Corpora Cavernosa II Uriarra Forest, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
By rbirtles on 21-Apr-10. Waypoint GC276R4

#12084 @1400
After finding a nearby Noikmeister cache this morning, ZQX, DSD and I attempted to find this knowing it was nearby (Noikmeister reminded me), and given the water levels were so low. I wasn't expecting to be here so didn't have the coordinates. We called it quits, after a while. Once I got home, I looked up the coordinates, to discover we had got to within about 100m. This afternoon, the pull to find it was too strong, so I headed out again, and very carefully made my way down to the cache (especially given my right hand is broken and in a cast). The cache was easy to spot as I approached. I had to wade the last couple of metres. Given it is archived, and hopefully will be under water again soon, I removed the cache. TFTC.

Obviously the cache is a write off when the dam is full and knowing how steep the sides are in this area I believe that it would be dangerous in wet conditions even if the water level was lower.

For safety and practical reasons this cache needs to be archived.

Thank you for video showing the area as it now stands.
Rob.

Loved the video, we have been following this one with interest...definitely the cache has gone the way of the Titanic! Good memories with this one, thanks rbirtles

Exactly what Stormcatchers said !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A late start for a day of geocaching with Marmaduke Rothschild out the back of the overflowing Cotter Dam. Several stops in along Bullock Paddock Rd and riding, walking … and walking + pushing. Trip report at [http://www.johnevans.id.au/wp/6-september-2016-back-of-cotter-dam-geocaching-ride-and-walk/](http://www.johnevans.id.au/wp/6-september-2016-back-of-cotter-dam-geocaching-ride-and-walk/) . It pays to read the cache description - you won't find this one if the Cotter Dam is full. But a lovely view from the edge of the water. The trip report has a video in it.

Did not even try it!!!!
With JohnnyBoyACT, we stood on the bank of the Cotter Dam and looked into the dam and decided no we were not going to dive down under the water and into the dam.
Terrain now 6 star.
Canberra needs a drought before anyone, other than divers will be able to find this one. It is a beautiful spot though and worth visiting, except for the last thirty metres down through the blackberries. TFTC.

Ouch blackberries!

This was the second of the afternoon with Casurina Chasm, which will fill in two gaps in the D/T Matrix. As a newby to geocaching, this challenge has been an excellent way to see the variety of caches on offer, particularly by the passionate and familiar local names. It's also a great way to see new parts of the ACT that I would never think about visiting...like this one.
So my plan. Drive the car as far as I could get (1km away). Get the bike out and ride as far as I could (100m away). Walk as far as I could get (5m away)...then swim. I walked in by following a reasonable trail thru the blackberries (no scars) until I got to the rocks. I traversed down and across...delicately to avoid the long blackberry stems. I removed the runners, the socks, the shirt, the device and prepared the spot for my return, which meant clearing a small spot from...you guessed it...blackberrries. Jumped in. Grabbed the pen in mouth and doggie-paddled to the rock. I found a wet cache, tipping out about 1 litre of rust coloured water. It's had over a year of collection since the last opening. Suffice to say, the log was a tad damp. I delicately wrote my name and returned as I came...swim, walk, bike, drive. And I managed to escape with minor scars. No need for the cached supply of bandaids, although I reckon they might not be much good these days. Great challenge. TFTC rbirtles

Was planning to do this one with erm a boat... Not sure if they are allowed on the cotter? Decided against it as I don't feel like drowning! So pleased to see someone else find it though! Thought it might have water in it lol

I was "in the area" and thought I'd check this one out to see how bad it was these days. In the pouring rain I managed to get within 15m, but then the prospect of climbing down that cliff in the rain - swim across to grab the cache - swim back - and the climb back up the cliff - I decided that Boot's suggestion of a swim/boat around from the road might be the best way. So I shall return - hopefully before its completely underwater !!

3840. Summary.....an unforgettable epic journey!!!
Given one can not approach this from below now, I made my way toward GZ via a most unconventional way. Yes there were blackberries and many times I had to surrender to them and find an alternate route. Yes I left the track somewhere near Prickly Pines and didn't set foot on it again until my return.

Eventually I found myself some 30 metres from GZ and sat down for a spell and read some previous logs.
So I guessed there was only one way from here and that was down. So down I went. By now, ( just equipped with shoes, shirt and shorts) my shins had taken an absolute hammering and to add injury to injury, I was whacked in the ear by a bee. I hate bees!

After a bit of a rock scramble and about 5 m from GZ, I was confronted by my next hurdle. Water!!!!. So after another spell, standing on an ants nest with nowhere else to go, I de-robed. Yes time for a swim.

A short little dog paddle with pen in mouth and I eventually arrived at GZ. Yes yes yes I thought to myself. So there I was, waist deep in water signing the log.

I retraced my steps, except for the swimming bit, and soon made the track/road out a priority. How easy is that.

Today the ACTEW web site says the dam is 81.97% full. As for the container, it is safe by about 30 cms.

If I had my time over again, I would bring a tyre tube and paddle the last 80 or so metres from the track. There would not be a single blackberry to even worry about.

Did I earn the 4 stars for terrain? Hell yes and a few more!!!!!

WARNING to readers! Some of the photos may be disturbing.

Many thanks to rbirtles for this one! One I wouldn't have to add a favourite point to remind me of the adventure, but I will.

Wow, looking at this with the current Google map satillite image looks like this is right on the water line (or even below it) now...would be interesting to check this one out again now the Dam is at capacity.

But on the bright side at least all those nasty blackberries are probably underwater now

We headed out with mnjontour for round two on Cotter Catchment II so this was definitely on the radar. Last weekend we got a good view from the other side of the valley of this interesting rock formation and today it was time to take a closer look.

We drove in as close as we could until we hit one of those yellow gates, so out we all got and the first words out of Mr Stormcatchers mouth was " this will be a walk in the park" ...that was probably the first sign that this was going to be anything but.

Approach one was from below and after walking down the steep trail and trying to find a way through the massive blackberry infestation proved impossible and we soon realised we were very underprepared for the journey ahead...but that never seems to stop us . So with the blackberries extracting their first drops of blood Mrs M. retreated to grab some weapons but soon after that the words abort abort were screamed and we made our escape up the trail feeling defeated having glimpsed the formation it was a case of so close but so so so far .

So after regrouping from our first wave of blackberries we picked another line with the Cotter Construction cache as the destination. Mr Stormcatcher constructed a makeshift Blackberry "removal tool" and it was off and once again the blackberries stopped us quite literally in our tracks and with the stream of blackberries flowing through the creek below us we knew there was no hope with this approach either. So for the second time today the abort was given, but as we headed back out we glimpsed a way through and another possible path to Corpora Cavernosa II and being only 100 meters away how could we not go in. Wave after wave of blackberries tried to stop us but sheer determination and a fair amount of whacking we got closer and closer...only 30 meters...but wow...it was wall to wall thorns and with more blood spilt this was no urban cache! Hope was fading fast but then a pathway was revealed that was void of the blackberry wrath but would now involve some careful transversal of the rock face.

There was not much room to navigate down and with a risk of falling rocks one member of each team headed downwards towards the target. Mrs M did an incredible job making it down and managing not to drop any rocks on Mr Stormcatcher head below. The container was spotted sitting quite cheekily on the formation , no way this one will ever get muggled with the fortress of Blackberries and terrain protecting it! We removed the last layers of protection and then success , yay, probably one of the most challenging caches we have done in a while with more blackberries than 100 Weird weir caches .

Thanks (we think) for the cache, obviously we would never ever come here if it wasn't for its secret treasure . Deserves a favourite for the memories. Now to head back out and to dish out another helping of blackberry revenge .

Seriously...is there really a need to camouflage the cache so well?!. It was almost as difficult uncovering the cache as what it was circumnavigating the GZ terrain. Any unsuspecting muggle that finds oneself at this location truly deserves to find the cache.
...and on the subject of terrain; we found this one much more difficult than a 4.5 star rating that we once did in QLD (wallabies revenge gc15ccv). In my (mrs mnj's) humble opinion, blackberry bushes trump spinifex hands down! Oh we'll, I guess the rating allocation is very subjective, and regardless, we loved the challenge.
Thank you to rbirtles for the cache, and to the Stormcatchers for accompanying us.
LN (except maybe a little blood, sweat and tears), took some band aides.

Ok everyone - all these complaints about how hard it is has made me reconsider it and thus it is now a 4 terrain rating. I am glad that blood and tissue biologically deteriorate quite well otherwise it would make a lovely CSI scene!

Cheers and thanks to all that have and will do this cache!
Rob.

The find was easy but getting there was a different matter. I think the challenges have been well documented in previous posts but perseverance and thick gloves definitely help. Oh, forgot to mention the bees nest which I disturbed on the way back up which helped to expedite my return. Feel I earned this one. TFTC

Well, along with mosaic1212 and Bruce's run my DNA is all over the trail. Blood and hair stuck in brambles! Not sure we took the easiest route in but hey, the sense of achievement will be there long after the scratches fade! Hitherto known between us as " that prick of a cache" for two reasons, work it out!

Found withKeswick Kid and Mosaic1212. The cache will forever be referred to amongst the three of us as "that PRICK of a cache". As have many others, we all left very distinct DNA trails to the cache. We all approached it from 3 different angels and still it was a hard hard slog to get to the cache. Coming out was easiest, straight down to the creek then out towards the river and up to the new (soon to be) artificial reef.

TFTC

Well what does one say about this cache!! Ouch, ouch and more ouch!! Absolute top hide and well worth the pain. Great view of the soon to be underwater world of the future Cotter Dam. Plenty of DNA left behind by myself and geobuddies Bruces Run and the Keswick Kid, love the bandaids and disinfectant in the cache. TFTC

NINE MOTHS AGO WAS THE LAST VISIT ( NO WONDER ) VERY NICE PLACE TO VISIT NOW BEFORE THE DAM IS DONE.
THANK YOU.

Phew. Three and a half stars. I'd hate to think what your version of five stars is. Ouch. There'd be big prickles.

I think the big amo can hide was perfect for the spot. Great selection. Thanks

Btw lots of water out today. There is a 3 meter water fall just below me with a fair amount of water going over it. I will attempt a photo and attach.

Thanks for great hunt. Hard work but fun.

I loved the rock scramble down to this one. The Blackberry bushes just made it more of a challenge ! Thanks.

3770.3 TNLN
Visited: World Traveling Gold GC A#6 & 2009 Gold Eagle Proof A#148

Albida

Found this one today with Albida and mr_roo after we approached from above. This one was a nice little scramble down, it was just a pity there were so many blackberries, but it was great to see such a nice large cache.

Visited Ra's Gecko - SL TFTC

Out with Albida and jusojara today and this was our first blackberries everywhere. We approached from the top which I think was the best way. Spotted the cache hide from quiet a distance away, nice to see a big cache TFTC

Wow, that was different. Approached from the topside and made my way carefully down towards GZ, which could be seen from a good 20 odd metres away. A steep climb down, through the blackberries and small saplings and once at GZ, not much room to stand. Great to see a bigger than normal ammo box sitting waiting to be found.

After log signing duties, it was time to go up (down was not an option) and lucky that was easier than the coming down part. Once back on the trail it time to pull the blackberry thorns out of the many places they had lodged themselves. Gaitors and gloves are certainly the go for this one.

Thanks rbirtles, impressive rock, terrible blackberries, but still a cool cache to complete.

He he he – have been to this rock before! But that time I almost didn’t return to tell the tale! – I was in shorts and a T-shirt! – This time I worn long pants and gaiters! Not only that, but I approached from another direction, and it was somewhat easier! In fact, didn’t need to use any of the bandaids! The tricky thing about getting to this location, is that it is very steep, and there is nothing to hold on too! Well, except blackberries – but I forgot my gardening gloves! So it’s a good balancing test, walking up and down the slope! Thanks for bringing me back here rbirtles!

Third find for the day with SecretSquirrel-BJC.

We had a lot of fun getting to this GC, via the nearby "folly" and "Cotter" caches. There was a bit of a challenge coming down the steep hill on the eastern bank of the Cotter river then a minor war with some blackberries (we won). Then we had to find the best way across the river (my boots stayed dry!) and another battle with more blackberries which we also won. From there it was an easy walk along the fire trail and a short path to the GZ - which we approached from slightly below. Much easier I think.

Thanks for the third cache in this general area - nice to pick up a few with minimal effort.

Knowing the terrain and amount of blackberries, I came in from the nearby gate (only a short easy walk) and arrived above the rock. Hmmmm - I'm glad I didn't attempt this IN THE DARK!!!!!!. I also had long pants, gaiters and a balancing stick, an easy scramble down to the rock. Quite a view below to the creek. Thanks for the rock, cache & view.

1861+98=1959 with Captain Tomato

Thanks Rbirtles for bigger, better, HARDer Corpora Cavernosa. My hat is off to OzLurker and Cazbol - that would have been one hell of an adventure at night - very well done. We did this one as a detour from Cotter Catchment II WP1. Fortunately gaiters, long trousers and CT's big thwacking stick ensured that the blackberries weren't a nuisance but it was a slow walk - you do not want to trip and fall into them. I agree with Tankengine - gardening gloves would have been nice - there were a couple of times when I reached for a bush to steady myself and found a blackberry cane inside.

In any case, I really enjoyed seeing this rock and the nice big ammo box.

I was acting as the support crew on the placement of this cache, and after the trauma of helping place the cache (in the rain I might add), I figure that I have earnt the right to claim it as a find [^]. That said, if Rbirtles ever asks for a support crew to do a maintenance run on this one, i'll be unaccountably busy that day .

It really was a great walk to the GZ if you ignore the blackberries clawing at your feet and legs, and you can overcome the automatic response of putting your hand down when you start to slip down the slope. In my opinion there were 3 real benefits to this cache:
=> there were good views (OK, they are better from Tankengine's Cotter Catchment II, but its further away)
=> the GZ has a nice big ammo box with heaps of goodies, including first aid gear
=> the hills echo your screams of pain nicely as you repeatedly stab yourself on blackberry thorns

Can I also recommend finding this cache while it is raining for those caching masochists out there [xx(] Thanks Rbirtles, it really was fun...

What a cache!

Oz Lurker and I had lots of fun with this one, though apparently I am now certifiably insane and she will sign the certificate. We saw this one come up and said "all right first to find, how hard can it be!?" I think in hind sight we should have perhaps paid more respect (attention) to the difficulty rating and the blackberry warnings! - Oh and the hint would have been good to.

We had a great time of it trecking out to this spot and as Oz Lurker has mentioned left a really good DNA trail for the sniffer dogs that we were about 99% sure we were going to have to call on to ever get back out alive (oh for an eperb when you need one). Then after much adventurous bush bashing - I'd say sorry to the environment but the only thing we bashed were blackberries and I'm still deciding who won - (and a few calls back to base to say that we still lived) we struck cache. We found it! and yes by the time we did the manic laughter had set in and it was possibly the only thing driving us. Then it was the simple task of getting back to the vehicle... The laughter soon died.

Thankfully the way back out turned out to be easier and faster (as they so often do!) and Oz Lurker was not forced to kill me when I reminded her of how I said (in jest all) in the twilight as we started out on this journey that the way looked pretty flat. I think she still thought about it though.

Really enjoyed this trek rbirtles, thanks for an awesome cache, though I'm going to think twice and plan three times before I set out on another one of yours that has such a terrain rating Thanks for the memories. Oh and thanks for the band-aids, we did grab a few!

Published

*FTF* Yay shared with CAZBOL

Rampantly idiotic Cachers who have phoned this in will update logs if they find their way out in the dark!!!!!

>>> Hmmm, well, this may have not been the easiest cache I have ever done [:o] and I have gotta say, doing it at night doesn't make it any easier . Hopwever, since CazBol kept telling me how satisfying a FTF on a cache like this would be, I sucked it up and we kept going. I think we found every blackberry bush in the Cotter on our way in and must have left a trail of blood all the way there.

Once at GZ (and it was certainly a tortuous route ) we did the only sensible thing of the evening and sent one down to log and sign whilst the smart one (ME!) stayed up top ready to call in reinforcements if required. Luckily, no untoward activities ocurred and we went to the top of the hill to call in the FTF as the Oz Lurker Brains trust was waiting at home (questioning our collective sanity) - we didn't want anyone else heading out here tonight for a FTF (ROFL) and being disappointed .

After a brief discussion around taking the x-country route versus the longer but easier graded route - ease won out and we followed the path. Surprisingly (or not) we actually made it back to the car alot quicker than it took to hit the cache, and I am sure there was an even quicker way - which, if we had taken the printout that was left in the car, we could have followed Oh well, it was a fun hike, on a nice night with a clear moon.

TFTC - we grabbed the GC's that were there, and the PT's and very cheerfully signed the log.

[This entry was edited by Oz Lurker on Wednesday, April 28, 2010 at 5:22:11 AM.]

I shake my head, I SALUTE the two crazy cachers, Oz Lurker and CAZBOL. Amazing! Well done. (Do I hear a certain Norkmeister cursing yet again????)

Should make an interesting story. Although possible I would not like to do this cache in the dark - even if it was just for the blackberries. Our hiking boots (Newbery's and I) got a good going over Saturday morning. Glad I left a big box of bandaids and antispetic cream in the cache!

Well yeas I did have a watch on it, but I am now saving this one for a particular day....

Still gotta get that damn Cotter Catchment II too!!

TB Drop.