The Blacksmith

Date Placed: September 30, 2010
Letterbox: Traditional
Carver: GreenJello
Planters: GreenJello and Teancum
Location: Lahontan State Park - Churchill Beach, Highway 50, Fallon, Churchill, Nevada
Status: Active


In 1902, the Newlands Reclamation Act was passed that provided funding for irrigation products for the arid lands of 17 states in the American West. The act set aside money from sales of semi-arid public lands for the construction and maintenance of irrigation projects. The newly irrigated land would be sold and money would be put into a revolving fund that supported more such projects. This led to the eventual damming of nearly every major western river.

Much of the West could not have been settled without the water provided by the Act. With all the newly available water to irrigate, the West became one of the premier agricultural areas in the world. Bureau of Reclamation statistics show that more than 600 of their dams on waterways throughout the West provide irrigation for 10 million acres (40,000 km²) of farmland, providing 60% of the nation's vegetables and 25% of its fruits and nuts.

My great-great-grandfather, John William Small, was a skilled blacksmith who came out west to work on the Lahontan Dam project in Churchill County, Nevada. His legacy of work is still functional over 100 years later, providing essential irrigation water for the fertile farmlands in Fallon, Nevada, and the surrounding areas.

Directions: On Highway 50 east of Fallon, there will be a "split", with one way leading to Fernley (Alt. 50) and the other towards Carson City (Hwy. 50). Head towards Carson City/Silver Springs about 7 miles from the junction, until you see the brown sign pointing to "Lahontan State Park - Churchill Beach" and turn left. (If you're coming from Carson City, just watch for the same sign, except turn right.) Take the first parking pullout to your right, just after you cross the bridge. From here, you can see the dam off in the distance to the west.

Starting in the southwest corner of the perimeter of wooden posts, spy the old rusty pipe. Count 3 fenceposts to the south of this pipe. To the right of the third post is a large sagebrush. At the base of this sage, under old vegetation/tumbleweeds and rocks, is The Blacksmith. Please rehide VERY well with the rocks first, and then tumbleweeds on top of it.

Hearts Of Gold Cantaloupe Festival

Date Placed: September 30, 2010
Letterbox: Traditional
Carver: GreenJello
Planters: GreenJello and Teancum
Location: Churchill County Fairgrounds, 333 Sheckler Road, Fallon, Churchill, Nevada
Status: Active

When I lived in Fallon many years ago, one of the highlights of the year was the annual Cantaloupe Festival. Fallon has been long-known for producing the most excellent cantaloupe, named "Hearts Of Gold". When harvest time rolls around, the festival of these sweet and juicy melons begins! There's cantaloupe ice cream, cantaloupe eating contests, the Cantaloupe Queen contest, and even a cantaloupe catapult! If you're ever near Fallon over Labor Day Weekend, be sure to visit the Cantaloupe Festival for an entertaining time.

Directions: From Williams Avenue (Highway 50), head south down Taylor Street. You will see the fairgrounds off to your right about 1 mile down the road. Turn right on Sheckler Road, and locate the main fairgrounds parking area. Across from the parking area is a paved bike path. Head west on the path about 100 feet to a telephone pole on your right. Move off smaller rocks in the SPOR to find the box.

Fallon Naval Air Station

Date Placed: September 30, 2010
Letterbox: Traditional
Carver: Kirbert
Planters: GreenJello and Teancum
Location: Veterans Memorial Park, Fallon, Churchill, Nevada
Status: Active

The Naval Air Station in Fallon, Nevada is the United States Navy's premier air-to-air and air-to-ground training facility. Since 1996, it has been home to the Naval Fighter Weapons School (TOPGUN), and the surrounding area contains 84,000 acres (340 km²) of bombing and electronic warfare ranges. It is also home to the Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center (NSAWC), which includes TOPGUN, the Carrier Airborne Early Warning Weapons School (TOPDOME) and the Navy Rotary Wing Weapons School. Navy SEAL Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) training also takes place here.

If you've ever wondered what it would be like to watch these marvelous jet aircraft in action, then take a moment to go visit Veterans Memorial Park, located just across the street from the military facility. You can watch the jets take off and land, and zoom above your head in impressive fashion.

Directions: From Highway 50, head south on Wildes Road about 3.5 miles. When you reach the corner of the high fence enclosed area of the Air Station, you will turn left on Pasture Road. Follow the road a little ways further; the park is located at the intersection of Pasture Road and Drumm Lane.

Standing on the cement pad in front of the stone altar to the BBQ gods, sight the tree at 320 degrees. (There is a geocache at 280 degrees, if you're interested). Behind that tree, under sticks and rocks, is the box. PLEASE REHIDE EXTREMELY WELL so that those searching for the geocache don't accidentally stumble upon it!

Notes: Most training exercises are done on weekdays. There are a few exceptions when special maneuvers are done on weekends, but your best bet is to visit the park during the mid-morning Monday through Friday.

Many thanks to Kirbert for carving the wonderful stamp in this box and providing the aircraft history below.

History: Entering the early 1970's, the Air Force had been flying very large, expensive fighter aircraft. It was decided to fund the construction of two smaller, cheaper demonstration prototypes to explore their potential. The Lightweight Fighter program pitted the General Dynamics F-16 against the Northrop F-17. The F-16 was clearly the better of the two, and the Air Force ordered them into production on the spot -- to the surprise of just about everyone. None of the manufacturers involved had been told that the demonstration program might lead to production contracts.

The F-16 was up to the task, though, and only required minimal revisions to become a successful combat aircraft for the Air Force.

The Navy was essentially told by the Pentagon that they should consider buying these lightweight fighters as well -- their fighters up to then had been even larger, heavier and more expensive than the Air Force's. But the Navy rejected the F-16 and selected the F-17 instead. It was claimed that this was because the landing gear on the F-16 was unsuitable for carrier landings and that the Navy wanted twin-engine aircraft, but those were just excuses -- the Navy already had aircraft with landing gear similar to that of the F-16, they already had single-engine aircraft, and their own studies showed that they lost more twin-engine aircraft due to engine failures than single-engine aircraft. The real reason was pride: the Navy had never purchased an aircraft that had been chosen by the Air Force first, and they weren't going to start now.

The next problem was that the Navy apparently had no interest in a lightweight fighter. They were more interested in a "multirole" fighter, something that could replace several of their existing planes. So they added features and capabilities into the F-17 until it grew so bulky that it couldn't perform well, then switched to
larger engines to bring the performance back, then larger fuel tanks to maintain the desired range, etc., etc. In the end the plane became so unrecognizable that it was renamed the F-18 and later the F/A-18 to reflect its multi-role capability. And Northrop was so overwhelmed by the changes demanded that they brought on McDonnell Douglas to help out -- and eventually McDonnell Douglas took over the F-18 program completely, resulting in lawsuits that went on for years.

The development program went on so long that the joke was that "The Navy is going to have a low-cost fighter no matter what the expense!" When it finally went into service, it was a fine aircraft, no doubt-- but a far cry from the "lightweight fighter" it had started life as.

You can read all about the F/A-18 Hornet on Wikipedia.

Grimes Point

Date Placed: September 30, 2010
Letterbox: Traditional
Carver: GreenJello
Planters: GreenJello and Teancum
Location: Grimes Point, Fallon, Churchill, Nevada
Distance: 1/2 mile
Status: Active


About seven miles east of Fallon, just off Highway 50, is the Grimes Point Petroglyph Trail. The Trail features rocks and boulders with carvings as much as eight thousand years old, created by native peoples who were drawn to the shores of ancient Lake Lahontan. Be sure to pick up a free trail guide before setting out.

Directions: Standing in front of the two blue metal flat posts, sight the flat rock at 162 degrees that sits on the perimeter of the asphalt. Standing in front of that rock, take about 10 steps clockwise. There will be a large rock on your right. On the side facing the blue posts you came from, there will be some smaller rocks to remove to find the box.

Sand Mountain

Date Placed: September 30, 2010
Letterbox: Traditional
Carver: GreenJello
Planters: GreenJello and Teancum
Location: Sand Mountain Recreation Area, Fallon, Churchill, Nevada
Distance: 1/4 mile
Status: Active

*********************************************** Sand surfing box is currently missing. Not sure when I will be back through to replace it. Pony Express is still alive and well. ***********************************************

About 20 miles east of Fallon, Nevada, is a HUGE sand dune out in the middle of nowhere along Highway 50. It is the remains of an ancient lake bed, the sands of which have traveled many miles to pile up in this area. It is a very popular recreation area, both with off-roaders and sandsurfers alike. This is an unusual sand dune, though, as it is made up of what is known as "singing sand". Slide down the sand on a steeper part, and you can hear the "booming" or "roaring" sound the sand makes as it moves down the hill. Very cool. This is one of only three singing sand dunes in the United States.

To ride ATVs or use the sand mountain for recreational purposes, there is a fee. (I'm sure if you asked to drive all the way to the sand mountain just to take photos or have a closer look, you could probably get away without paying if you ask them nicely.) Both boxes are hidden before the fee area.


Directions: As you're driving in, park in the first pullout on your right. Look on the east side of the main concrete sign under smaller rocks for the sandsurfer. After rehiding the box very well (please do not stack huge rocks on top of the poor little box-- pay attention to how you uncover it, and recover it in the same way), continue driving down the road until you see a sign that says, "Sand Springs Desert Study Area and Pony Express Station". Head left and park in the parking area. Start down the interpretive trail, and walk over to what's left of the Sand Springs Pony Express Station. What you are looking for is in the northwest corner of the living quarters. Move the flat rock off the top to find a rider waiting to go!

Notes: It is possible that there may be sand buildup on both of these boxes over the rocks. Just brush away what has collected. You may need to move out additional sand from the hiding "cavities" within the rocks before replacing the box.

Hickison Petroglyphs

Date Placed: September 30, 2010
Letterbox: Traditional
Carver: GreenJello
Planters: GreenJello and Teancum
Location: Hickison Petroglyph Recreation Area, Austin, Lander, Nevada
Distance: 1/4 mile
Status: Active

The Hickison Petroglyphs are located approximately 25 miles east of Austin, Nevada. Watch for brown BLM signage on the north side of Highway 50, and you should find it easily! The ancient rock art is located along a short 1/4 mile interpretive trail. Ancient inhabitants of this area would come to this area of Nevada to hunt deer. The hunters would wait for their prey patiently, and as they waited, many created the rock art you see left today.

Directions: Leave the highway and drive along a well-maintained gravel/dirt road for approximately one mile. Park in the parking area (there is camping available here, too, if wanted), and begin your walk at the main sign that tells you about the area. Pick up a trail guide and begin your self-guided tour.

At #4, find the flat rock to the left. Move the smaller rock to find The Hunter waiting patiently underneath.

Just around the bend from #9 is a huge boulder on the left. About midway under the long side that faces the glyphs behind you, beneath smaller rocks, lies The Hunted.

Notes: Please be discreet and rehide VERY well, as these boxes are right on the trail. We do not want someone thinking they are trash and throwing them away!

Eureka Opera House

Date Placed: September 30, 2010
Letterbox: Traditional
Carver: GreenJello
Planters: GreenJello and Teancum
Location: Ruby Hill Avenue, Eureka, Eureka, Nevada
Status: Active

Eureka was once a booming mining town. At the height of its prosperity, Eureka built an Opera House in 1880 for community cultural activities. It was the gathering place for grand events and dances, masquerades and plays, operas and concerts. It eventually converted into a theatre to show moving pictures, and eventually closed down in 1953s. More than 30 years later, it was restored to its former glory, and is now the showpiece of downtown Eureka.

Directions: Along Highway 50, the main street through Eureka, you will find the Opera House, the Jackson House and the Courthouse on the same block. Just up Ruby Hill Avenue (to the west of the Courthouse) is the Museum. As you're walking up to the Museum, notice the old mining ore carts in the Courthouse parking lot. In the cart closest to to the Courthouse, look on the east side for the striped rock. Small rocks next to it hide the box.

Notes: Please rehide VERY WELL, as this box has a high potential for discovery!

Nevada Northern Railway

Date Placed: September 30, 2010
Letterbox: Traditional
Carver: GreenJello
Planters: GreenJello and Teancum
Location: 11th Street and Avenue A, East Ely, White Pine, Nevada
Status: Active

In East Ely, Nevada, you will find a National Historic Landmark. The Nevada Northern Railway was a railroad built primarily to provide rail access to a major copper producing area in White Pine County, Nevada. The railway, constructed in 1905-06, extended northward approximately 140 miles from Ely to a connection with the Southern Pacific Railroad at Cobre.

Faced with declining ore reserves and low copper prices, the railroad eventually shut down operation in 1983. Today, the White Pine Historical Railroad Foundation administers the property as the Nevada Northern Railway Museum, which operates a heritage railroad on a section of the former railway. Passenger excursion train service is offered between Ely, Ruth, and McGill using period equipment pulled by historic steam and diesel locomotives.

Directions: Head southeast on East Aultman. Take a left on 11th Street East (toward the mountains) and drive until you reach the Railway.

Between the restrooms and the track is a railroad switch stand. As you practice switching it back and forth, reach underneath for the box hidden under the flat rock and gravel. PLEASE rehide very carefully to look as natural as possible, as it would be easy to make this an "obvious" hide.

Slow and Steady

Date Placed: September 29, 2010
Letterbox: Traditional
Carver: Teancum
Planters: GreenJello and Teancum
Location: Baker Archaeological Site, Baker, White Pine, Nevada
Status: Active

Great Basin National Park in Nevada is the home of the Bristlecone Pines, the oldest known living things on the earth. Be sure to take the 3 mile round trip hike to see these slow and steady monuments of time.


Directions: Either on your way in or on your way out of Great Basin National Park, take a quick side trip to this site to see where the Fremont Indians used to live. Here, you will find a Native American symbol of longevity, hiding under the flat rock in front of the left side post of the main sign as you reach the site.