Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery: this Challenge was modeled after the Bay Area Quadrangle Challenge by mjp303.
Note: the cache is not at the listed coordinates (which is very lucky for you unless you have gills), but it is somewhere within the boundaries of the map region shown at right.
Have you ever wished you had the time or resources to systematically explore the entire Sacramento Valley? I sure have! So here’s your motivation and opportunity.
The objective of this challenge is to find a cache in each of 81 USGS 7.5 minute topographical map quadrangles in the Sacramento Valley.
This challenge will take you to the far reaches of the valley ... from Rocklin to Turlock to Dixon to El Dorado Hills.
To make trip planning easy as pie, here is a grid overlay for Google Earth, as seen in the image to the right, and here is a GPX file of the same grid for use in other mapping programs.
Detailed rules follow, but the one major difference from similar navigational challenges is that finds made prior to 3/22/2007 - the publication date of this Challenge - do NOT count for this challenge.
Everything starts from this point forward!
In order to complete this challenge and find the final cache, you must:
- Find a cache in each USGS 7.5 minute quadrangle shown in the grid below.
- Send me a bookmark list of the caches you've found in each quadrangle. (The bookmark is much preferred, but if you're not a premium member, you can send me a GPX file or a list containing cache name, waypoint, and coordinates.)
- Use the additional waypoints below to go and find the final cache!
- The find cannot be logged on-line until the physical container is found and the logbook inside signed.
The guidelines:
- Generally accepted rules, guidelines and conditions for logging a cache find apply. These must be bona fide caches listed on Geocaching.com that you have personally and physically found and logged.
- In order to level the playing field (and perhaps even handicap things for cachers who have lots of finds all around the valley), you may not include caches found prior to 3/22/2007 which is the publication date of the Sacramento Valley Quadrangle Challenge.
- For this challenge, you can find traditional, multi, letterbox, puzzle, virtual and earthcaches. Events and CITO events do not qualify.
- For the purposes of this challenge, the quadrangle that puzzle and multi caches are located in will be determined by the coordinates listed on the cache page, and not the coordinates of the actual physical cache. Because of this, traveling caches do not qualify.
- The boundary of each quadrangle in the challenge is determined by the coordinates listed on the USGS quadrangle map of the same name. Please see the grid above which can be used as a reference.
As of 3/22/2007, there are 4 quadrangles (Pleasant Grove, Peters, Alvena, and Lone Tree Creek) that do not have any caches. You will need to work with other cachers to get caches hidden in those quads, then you must find them. In other words, hides do not count for this challenge - only finds do. All new caches must comply with all rules and guidelines set forth by Geocaching.com.If for any reason it becomes impossible to get a cache hidden in any of the 4 quadrangles listed above that are starting this challenge with zero caches, that quadrangle will be dropped from the challenge. This will be at Lil Devil's sole discretion.As of 3/22/2007, there are 11 quadrangles that only have 1 or 2 caches in them and 21 other quads that have 3 to 9 caches. If you have found all the caches in a particular quadrangle map, then you are encouraged to work with other cachers to get more caches hidden in those quads. If this is not possible, you are allowed to revisit one of your previous finds in order to complete that quadrangle, but you can count no more than 5 revisits for the entire challenge. Please bear in mind that the determination of whether or not you have visited all of the caches in a quadrangle will be as of the day you submit your cache list for verification.- While you may have others with you when you find the final cache, only those who have fulfilled ALL criteria for this cache will be allowed to log it as a find. Find logs by other cachers will be deleted.
About the difficulty rating: Completing the challenge rates as 5 stars. Finding the cache once you get in the area rates as 1 star. The large rocket mortar container is plainly visible from 50 feet away. The average of 1 and 5 gives us 3 stars.
About the terrain rating: Using the legal route to the final cache, it's a 6.5 mile (each way) hike with 600 feet of elevation gain, although ups and downs make it a bit more. The last 500 feet is off-trail and very steep and includes a short section crawling on your belly under thick brush. The bright side is there are several other caches along the way to break up the hike. There is a shorter, steeper route of questionable legality that I recommend avoiding. I looked for some of the most extreme terrain anywhere within the boundaries of the challenge. Admit it, the first 81 were mostly drive-ups. You'll have to work for the final 
Please note that it is a strenuous hike to the cache. Take plenty of water! It was only 60 degrees the first time I hiked it, and I used up 32 oz. of water just getting there. I was quite dry for the hike back out. Then again I was carrying a large ammo can full of swag going in.
The cache is in the area of Rattlesnake Bar. The best legal parking is just north of the bridge where Salmon Falls Road crosses the south fork of the American River. Read the map. If you choose to do the loop (recommended), heed the arrows on the map.
Do your homework! There are several other caches you can find along the way, including at least one well-known puzzle cache.
Now, go take a hike! I look forward to reading your log when you return.
Published with special permission from Groundspeak.