right. There is a mining claim up there that you can go check out; just don't take any rocks or crystals from there... that would be claim-jumping! The claim also has a great view from the other side of the ridge: on a clear day you can see clear to the Willamette Valley!
3) Nearing the cache, stop at 44.12.371N; 122.21.629W. This exposed cliff top is a great place to camp, but you are exposed to the elements here. It can be quite breezy at times, so if you decide to camp, be sure to tie things down good! There's nothing better than looking out your tent in the morning to see Three-Fingered Jack, Mt. Washington, the Three Sisters, Mt. Bachelor, the surrounding hillsides, and valley!
4) Check out Renfrew Spring on the other side of the road from the cliff top camping spot. It’s about 20 feet west of the road. Though small, it’s easy to spot.
5) Beyond the spring, the road curves to the left, then to the right. After the right turn, if you know what to look for, you can see narrow wagon wheel ruts running back through a beargrass meadow.
6) At some point among all this cool stuff, be sure to find the cache! Additional information about Mr. Renfrew is located in the cache (please leave for future visitors) or at this link (link works sporadically).
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Orgjrra gjb gerrf zrer srrg qverpgyl oruvaq gur urnqfgbar.
Treasures
You'll collect a digital Treasure from one of these collections when you find and log this geocache:
Loading Treasures