GC2YM4Z Traditional Cache A Cherokee's Rite of Passage: Legend
Type: Traditional | Size: Regular Regular | Difficulty: 3 out of 5 | Terrain: 4 out of 5
By: Cherokee Huntsman @ | Hide Date: 07/03/2011 | Status: Available
Country: United States | State: Colorado
Coordinates: N37° 36.703 W105° 32.388 | Last updated: 08/30/2019 | Fav points: 0
Dogs  Scenic view  Significant hike  Available at all times  Parking available  Public restrooms nearby  Camping available  Medium hike (1km-10km) 
Located at a beautiful overlook of Twin Peaks/California Peak in the Rio Grande Nat’l Forest, south of the Great Sand Dunes National Park. Park at the Zapata Falls Rec Area & take the Zapata Falls trail to the Zapata South Lake trail. After making it up the first set of switchbacks head S/SE off trail at the add’tl coords (1A) given below (easiest route) & up the first steep grassy hill. The hike is approximately 2 steep miles one way. Give yourself 4-5 hrs to reach the cache & make it back.
If you’re lucky, you’ll also discover the Lost Mine and the Lost Cabin of Zapata along your journey to the cache! If you have the spare time, it's definitely worth hiking a little farther to the extra coordinates below (2A) for a great scenic overlook!
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A Cherokee's Rite of Passage:

His father takes him into the forest, blindfolds him and leaves him alone. He is required to sit on a stump the whole night and not remove the blindfold until the rays of the morning sun shine through it. He cannot cry out for help to anyone. Once he survives the night, he is a MAN.

He cannot tell the other boys of this experience because each lad must come into manhood on his own. The boy is naturally terrified. He can hear all kinds of noises. Wild beasts must surely be all around him. Perhaps even some human might do him harm. The wind blows the grass and shakes his stump, but he must sit stoically, never removing the blindfold. It is the only way he can become a man!

Finally, after a horrific night, the sun appears and he removes his blindfold. It is then that he discovers his father sitting on the stump next to him. He has been at watch the entire night, protecting his son from harm.

We, too, are never alone. Even when we don't know it, our Heavenly Father is watching over us, sitting on the stump beside us. When trouble comes, all we have to do is reach out to Him.

Legend.
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Congratulations CO Rockhounds! You're determination paid off and you achieved a great FTF.

Additional Waypoints
1A2YM4Z - Head S/SE at Wooden Sign next to trail
N 37° 37.085 W 105° 33.215

2A2YM4Z - Beautiful Scenic Overlook!
N 37° 36.622 W 105° 32.310
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 Additional Waypoints (2)

CodeNameTypeCommentsDateCoordinatesDistance
1A2YM4ZHead S/SE at Wooden Sign next to trail Reference Point  07/03/2011 N 37° 37.085 W 105° 33.215 1.41 kms NW 
2A2YM4ZBeautiful Scenic Overlook! Reference Point  07/03/2011 N 37° 36.622 W 105° 32.310 0.19 kms SE 

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Driving Directions

 Logs

5 Logs: Found it 4  Write note 1  

Found it 08/28/2013 By kathmcconks
Had a wonderful hike to this cache today. Really beautiful location!! I grabbed the sand dunes butterfly trackable and left a painted rock and a small Swiss Army knife. I plan on taking this bufferfly someplace spectacular!

Found it 04/25/2013 By Dean & Chris
Whee doggies! We'll be feeling this one tomorrow. 1450 ft elevation gain. Up, up and up is right. We actually tried this one before, but somehow we missed the turn and ended up on the trail to S. Zapata Lake. The Cache seemed so close, yet unattainable from the other side of the ravine. Today was our second attempt and we made it. We showed our appreciation of this cache by leaving lots of swag.
Whoever makes it all the way up here, will be rewarded with plenty of items to trade. Left a geo-coin. Leave your dog at home for this one. Too many cacti.
We saw both mines and the cabin. Who drank the last swallow of whiskey from the cabin? Got a bit lost on the way back down. It helps to mark the location of your vehicle. Tired but happy.
We sure love the native legend and the meaning behind it. Thank you so much for this cache.

Write note 06/01/2012 By correllranchkids
Took the bug.... We left a few carabiners and some finger flashlights.

Found it 06/01/2012 By correllranchkids
Wow!!!! This is defiantly the longest and hardest cache we ever search for!!! So worth the all day hike, such beauty everywhere. We missed the extra coordinates so we bushwhacked up and over the mountain from the cabin on the Zapata lake. Made the find and headed straight back down towards the camp grounds. After seeing a really neat cabin and we found the Gold Mine!
A total of 12 started out with us and ended with 9.... Including Emma Grace age 3 who stayed with the time..(with some piggy rides).
So glad we were determined to make this find.

Found it 06/01/2012 By Rodeojunkies
Up up and up to this one bring plenty of water and snacks some real steep terrain, very good excersize, beautiful views and lots of meadows