GC6CQQH Alexander the Fake
Type: Traditional | Size: Small | Difficulty: | Terrain:
By: icezebra11 @ | Hide Date: 03/06/2016 | Status: Available
Country: United States | State: Colorado
Coordinates: N40° 25.542 W105° 14.918 | Last updated: 08/30/2019 | Fav points: 0
           

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CONGRATULATIONS to waawhoo on the FTF!!!

Don't be fooled by this "fake."

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Alexander Mountain is one of Larimer County's and Colorado's lower ranked peaks.  At 7105 feet of elevation, it is number 224 of 255 ranked peaks in Larimer County and number 4085 in all of Colorado.  So getting to the top sounds easy, right?  Well those statistics are very deceiving.  Reaching the top of Alexander Mountain takes 'great" effort.  On the route you will be faced with steep slopes, talus, scree, and thick brush.  After a successful summiting of Alexander you will definitely be "feeling it."  My shins were bloodied pushing through the tangled brush.

On your way to the real Alexander Mountain you will encounter this false summit, the "fake."  This "fake" summit is a wonderful spot to take in the superb views to the east, south, and west; to look down upon the Big Thompson Canyon where you left your parking spot; and to find this cache!  You don't necessarily need to summit Alexander to locate this cache but while you are in the neighborhood you will also want to pay the summit cairn a visit. 

There is no trail, the entire route is off trail.  I have provided coordinates for parking and two possible starting points.  One route is the "Chockstone Route."  Head up the eastern gulch and a couple hundred yards after leaving the highway you will come to the chockstone.  Passing it requires a short class 4 scramble.  If you aren't comfortable doing that, I'd suggest the "Over the Ridge Route."  This route requires starting up the western gulch, going up and over the ridge back down to a point past the chockstone in the eastern gulch.

The cache is a duct taped jar and has room for trackables.  Be careful getting to the top.  Let someone know where you'll be.  Even though it's so close to town it is quite remote.  You aren't likely to meet anyone along the way.  Locate the container, sign the log, and take in the views.  Have fun and be safe!

Additional Waypoints

P06CQQH - Parking #1
N 40° 25.212 W 105° 14.585

P16CQQH - Parking #2
N 40° 25.315 W 105° 14.430

R06CQQH - Over the Ridge Gulch
N 40° 25.225 W 105° 14.570

R16CQQH - Chockstone Gulch
N 40° 25.260 W 105° 14.515

04/15/2017 By msstrong
Made our way to the top today with Monk1122, and Waawhoo, what a beautiful day to climb this beautiful mom took us a while to get to the top found everything in the right place really enjoyed our time thank you very much for the placement, without this Geocache I would've never ventured up here and seen this beautiful location!!

04/15/2017 By Monk1122
Nothing but a good cache to remind me how out of shape I am. Such a beautiful view from up here! TFTC

03/15/2017 By Path Pacer
Tough hike today, especially as it started getting pretty hot as the morning wore on. I was smart enough to wear tough clothing after reading about the blood, but my hands got a little cut up scaling the drainage at the beginning. Should have brought gloves.

When I finally hauled myself up to the site, I couldn't find the cache! I looked for maybe half an hour, gradually expanding my search out from the big bush my GPS led me to, and starting to feel disappointed. I even lifted the log and checked the trees. Then a helicopter showed up and started buzzing the top of the mountain. I think it was a rescue helo since it was red and had a basket on one side, but I have no idea what it was doing. I was afraid to wave in case they thought I needed assistance. I guess they were just training.

Finally I hit upon the right spot, after putting my hand down on some cactus maneuvering into position, and found the cache. It wasn't that far from the bush, but I just refused to look in the right direction. Then I called my neighbor for a safety check and headed for the summit. Good cell reception there.

It's always satisfying when you get one of these toughies. Thanks for placing it here and integrating the multi along the route.

11/05/2016 By jaredandkayla
What an amazing vantage point from up here! Looks like somebody camped here a long time ago from the old fire ring. Sweet spot!

03/13/2016 By Denali41
After find the "Great" I came along a ridge and found the "Fake". My full analysis is in my log for the Great. I'm quite hopeful that this second trip up Alexander Mountain is my last one. It would require something super extraordinary to coax me up this peak a third time...but who knows what might develop.

Now, this really IS a nice cache, hidden in a superb location. I was happy to sign my name in the STF position on the log sheet, and am grateful to icezebra11 for these two remarkable caches--a Great one and a Fake one--on this mountain.