Carolyn's Cache

10/03/2018 By Honeybuzzed
I’ve had this cache solved for 2 or three years now. I am sure I sent the required info a long time ago, but I will send it again tomorrow. Path Pacer and I decided to go after it today. We couldn’t have chosen a better day to head up and do some mountain caching. It was so clear and beautiful and the weather was perfect. We drove my Jeep Cherokee in hopes it wouldn’t be like bringing a knife to a gun fight. Though I would recommend a more robust ride, We did pretty well.....until the very last tough spot we had to go over on our way out. A very steep rocky hill that required some speed to keep me from spinning out. At the very top we were both smiling in relief until the squealing started coming from my front tire. Sidewall punctured and losing air fast. We drove as far as we could while we had some air and found a flat spot to change the tire. It was a long drive in and out and sometimes a bit hairy, but we did ok. The hike was a bit arduous going over rocks and downed trees, but it was so worth the views at the top. Thanks for the fun and adventure.

10/03/2018 By Path Pacer
Whew, this was a toughie! After solving for the final separately, Honeybuzzed and I headed out in her Jeep Cherokee to get as close as we could. We did pretty well, but when we did finally have to get out and walk, the terrain was brutal. Lots of deadfall from some long-ago fire (the 2000 Bobcat Gulch fire?). The trees are slowly coming back though, and it was a gorgeous day. I don't think I've ever been able to see so far.

Anyway, we found the cache easily enough, took pictures, then started the 12-mile trip back to where I'd parked my car. While trying to climb up a steep and very rocky hill, we damaged the sidewall of one of Honeybuzzed's new tires. The thing actually screamed at us for several minutes. Luckily we were able to make it to the graded road before having to put on the spare. These new sensors that actually tell you how many pounds you have in your tire are great.

In all it was quite the adventure, which is fitting for what I've heard of Carolyn.

06/17/2017 By Cache U
Found during quite an adventure. I've been working on this cache for about 2 years, and had hoped to go after it with a group last year, but no luck. The day was warm but overcast,and seeing that Storm Mountain road was open, and there was a marked road that led to within 0.5 miles of the cache, I packed up the pup and drove out there. No dogs are allowed on the traditional trail to the cache, so this would be a special treat for her. Unfortunately, the marked road is locked and on private land, so I couldn't get closer than 3 miles. So I drove to the end of another road that put me 2.5 miles away, parked, and Mousse and I went straight at the cache as the crow flies. After several up and downs, burning thighs, scraped shins, and two creek crossings, we arrived at the cache. I had cell phone reception at the top, so I called the wife to let her know that I had arrived safely at the cache while leaving just a bit of DNA on the path, and while on the phone spotted the cache. Mousse and I refueled, and rather than retrace our route which was a huge PITA, decided to walk the road back out. Well, halfway down the hill heading to the road, we were met by a rifle-toting landowner who let us know he "didn't appreciate trespassers, that's for damn sure!" After apologizing profusely he let us pass and we walked the road out (about 5 miles).
For future seekers, note that I should have left the dog at home and taken the traditional route to the cache as there are no shortcuts.
Anyway, the views from the cache are spectacular (see photo), and a fine tribute to Carolyn whom I unfortunately never had the chance to meet. This is one of the true 5/5 caches I have done (most are exaggerated), and the pup and I will be recovering from this one for a few days! Truly a memorable cache for several reasons!

Mousse at the cache

12/01/2016 By WingsAndTales
This one took me 3 trips but that was partly because I mixed in work on other caches on each trip. The hike to the final could be epic but I managed to make it a little easier with some planning and lucky timing. The views from the final are outstanding and a fitting tribute to someone who loved the mountains. TFTC

09/12/2016 By Barasaur
Well we, Memfis Mafia and I, made this into a TRUE 5x5 cache. We didn't know that Storm Mountain road was unlocked and available to travel during hunting season. We will do much better planning in the future. But we drove to Drake parked up on a side road about 1.8 miles from the cache over land through ravines and NO Trail. We made it to the cache with nearly an 8 mile hike over very rough terrain. To get out we ended up hiking out to Buckhorn road where we bummed a ride from Mrs Barasaur back home. What a day that ended with a couple VERY WELL Deserved and earned smilies on our Geomaps. I will not soon forget this cache or Carolyn with such a great tribute to her location.

(6926)

The first climb

The first climb

What we walked

Final Climb

09/11/2016 By Memfis Mafia
Thanks for a great tribute and a great adventure for this cache.

The Tribute:

I first saw the write up on this cache and was moved by the tribute to Carolyn. I didn't know Carolyn but it sounds like she was a great person. I have thought for a while how to pay homage to such a good person. I went through a few ideas - start a special coin, place another cache nearby in tribute, go with a group of friends, or go on a special day. After many failed attempts to get a group together I ended up picking a special day to go. Today is the 15th anniversary of a day that changed all of our lives - September 11th. This day means so much to me and it seems like so long ago that I was watching the events unfold as I stood in the middle of the bullpen surrounded by a room full of other detectives. Without doubt it was a day that changed everything we thought. Our world view and sense of security was shattered. It is amazing when you stop to think how our lives are often defined by periods of time before or after a single moment. It can be a moment we lose someone or a moment when America's innocence is shattered by evil. Thank you for this tribute. I appreciate the sentiment.

The cache:

After such a heavy start, I want to make this section much more fun. Barasaur and I have been working on this one for quite a while and we have tried to schedule a day with friends and have come so close. When the time came open for us to actually be able to go we rushed out the door at an early hour. We hoped we would be able to get close to this cache yet the road we took was closed way sooner than we had hoped. By the end of the day, we hiked eight miles across treacherous terrain with blazing sun and scraped up shins. There were many moments along the way where we considered turning back and ultimately ended up making it a through hike from Drake to Buckhorn Road. We got our smiley and enjoyed a great hike on a day with meaning. The cache is in good shape - we took the geocoin and signed the log.

Thanks again for a great adventure.

Panoramic view along the way

Getting closer

not too steep

around mile 5

Memfis taking a breather

great views

Photo

Memfis and Barasaur

We are going there?

Photo

I wonder if there are any caches around?

We did it!

01/07/2016 By Memfis Mafia
I am starting on this one. Anyone interested in teaming up?

08/25/2015 By gilchrim
MY OH MY! Artistic wonders in the open air, a devious micro hide, topped off with an interesting route selection problem and scramble to a mystical hide. No wonder it's a 5/5. Worked on this one on and off for several months and finished the final find on a hot, hazy Colorado day. A clear favorite. SL TFTGC

This entry was edited by gilchrim on Saturday, 26 September 2015 at 19:47:43 UTC.

07/19/2015 By Denali41
A couple of nice recent finds and logs! It's rapidly closing on 7 years since the death of my long-time climbing and back-country geocaching partner, and it's marvelous that people who did not know Carolyn (Denali Queen) are finding this special cache and providing tributes to this remarkable person. On the 7th anniversary of her death on our trip to the Matterhorn ( which will be August 7th), which is also her birthday, I will make another trek up to Chasm View on Longs Peak in RMNP, where her cremains were scattered by the winds on 8-7-09. At Chasm View I will recall the wonderful times she and I shared on mountains around the world, and I will recall the times she spent hiking and cache-finding/hiding with Corey and Tahosa. I often think of the other memorial caches to this woman: "Truly a Friend" (in Arizona, by Tahosa, now archived); "The Mull of Crosier" (on Crosier Mountain, by Team Laxson); and "Denali Queen" (one of my caches, in Wyoming). Carolyn was loved by all who had the pleasure of meeting and being with her.

Thanks to each of you who have and will in the future find your way through this great cache sequence by Tahosa--and by so doing, memorialize such a wonderful person. I miss her greatly.

07/19/2015 By youkfish
Wow! What an adventure! I spent a few trips to get this one. First trip was part of gathering info for the virtual and other related Safari identifiers last winter. Another short trip got the micro and a few local challenges and caches. Today was the final hike! Very awesome day for a hike, woke up way too early and made the drive up from Lakewood to hit the trail around 6:45 am. The weather was perfect for late July: cool, overcast and no threats of rain. I had the trails to myself until I made it back down to the valley loops, saw several deer, rabbits and a couple of turkey vultures sitting on stumps. A nice cache to earn my 5/5 souvenir. Cheers!

06/13/2015 By ArkF
Thanks for the nice cache! I worked on the first stage back in December while caching around Loveland, but ran out of daylight to get the micro. I did that on a warm day during the winter, and finally made it out to the final today. It was a great day to hike, though rather warm especially in the morning. I enjoyed all the lush greenery on the way up. The last steep section was pretty rough, and I was moving pretty slow, but I made it. Found the cache easily and enjoyed the views and fresh air. Carolyn must have been a special person to inspire tributes as nice as this.
Starting out, looking nice

Prickly pears are enjoying themselves

View from the cache

03/16/2015 By Tahosa and Sons
Well now that I have returned and finally remembered some of the tales of this cache I will check on the urban part of this cache today. And am I really looking forward to this small but epic portion of my quest to visit all of my caches.