The accident

08/31/2017 By COpackrat
I'm still trying to figure out how you got up here by accident - it's not like it's on the way to Denny's or something.... :-) Made the hike with WingsAnd Tales and found the cache in good shape. That red jeep was so heavy on the way up, that I parked it in the cache for the next finder.

08/31/2017 By WingsAndTales
I love the high country in Colorado. I know a lot of other people do too but it's amazing how few have found this cache. It's 16 years old and COpackrat and I were number 10 and 11 on the finders list. We parked at the gate and carefully made our way up to the cache. Lots of loose rock made it a challenge but we managed it and were about half way down before the weather started to roll in. It was definitely easier on the way down but I wish I had brought gaiters to keep the rocks out of my boots. TFTC

08/06/2014 By ernie66
The Accident has been on our list to do for years. Last year, we scoped out the approaches from Ophir Pass but didn't have the time or energy to make the attempt. This year, the weather cooperated with our plans and we had one last day available, after summitting four other 13ers earlier in the week.

We didn't get started hiking until after 10:00. The lower section of the trail zigzagged at a easy grade through aspens and tundra. It finally became time to leave the trail. That's when the fun began. And the fun just kept increasing. Not wanting to try ascending in the steep scree, we went up the more solid rocks along the ridge due south of the cache. Overall, not too bad, but there were some hairy spots and of course not all the rock is solid there either. We prevailed and achieved the summit ridge in time to have a sandwich at the cache site. The view from the top is spectacular - Bear Creek and Telluride on one side and Ophir on the other. Nice views of the Wilson Group and Lizard Head to the west.

This is truly one of the Great Caches in Colorado - easily a favorite! Thank you for placing this cache!
Paraglider above San Joaquin Ridge

estes01 on the ascent

The town of Ophir from San Joaquin Ridge

estes01 at The Accident

The town of Telluride from San Joaquin Ridge

estes01 on the descent

08/06/2014 By estes01
Ha ha ha! A 4 terrain rating. I'd like to see what the CO considers a 5.

We’ve been planning to do this one for 3 years now. I’ve never liked the name of it and particularly didn’t like the logs of previous cachers…they seemed very threatening. But there was no escaping it this year. Ernie66 and I drove the jeep as far as we could before coming to a locked gate at 10,648. Oh well, only .98 miles more as the crow flies. We made that into a 6.3 mile roundtrip hike, with 2,002’ elevation gain. We also made it into a Class 4 (for me). I learned so many new skills today. Incredible view. Will post photos when I get back home. Thanks for a very exciting cache. I’ll never, ever forget it.

ernie66 on way to the accident

Easy Peasy climb

Best way down

IMG_2646

Nice view

Jeep patiently waiting

07/14/2011 By RockyMtnRidgeRunner
Wow factor = 4.5 (Incredibly awesome!) Challenging, strenuous, awesome - a whole day adventure! Parked right at 10,000 feet and walked the road part way up. Avoided some of the scree by kicking steps up a snowfield (glad I brought my ice ax). Almost blew it as I didn't have the photo that gave the cache location, and my GPS was showing it under snow. Luckily, I got cell phone reception on top of the peak, and was able to download the photo and see that it wasn't under snow after all. Weather started clear, then turned threatening, but never heard thunder. Thanks for a great day!

07/25/2010 By XJ4
I think the only word I can come up with to describe this one is WOW!!!! This has to be one of the toughest things I have ever done but it was sure worth it. The views of the area from up there are tremendous. The cache was in fine shape, and I am proud to sign my name to the log book with the other determined backcountry cachers on the list. Thanks for the wonderful experience and I will remember this one for a long time!

Thanks,
Jeremy
Beautiful country

More wonderful beauty

Cache and logbook

07/24/2009 By weeds19
I couldn't think of anything better to do today so off I went up the mountain. It was a typical bluebird morning in the San Juans and the elevation gain went quickly for a while until the terrain changed from vegetated to rocky. Then things started to go a little bit slower. I was a little too cautious at first, but eventually got my scree and talus legs on and that made the going much better. I step up, half a step back, as soon as I accepted that paradigm things went quickly and before I knew it I was looking down on Telluride and wondering where the elusive cache might be located.

I found the cache box after a short search and everything is still in great shape. I also signed my name to the illustrious list of prior signatories and was flattered to be in such good company in the log book. For the descent I choose the escalator. It greatly expedited my trip down because every one step I took equaled about 2 or 3 in distance. Great fun!

Made it back to the car in one piece and the drive over Ophir Pass went well to boot! Great cache, thanks for the fun.
The source

History and a View

Looking toward the Ice Lake Basin

View toward Lizard Head and the Wilson Group

09/25/2008 By RDAD
One of the toughest caches I've done; the route finding and the trek up were a real challenge. The scree up there can be treacherous, somehow I came through unscathed. There's not much air at this elevation either, and now it's also cold. Came up from Ophir and returned the same way. Found the cache in perfect condition. Many thanks to noshdoo tsoh for his improvements to this cache. It's a rare and special cache. The views are awesome. I enjoyed almost every minute of the experience. Signed the logbook and put it back to sleep. Thanks for the fantastic cache.
September in the San Juans

it's also cold up here

cache box and logbook

colorful tundra

winter's coming

07/03/2008 By Tucson Coyote
This was a very tough hike/climb up to the cache. I chose a roundtrip route up from the Ophir side to minimize having to cross some of the scree slopes. Once I got to the cache site, I was able to locate the cache by referring to the posted cache photo. It still took a few minutes to locate the right spot due to snow on the ridgeline. A challenging cache - well worth the effort. SL/Thanks!
The accident

07/24/2007 By Lank
N37° 52.612 W107° 48.784
Coordinates Changed From
N 37° 52.619 W 107° 48.767
Distance From Old: 92 feet
[Thanks to noshdoo tsoh, this cache has been greatly enhanced by placing a plastic container along with log book. He also moved the cache to a bit better location out of site from anyone accidentally finding it. The new coordinates are listed here. Thank you noshdoo tsoh for your credible visit and improving a very simple cache]