GC1TVY7 Old Stage Road to Leadville
Type: Traditional | Size: Micro | Difficulty: | Terrain:
By: Leadrock @ | Hide Date: 06/17/2009 | Status: Available
Country: United States | State: Colorado
Coordinates: N39° 01.848 W106° 14.969 | Last updated: 08/30/2019 | Fav points: 0
       

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This is a park and grab that is easier for north-bound traffic. South-bounders should heed caution for traffic. Unscrew capsule to log.

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This cache is named for the historically significant roadway that can be seen to the east, past the river. The Old Stage Road was used from 1860 to 1880 as one of two main roadways into Leadville. The ride from Buena Vista to Leadville may have taken more than 26 hours and was subjected to many dangers. Leadville is known for its many silver and gold mines and the stage, at times, was used to transport out these treasures. Thus, there were many robberies along the route.

One story tells of Leadville Sheriff Kirkham, who was tired of all the stagecoach robberies, so he dressed up as a woman and rode the coach out of town. He caught the robber, but after shooting the fleeing robber in the back, he discovered that the robber was a woman dressed as a man. Also to his surprise he discovered the woman was his wife. Too ashamed to bury his wife in town, Sheriff Kirkham placed her grave on the edge of the stage road. You can see her grave marker, a small white tombstone, located on the east side of the Arkansas River just north of the turn off to Twin Lakes/Independance Pass.

The Old Stage Road was rendered obsolete after the transcontinental railroad came through Colorado.

05/19/2019 By punchappy
Wanted that one more before getting dark. Not where I thought it would be! Need to Denver to look up more


TFTC #4831

01/10/2019 By ari54321
Today I took a geo-roadtrip starting in Frisco, heading down to Vail, then down beautiful Route 24 to Leadville, then back to Breckenridge via Buena Vista and Fairplay. The weather was great - mostly cloudy but warm, which made for a perfect day of caching. Found on my way south to Buena Vista. Very cool traces of history! Thanks for hiding this cache to highlight a glimpse into the history of this road. TFTC!!

09/08/2018 By FresnoDancingFool
My computer is having major problems with its keyboard, so I'm going to have to simply log GOOD JOB AND TFTC! today.

09/02/2018 By Trekkie79
Time to say goodbye to the grandkids in California and head back to Kansas City. Picking up a few counties along the way. Day 3 of the return trip. We left Grand Junction, CO, this morning. Got snowed on at Independence Pass, saw Doc Holliday's grave, got the oldest Colorado cache, did lots of twisty roads and saw some beautiful country while picking up 10 more counties. Thanks for all of the caches along the way to make the trip more interesting.

Loved the story in the description of the cache. Quick grab so we can make the many miles we need to make today.
Thanks for the smiley.
Trekkie79

08/24/2018 By Jazzeykat
Found with Wyochiver. TFTC

08/24/2018 By bigfeeters
Love this legend and remember the story as a kid growing up in the area- but it is a legend and was disproved according to local historian, June Shaputis.

08/23/2018 By Wyochiver
Quick find just off the parking area. Nice! Tftc