GCW684 Gray Back Peak
Type: Traditional | Size: Small | Difficulty: | Terrain:
By: Phoenix2001 @ | Hide Date: 05/21/2006 | Status: Available
Country: United States | State: Colorado
Coordinates: N38° 42.703 W104° 54.019 | Last updated: 08/30/2019 | Fav points: 2
                   

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This cache is located near the top of Gray Back Peak, 9348 ft., in the Pike National Forest. There is a trail to the top of the peak.

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The trail to the junction gets horseback riders from Emerald Valley Ranch so it is well used. The trail the rest of the way to the peak gets less use and perhaps no maintenance.

From Colorado Springs, take Old Stage Road, FSR 368, to the turn off to Emerald Valley Ranch, FSR 371. Old Stage Rd. is steep in places and has exposed edges. It is paved in the Broadmoor area and changes to gravel at a switchback. Immediately after the switchback is a very narrow section around a rock bluff where you should be very careful for vehicles coming down that you can’t see. This is the worst spot on the road to the cache.

Take FSR 371 about 1/3 mile to the top of a rise (pass) and park there. This can be done with a car under normal circumstances (no snow/ice, washouts, etc.). At the top of the pass FSR 371 continues down the other side along with an old road that is blocked by a large boulder. Near this old road/boulder a trail heads up the side of the ridge. This is the trail to the cache. Another trail goes down the side of the pass you drove up.

There is a trail junction on the ridge. The left fork is obvious and goes uphill for a short distance then turns and goes down a ridge and eventually to FSR 369. The easy to miss fork to the right goes to the peak.

The round trip hike is about 4 miles with about 1050 ft. of elevation gain.

This cache contains questions 1 and 2 for the Pike's Cave puzzle cache. If you are doing the puzzle cache, I suggest you do this one last because it’s on the way to the final location.

Additional Waypoints
RJW684 - Road Junction
N 38° 43.996 W 104° 54.201
Road junction (FSR 371) to Emerald Valley from Old Stage Rd.
T1W684 - Parking
N 38° 43.889 W 104° 54.393
Parking Area and Trailhead
TJW684 - Trail Junction
N 38° 43.104 W 104° 53.864
Take right fork if coming from PRKG location (white rings on trees).

08/11/2018 By crazycracken
Went on a hike with my mom and dad today. Exciting to find my first geocache on my own account.
Everything inside is wet.

04/12/2017 By legg1013
Found while out hiking with my big brother. TFTH!

10/18/2015 By floydbarber28
TFTC! Took a hint sheet.

09/26/2015 By Tippyz
Enjoyed a nice hike today, and logged our first find! My son enjoyed the hunt. TFTC

The trail, on the lower part, is a bit washed out. Several gully washers, likely from all of the rain we had in May. Passable, but impacting the trail usability.

07/03/2015 By MountainBear
Found with JavaChip. Had to look around for a few but made the find eventually. TFTC!

05/30/2015 By croweman
Great day for a hike with my wife. The cache is in good shape. TFTH!

10/05/2014 By silverscout
I love finding caches that haven't been found in a while. Cache in good shape. Approached from the top & realized I wasn't looking for a 5 star challenge. Much easier along the trail from below.

06/05/2013 By COpackrat
Enjoyed a nice cool walk up here today - thanks for the cache!

03/24/2013 By ibnjad
GPS led me to where I think it might be, but with the snow, and my limited experience wasn't able to find it. Will try again when the weather gets a little better.

07/15/2012 By TinSparrow
This was our lsat find of the morning as SnailMan1 and I hiked this area. We followed the switchbacks to the end of the trail and the peak, and after taking in the view we made a quick search and found the cache. Thanks for the cache and the clue.