[Az-Geocaching] Buster Spring Cache

[Jim Stamm]

Two successive injuries have prevented me from setting the Buster Spring 
Cache, until now.  I rated it a 4/4, because there is no regular trail to 
the cache.  I tried more than 6 approaches, claiming, ³There must be an 
easier way.² each time.  Consequently, you may find that you must 
navigate to the cache nearly 100%.

Finally, I am satisfied that I have found the easiest way.  The Catalina 
State Park rangers werenıt much help, as they claimed the original ranch 
owner (Romero) ran a still at the spring, and didnıt leave any trails for 
the revenuers to follow.  But there are vestiges of a trail much of the 
way.  I have left maps in the cache that show the route back to the 
beginning, so that you might find an easier way down if you took one of 
the harder ways up.

The starting point is at the trailhead, which is at the east end of the 
road into Catalina State Park.  All but one of my approaches were 
accessible from that point, and the easiest route is also.

It took me 2 hours 20 minutes to climb to the cache, making notes, and 
checking navigation.  The return was 1 hour and 40 minutes.  The cache is 
less than 2 miles from the trailhead, but the total hiking distance will 
be a little more.  There is an elevation difference of a little less than 
1500 feet.

The only impoundment at the spring is a small USFS wildlife reservoir, 
and the cache is located 8 meters east of that concrete ³pool,² under a 
rock ledge, behind a rusted 3 gallon can filled with dirt.  There are a 
number of other ³artifacts² at the spring, which we would call litter, 
but the park rangers indicated to me that the Forest Service did not want 
anyone cleaning up the place.

Now to get the cache approved...

-Jim