Elevation 6278!

01/13/2019 By Barasaur
Went to the NOCO dinner at Panera and had a great time. I even saw Denali41 at the event but nothing had happened yet as for this cache. Joined Pixel Magic and Dud&Plato to work through a new WIG that was just being published. When done, PM mentioned a hike near Seaman Res for a couple caches while the weather was decent. Ut oh here I go again. We made plans to do the hike on Saturday.

Wouldn't you know that Friday ended up raining and snowing that night coating the foothills with a new blanket of powdery white snow. Yep going to tackle what we read as a steep hike in the slippery snow. The hike started with a walk across the frozen reservoir that met us with a dog on the ice from a local home in the area. He soon realized we were not going to enter his territory and left us to our walk.

We strived to hike on the southern faces of the valley's as much as possible to lessen the amount of snow and slipping as possible but at times we had no choice but to dig in with poles and just climb the white surface slowly. We started the hike at 9am and reached the first cache on our list, (Elevation 6278!) at near 11:30am. We were happy to find it in great shape. After a brief pause to sign the log and a few pictures we headed off to our final cache destination, (On the Road to Recovery).

This part of the walk was fairly smooth as we had now finished the initial steep climb and was much gentler in nature. It is still almost 3/4 of mile though along the snowy gently climbing ridge. We finally reach the cache and Sumesh, who is a co-worker here training from India was in awe of the views from this final location. Yes, a new cacher in the making, who lives at sea level, and has never cross country hiked is now one of only about 6 other cachers to reach this cache.

Now came the decent and the return. We took a different route down that seemed to be what might have been a better way up, it always seems that way as you return. It was still very steep and as we neared the lake the route we had chosen found us sliding and in a super steep decent to the lake edge. IT was slow and holding on to any bush was helpful as we slide along.

I was the first to the edge and I reached out to the ice with my pole and tapped on it trying to verify it's sturdiness before stepping onto it. All seemed well and I lightly stepped onto the edge. Took about 2 more steps when an about 10 foot diameter section broke lose dropping me into the lake. I dropped in chest deep and immediately spread my arms catching onto the broken ice chuck. I then hollered out to the others I'm in the lake, the ice broke. I didn't want them to hit the edge where they were and be in the same predicament. I struggled a bit and slid myself on my stomach up and onto thicker ice. Pulling kept pulling myself on my stomach along the ice listening for it to stop crackling and popping under me. When it did I moved up to my hands and knees and crawled a bit further still listening to the ice for any noise and then after another 10 feet I stood up. My back pack was still mostly dry as it only hit the bottom edge of it when dropping in so I pulled out more jackets and gloves and put them on so as to try and stop the breeze from cooling the now soaked clothing.

Pixel Magic and Sumesh finally had reached the edge, also tested the location they were at and eased onto the lake. We carefully and quickly moved across the lake on our journey back to the car. As the sun set or we entered into shady areas I could feel the cold seeping into me. It was not too bad but I do have to say by the time I had gotten home I was very glad to divest of my wet cold clothing for a warm shower and some hot tea.

In the end we captured 2 great caches, walked 7.5 miles, crossed the lake a couple of times, captured some great views with our cameras, and logged another great day of memories in the Colorado Mountains.

See Video here

(10540)

01/12/2019 By Suz_In
it was a great experience for me. this was my first hiking in snow, I made it with the great help from Barasaur and pixel magic. both were very helpful .. thanks a lot

01/12/2019 By Pixel Magic
We finally bit the bullet and planned to get across the Seaman Reservoir to find this hide. I was part of a team that included Barasaur and a co-worker of his who soon became a friend. Sumesh endured a lot along with the two of us getting to this cache safely and with great effort. We bushwacked up and down the hills in a steady climb to get closer to GZ. We stayed away from the private property by crossing on the Reservoir. Note: This ice does not necessarily freeze evenly or consistently. There is danger involved.

We gleefully signed the log and claimed this cache, a long time in coming.

12/20/2017 By icezebra11
Today I decided I needed to get out for a hike before the cold and snow arrived tomorrow. So I checked the Gateway NA webpage and the previous notice about the bridge closure was gone. So I made another attempt at this lonely cache.

It was a beautiful day, in the 50s, sunny, and light winds that were welcomed while making this steep climb. After leaving the parking area I headed for the waypoint that marked where to divert from the road. That's when the uphill started in earnest! Slowly I trudged up the steep brush covered slopes, welcoming the occasional low angle and brushless areas on the ridge.

When I got to GZ I made a quick find as the coordinates were spot on. I opened the container to find a dry log with just Denali41's signature on it and I happily signed as the second-to-find. Then I sat for awhile and enjoyed the views. I recalled the day I made the trek for Denali41's cache north of this one. That day I had to cross portions of the reservoir over the ice. Well you can't do that today! The only ice I could see it right up by the dam and most of the reservoir was open water. It's just been a warm dry start to the winter season this year.

Thanks Roger for placing this cache, the views are fantastic!!!

12/03/2017 By icezebra11
For now this cache is not accessible due to a bridge replacement project over the river in Gateway Natural Area. I went there yesterday expecting to make the hike to this cache but found the crossing closed and construction taking place. The website said construction was to be over by Nov. 27th but the job must have been delayed.

05/01/2016 By Denali41
"Slip slidin' away
Slip slidin' away
You know the nearer your destination
The more you're slip slidn' away"

Today was to be one of relaxation and reading in the radiant heat of our wood stove. It was raining. It was snowing. That plan of leisure on a day of rotten weather was destroyed when I checked my e-mail and saw a new cache had been published by tinytuttle. Heck, he placed it in one of my favorite general areas of the foothills. From our bedroom window I could see all that new white snow up there, and it was still coming down. Well, it couldn't be TOO bad...So I loaded my backpack, grabbed my trekking poles, and my puppy Orizaba and I headed out into the winter conditions for a May Day adventure.

We had fun slippin' and slidin' in that fresh, wet snow as we ascended the steep terrain. We had even more fun slippin' and slidin' in that fresh, wet snow as we descended that steep terrain. But we found the cache, and signed the log in the {FTF} spot. And I took some photos that I will post here with the log once I get them off the camera. A fine placement, Roger. Thanks for messing up my day.

Oh, the Paul Simon refrain:

"Slip slidin' away
Slip slidin' away
You know the nearer your destination
The more you're slip slidin' away"

04/30/2016 By HighCountryAdmin
Published