GCGBCB Mineral Point Survivor
Type: Traditional | Size: Regular | Difficulty: | Terrain:
By: Shane the Evil Twin @ | Hide Date: 07/03/2003 | Status: Available
Country: United States | State: Colorado
Coordinates: N37° 41.917 W106° 57.234 | Last updated: 08/30/2019 | Fav points: 1

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A survivor cache on Monument Peak, known locally as Mineral Point.

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This cache MAY be AWOL. I'll have one of my locals check it out when he gets time. At this time, I'm not ready to declare it lost, but have had 2 no-finds recently. If you want to go up, go ahead, it's beautiful anyway. This cache is placed on a mountain I've been coming to for 40 years now. It has a spectacular view of the Upper Rio Grande Valley, a Ghost Town (Spar City), and three ranges of mountains to the west. It was fortunately spared the horror of 2002's fires, the nearest being in South Fork. You could definitely see South Fork's smoke from here. It's one of my favorite spots on planet earth, especially with me being a flatlander.

I have placed this cache with the approval of the local Ranger. In fact, I hope to bring him up here to see what caches are, and how they're hidden. It's in a National Forest, but not a National Park or a Wilderness Area (I asked the Ranger). A local geocacher (earthman0_0) and a local, but non-geocacher, have agreed to maintain this cache for me since I only get a week a year to come to this place.

Now to the business of the cache itself. Container is a cammo-painted Coleman water jug. Initial contents are survival-related items, in memory of all those hapless miners a century ago who endured very harsh winters. Some of the items include a multi-tool pocket knife/flashlight, a magnifying glass, bungee cord, GPS food, a roll of electrical tape, a biner, a blaze orange safety vest, and a frog toy. I also placed a TB here, Ghost Town. Felt it was appropriate considering the ghost town down the mountain, which is now private property. A moderately steep hike up to the point is required, over rocks, so 3.5 rating on the terrain.

This is a great spot for a picnic. If you're visiting Creede, pack a lunch, nab the cache, and sit a while. Pictures will definitely be welcomed from this spot. 4WD not mandatory to get here, but highly suggested. If no 4WD, you'll have a good 20 minute hike. Doing some map-checking before you drive up there will help you find the right access to it. Should find parking within .15 mile of the cache. THIS IS NOT A DRIVE-UP AND GRAB-IT CACHE. Please be sure not to leave ANY food or anything else that attracts critters. Enjoy!

While you're in the area, check out Copper Creek Falls Survivor, this cache's twin brother.

07/16/2017 By lewisvillekoones
This is an area used often by hunters and campers. The place of the original Cache according the pics I have seen was in a spot that would have been easily found by others not understanding the Geocaching culture. That being said My Grandson wants to put a Cache in this area this summer. I know exactly where the pics have been taken and where the cache was last found and posted. It a fun 4WD trail area and this little hike up the the USGS marker is a great respite from the bumps and a breathe of fresh non dust filled air. We will check it out and then do accordingly. This place needs a cache and in fact should be an Earth Cache for its beautiful mornings and evening overlooking the Rio Grande Valley.

Photo

Photo

06/25/2014 By lclause
We found this in July 2009 - just now getting around to posting our find. This was the first cache we ever found. We were in the area hiking and happened across it. At first we thought it was going to have something nasty inside but when we opened it and found all the information about geocaching we loved it. I had never heard of geocaching before this and now am getting more and more into it and placed my first hide this past weekend. Thanks for getting me started on this amazing journey. I have a picture of my daughter and her friend with the cache and will try to post it.
July 2009 First ever cache find

07/09/2009 By miller_family
We think this cache is AWOL. Did not find on top at stated coordinates--seven of us looked for a while. We also checked the cabin remains below and no go. Found a good place where a cache would typically be stashed in the cabin remains but nothing.

When was the last time a responsible party laid eyes upon this one?

Beautiful views. We had been up Ivy Creek and Lime Creek many many times over the years, but never to this lookout spot. Well worth it even with the cache disappointment.

09/20/2008 By phil and bill
Disappointed at first as I had an old print out of this cache and didn't have recent waypoints. After looking extensively at the given waypoints, our hike down took us by an old barely there cabin. Happened on to the cache! Great view from Mineral Point. If we had known, we would have moved to correct spot. Maybe next year! SL

07/30/2008 By casadelrut
Someone really should move this one back to the top, where it goes. I really wanted to while I was there, but the family wouldn't let me stop while we were over at Copper Creek Falls.

07/30/2008 By blackdragon2458
You were correct in saying the view was worth the trip. We did not find it, but i have found some annomolies with my GPS that I will have to get used to. We found Copper Creek working around the afore mentioned. TFTC

                       Blackdragon

07/27/2008 By rev3rv
As with the previous log, we also found this cache in the base of an old cabin below the point. Someone else signed the log on July 24. Well worth the trip - the views of the Rio Grande Valley are spectacular. We made the trip in a Z71 Suburban with an experienced 4x4 driver (50+ years), but I wouldn't recommend it. There are a few very narrow places, lots of downed trees from the winter. New coordinates based on my GPS: N 37 41.875 W 104 57.213.

Thanks for getting us to a point we might not have discovered otherwise!

07/09/2008 By CJ&K
We weren't actually looking for this cache when we found it. We have been visiting this area for several years now and happened upon this cache tucked in at the base of the remains of a cabin just east of Mineral Point. I first thought it was just a trashed out thermos and was going to take it back and throw it away. Then we opened it and realized what it was. We signed the log but didn't have anything to exchange so left the contents there and put the cache back. It is a wonderful view and the area is great in a Jeep or other 4x4 you don't mind taking out a few tree branches with.
Mineral Point

06/25/2008 By Captain Nemo & Lady Laura
Will try again with a jeep

09/19/2007 By Boomer SKPs
Gosh, are you EVIL!!!! (in some ways). You DID provide us with a beautiful drive today. The aspen are golden, the air crisp and sunny. We parked at the correct spot & only a short climb (not like some others did!) The view was fantastic. Our GPS said 2' and our hearts (we're 65 yr young) leaped for joy (or perhaps oxygen!) But...... it was not to be. We worked our way out in a circle as much as we dared without falling off. We mined rocks for about an hour. NO CACHE. After reading the logs when we returned to the motorhome, we discussed it and thought we had looked thoroughly in a "semi-clue" area that one finder gave. The difficulty of this should be higher, for sure. You have it rated the same as Copper Creek Falls Survivor and that was super easy. Oh well....it STILL was a nice day. Does the NICE twin plant caches? Maybe we'll start doing his!!