GCC807 10th Mountain Division Memorial
Type: Multi | Size: Regular | Difficulty: | Terrain:
By: COClimber1115 @ | Hide Date: 01/19/2003 | Status: Available
Country: United States | State: Colorado
Coordinates: N39° 22.139 W106° 23.213 | Last updated: 08/30/2019 | Fav points: 0
 

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This cache is dedicated to the men and women who served in the 10th Mountain Division in WWII and The Korean War, and who continue to serve our country today.

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I have rated this on the higher side of the terrain scale because it is difficult to access. Parking is available at N39 20.834/W106 19.982. From here, it is approximately 4 1/2 miles to the 10th Mountain Division Hut of the 10th Mountain Hut Association. Access will differ depending on the season. In winter, there is snowmobile access to within 100 yards of the hut. Foot travel is possible via skis or snowshoes. In summer, the accessibility options are more numerous. There is a 4WD road to within 100 yards of the hut, or hiking and mountain biking for those who want to get a workout from the trip. I set this up as a GPS training class for a large group of backcountry enthusiasts who went in to the hut on 1/18/03. Here is how the course works:

1) There are a total of 4 legs to get to the final cache. Each team's microcache contains the coordinates to the next microcache. The microcaches are either an orange prescription bottle or a film canister.
2) The 3rd waypoint (from the hut) is an Altoids candy tin which contains only a compass bearing and a distance in yards. It is based off magnetic north with a 14 degree declination. I strongly suggest using a magnetic compass (i.e. a handheld Silva or military issue equivalent) to get to the final cache - a small green ammo can.
3) From the hut, there are four different starting points (as I divided the group into 4 separate teams). Following are the coordinates to the first microcaches from the hut:
Team 1: N39 22.124/W106 23.110
Team 2: N39 22.141/W106 23.155
Team 3: N39 22.017/W106 23.081
Team 4: N39 21.974/W106 23.069

So, if you are doing this cache solo, you can pick any of the team starting coord's and tackle this multicache, or you can do a team challenge if you have a group with several GPS units... it's totally up to you! The final cache contains some 10th Mountain Div. items, some postcards, some handwarmers, a deck of USA playing cards, some chapstick, and a map of the 10th M.D. Hut and Trail system.

Please be advised of several things: 1) the route to this multi-cache, and the area where all the caches have been placed are NOT in avalanche-prone areas. 2) the microcaches are all located in tree stumps and/or live trees. They could be found at different levels depending on the amount of snow. 3) the 10th Mountain Hut is privately-owned but available for public rental. Please respect the privacy of those who may be occupying the hut if you venture nearby.

Enjoy! - email me with any questions, problems, or comments.

09/15/2015 By Herundrion
We didn't find any except for Team 4. Seems like the other ones are gone. We found the locations where they'd be, but nothing is there.
As for Team 4 caches: 2nd cache is wet and numbers are faded (but we decrypted it by looking at the indentation).
The final cache also seems to be gone, we're pretty sure we found the place where it was supposed to be, but there's nothing there.

01/12/2014 By rolfdenver
Well, we tried all four start points, but there was just too much snow and wind for us to do a decent search. It got us out in the 65 mile an hour winds though, which was good.

09/19/2013 By GrayFinders2
Hiked to the Hut with Lostandfound2. Enjoyed lunch at on the deck, but then couldn't find either of the starting points closest to the Hut. Since we consider the point of interest is the most important aspect of the cache, and not knowing the intended distance or direction of the subsequent stages, we didn't worry about the pointless smiley.

06/14/2012 By Denali41
Golly, I really enjoyed this multi and the thought that went into its creation and field layout. I had hoped to drive much of the way in to the starting point I chose (Team 4), but the gate for the Forest Service road was locked near the water flow measurement station. I needed to make the long hike in. But it was a beautiful morning, and it was nice to be in the mountains without the intense smoke we've been experiencing near my home as a result of the mammoth High Park Fire. It was crystal clear in the Memorial Hut vicinity. Great hiking conditions!

All stages were in good condition and I found each of them quickly. Someone has retraced with ink the faded numbers in the stage 2 vial, so I had no difficulty with interpretation. Thanks for this neat multicache!

06/24/2010 By RDAD
After watching this one for nearly 3 years, today the time was finally right to accept the challenge and give it a go.

After finally getting through all of the stages, I headed to where I thought the final should be, but after putting my pack down and checking the GPS, it looked like it should be maybe 200 ft to my right, so I left the pack laying there and went to search the new spot...no luck...what the?? After giving up on that area, I went back to get my pack and hey, what is that in the shadow 3 ft from my pack...looks like the top of an ammo box...ALL RIGHT!! Sure enough I had been so close to it I had almost touched it. Must of been temporary cache blindness.

It was a fun cache in a beautiful area. TNLN and happily signed the log. Thanks!