| Current at 3/14/2007 (Online waypoint URL) |
UCI Arbo Cache by Maxpappy and Lillybreath (2/2.5)
N33° 39.808 W117° 51.200 (WGS84)
UTM 11S E 420886 N 3725169
Use waypoint: GCHMM8
Size: Regular Hidden on 2/4/2004
In California, United States
Difficulty:
Terrain: 
| Fairly easy to get to, with adjacent metered parking. Paths are both paved and gravel, with some parts somewhat hilly. |
This is one of those caches that brings you to a spot you may not have ever discovered on your own, but you will want to return.
Started in 1964 as a nursery to supply the landscaping needs of the University as it was being constructed, the Arboretum now maintains a collection of rare and endangered plants from a variety of California habitats. Over 200 endangered species are maintained and actively propagated.
But be forwarned, the Arboretum has some restrictive hours, making this a good cache to visit on your lunch hour, or on a Saturday. It is opened from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm, Monday through Saturdays. It is closed on Sundays and major holidays. On occasion, they have special events to raise funds for their work, where you can purchase bulbs, poinsettias, and perennials.
There is usually no admission fee, unless they are holding one of their fundraising sales. On those days (about 4 per year), it may cost around $2. Even so, the place is well worth admission. (There is also a donation box, if you want to support their work).
PLEASE respect the property! The Arboretum is visitor friendly, and the staff are aware of the cache, so you do not have to worry about being caught. But you should not have to do any bushwhacking to find the cache.
This is the only officially approved cache in the Arboretum. You are looking for a round Altoids Tangerine drops can, so the items inside are small. The original cache contained the following:
Log Book
Pencil
Eraser
"Sign Here" stickers
Wooden nickle
Set of color paper clips
Wire puzzle
Office Depot Coupon
Picture Hanger
Magic Mountain coupon
Helen Keller Quarter
Wash N Dry packet
Anteater Magnet
A "Go red for women" American Heart Assoc. pin
Bring your camera...or even your lunch for a picnic. This is an unexpected treat just off of a major busy highway in the heart of the busy SNA airport area.
*Update 4/13/2004: We upgraded the container, to make it more watertight. It is a larger "Snapware" 1.5 cup plastic container... clear right now, but we will return to camo-paint it next week. Good luck!
Additional Hints Hints
Current at 3/14/2007
3/4/2007 by ShamRider
Out and about with MIB in Irvine today, checking out the Winter Bulb Festival. Sounds exciting 
, but it really wasn't 
. It took us all of about 3min to peruse the goods and then we went on to this cache. As many others have noted, the cache and log are soaked. It is a great area for a cache, but it needs some TLC. Any chance someone close can take over this one since the owner doesn't play anymore??
2/14/2007 by Smoochersmom
Filled with green water, log is moldy.
2/13/2007 by Smoochersmom
Yikes this cache needs maintenance. Signed a less damp spot on the log. The area is really great, saw some very cool plants along the walkways. Thanks for bringing me here.
1/31/2007 by Pasha
10:08 Quick find, though the container was entirely full of green water. The log is brown mush and I was unable to make more than a splotch on it, but today I guess that splotch means Pasha. My first California cache, found during a one-day jaunt for a business meeting. Thanks!
12/11/2006 by cache_in_pocket
Found the cache. Was serving Jury duty at the justice center across the street and found this on my lunch break. Forgot my pen, so I swiped a permanent marker from a table nearby. Don't worry, I returned it. But glad it was a sharpie because the log was wet and moldy. Please replace. If you'd like me to replace your log, I can...just contact me. Thanks for the cache.
11/14/2006 by wasian
The entire contents of this cache are SOAKED! Log book is unreadable.
TFTH
11/13/2006 by wasian
Nice area, nice hide, nice day, nice wave from a student studying nearby, but.......THIS CACHE IS SOAKED!!!!!!
Unfortunately, the logbook is ruined, but still a fun find.
TN
L Alaska Jet Card
TFTH
11/6/2006 by 72CCT-ChE
Parking is an issue...... Found cache easily, but it was totally soaked. SL, a wet one, and tried to dry out the best I could.... I was going to leave a TB, but will just drop and pick it up due to the wetness issue, like wise I'll drop my coins for mileage. TFTC..... In from NY state to conduct training at one of our facilities in the area. Quick find right after getting rental car at the airport. Off to the next.
10/11/2006 by djohnson28
Found this pretty quickly and yes it is a very interesting place - would like to come back here during their special plant sales events....The contents are very wet and the log probably needs replacing as I couldnt even sign it. Perhaps a new container or a better ziplock baggie????
8/28/2006 by nonaeroterraqueous
Nice little garden here. We bumbled about for a few, trying to figure out how to get a parking pass. We actually didn't find this one right away, even though it isn't cammo'd, and it isn't hidden in a terribly difficult way. I hate to say that it is terribly wet, regardless of the ziplock bags and all. Snapware sells some containers that are guaranteed to be water-tight, and this just isn't one of them. The water-tight kind have a purple rubber seal on them. We left a laminated version of our ID sticker with the log. Thanks for the hide.
Nearby Caches
GC115RG Waiting for .... Court Appearance (0.28miles NW)
GCZJZP Fond of Fondue (0.34miles N)
GCZTTP
Hooked on Lemonade (0.39miles SE)
Hints
If you see railroad ties, you are right on track