GC32CKD Owl Ridge Overlook
Type: Mystery | Size: Small | Difficulty: | Terrain:
By: Denali41 @ | Hide Date: 08/14/2011 | Status: Available
Country: United States | State: Colorado
Coordinates: N40° 29.875 W106° 03.890 | Last updated: 08/30/2019 | Fav points: 0
           

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The cache is NOT at the listed coordinates. Review the cache description and then calculate the correct coordinates.

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North Park is bisected by a long ridge feature that extends from Jackson County Road 27 in a northwest direction all the way to the Illinois River. This ridge line once extended continuously many more miles to the northwest, but its continuity is interrupted by the Illinois River’s cut through it. The northwest extension is called Peterson Ridge; Peterson Ridge runs to the North Platte River, ending a short distance southeast of Delaney Butte. Combined, the length of Owl and Peterson Ridges totals almost 20 miles. But the ridge feature is hardly noticed by traffic along Colorado State Highway 14, even though the highway passes over the western ridge extension. It’s gentle slopes tend to conceal the scale of this long, long ridge that divides North Park into southern and northern portions.

Owl Ridge supports two Ranked Peaks; one is near its western edge, just before the ridge drops into the Illinois River Valley. This high point is named Owl Ridge West, and has an elevation of 8,942 feet. The other is positioned at the ridge’s eastern end just as the ridge drops to Jackson County Road 27. This eastern high point is of course named Owl Ridge East. Its elevation is 9,182 feet. Both Owl Ridge East and Owl Ridge West support active geocaches. The former is GC305ZX The Twins of Owl Ridge–Eastern, while the latter is GC305YP The Twins of Owl Ridge–Western.

To solve this Owl Ridge Overlook puzzle cache, you will need to do a bit of homework that involves the two caches on Owl Ridge. You do not need to find them. The Overlook cache is 13.472 kilometers south of GC305YP, and 6.382 kilometers east of GC305ZX.

So calculate the coordinates for Owl Ridge Overlook and then access the location by high clearance vehicle. Don’t go to the listed (false) coordinates. You won’t find a cache there. Enjoy your time in the field. The actual cache location has tree cover that conceals views of Owl Ridge, but the ridge can be seen from time-to-time from locations along one of the two roads that access the general cache vicinity.

Be certain that you are prepared for changes in weather (and in road conditions if rain or snow occurs). The roads into the area are seasonally closed. Once you determine the coordinates for the cache, I’d suggest that you phone the US Forest Service Hot Line to check on possible road closures. The number is 970-723-2700. During office hours you will speak with a person. Outside of these hours you will listen to a recorded message.

CONGRATULATIONS TO icezebra11 FOR THE FTF!!

Additional Waypoints

08/19/2018 By Denali41
Based on the DNF from waawhoo, I've received a note from Geocaching Headquarters indicating that this cache needs my attention, so I needed to change my note to a maintenance log to get their error corrected. The headquarters reviewer obviously didn't read the logs for this cache. It's challenging to find, and it took the one finder two trips before he scored. The log record also indicates that the recent DNF is because the cacher miscalculated the coordinates for the cache. He sent them to me. The coordinates where he searched for the cache are 700 feet away from the actual location. Pretty hard to find it when your GZ focus is 700 feet from the cache! There is NO evidence whatsoever to suspect this cache is missing or needs attention. It is in a very durable container. It is hidden in a location where it is not subject to inadvertent "migration". It's extremely unlikely a muggle would go to this location, and even if one did, the likelihood of someone finding the cache without specifically searching for it is exceedingly low. So, there is zero need for this cache to be checked on. It is certainly there and its condition will be great.

08/16/2018 By Denali41
It's too bad that waawhoo had a miss after all that hard work! He sent me his coordinates and they were incorrect. I'm certain he will try again in the future!

08/11/2018 By waawhoo
Darn I liked the area I was in, but I was just struggling circling the area looking for the container. There will be a next time.

06/21/2014 By icezebra11
Finally SUCCESS!!! This cache has been out there for 2 1/2 years without a finder, until today. I looked for the container last August but came up short. Then I didn't get back for another try before the snow came. Well after waiting about 10 months I was able to schedule another trip to the area to give it another go. I drove in on a road and came to a fork. I decided to park there and hike the rest of the way. The GPSr said it was about 1.3 miles as the crow flies, which turned out to be right at 2 miles as the trail switchbacks. Arrived at GZ after slogging through some snow and a lot of mud and commenced searching. This time my GPSr had me further uphill than before. After a few minutes I spied the container's hiding place and the {FTF} was mine. For anyone familiar with the method, it is a straight forward calculation to get the final coordinates. It's a fine cache in a fine location! Thanks Denali41!!

08/24/2013 By icezebra11
I was in the Gould area today searching for some caches I've had my eye on and this was at the top of the list. Calculating the coordinates was easy. Finding the container? Ya well not so much. So many places for it to hide. Denali41's coordinates are almost always spot on so I only expanded my search area about 20 feet. Spent an hour at GZ looking for the container but came up empty handed. I even left the area for an hour and came back but still no luck the second time either. I will try again another time.