EOS1-1: So It Begins (Egnix's Outback Series #1-1)

Egnix's Outback Series #1: Phantom Creek Rd. / Signal Butte Rd.

This cache is the first of six in my #1 series of “easy” off-road caches located along the Phantom Creek Road & Signal Butte Road. Located a few miles north of Florissant, this route is about 14 miles round trip with part of it going through the Hayman Burn area.

Cache Information
The cache is a small ammo can down a hill from an area that could be used for camping which is on a side road 1/10th of a mile east of Phantom Creek Rd.

Egnix's Outback Series #1 Complete Cache Listing (Counterclockwise, starting at 6 O'clock)

1. So It Begins
2. Crossroads
3. A Rock With A View
4. Wildflower
5. Feeling the Burn
6. The Butte of Jokes

Trail Information

Rating/Description
This trail is rated easy but it is not your standard flat dirt road like Rampart Range Road. It is rutted and bumpy at times but fairly wide except for the switchbacks at the north end of Phantom Creek Rd. I had no problems in my Outback, although I did choose to go pretty slow in many places. This would also be a fun route for standard Jeeps and SUVs. There are a number of areas where you can take a more difficult route and supposedly 364 heading NE from the loop provides some more challenging terrain. Disclaimer: Trail conditions are subject to change over time and due to seasonal changes. You need to decide for yourself if it is safe to make the trip in your vehicle.

Credits
This series was inspired by RocketMans's Off Road Series caches, however I decided to create a series for those of us with vehicles a little more off-road-worthy than a standard car but not don't have a Jeep, 4x4 truck or SUV. Be sure to check out RocketMan's caches. A number of his routes are even doable by Outback (I've done at least a part of #s 1, 5 and 7).
Thanks to RocketMan for also allowing me to plagiarize from his well laid out cache pages. :)

Trail Waypoints
For all caches in this route, follow the below list of waypoints.

Additional Waypoints

W11FRMX - Start of Phantom Creek Rd.
N 39° 01.274 W 105° 15.177

W21FRMX - Phantom Creek Rd / Signal Butte Rd Intersection
N 39° 01.576 W 105° 14.719
Signal Butte Rd. starts here going NW. Stay on Phantom Creek Rd., going NE.
W31FRMX - GC1FRMX Parking
N 39° 02.281 W 105° 12.997
Parking for EOS1-1: So It Begins
W41FRMX - Brief Trail Split
N 39° 02.819 W 105° 12.157
Advise non-4WD to go left. When trails cross again, stay right.
W51FRMX - Stay Left
N 39° 03.392 W 105° 11.306

W61FRMX - Stay left on 363
N 39° 03.698 W 105° 10.870

W71FRMX - Turn Left On 364 After Creek
N 39° 04.001 W 105° 10.932

W81FRMX - Turn Right
N 39° 03.990 W 105° 10.969

W91FRMX - Take Left
N 39° 04.140 W 105° 11.049

X01FRMX - GC1FTM7 Parking
N 39° 04.078 W 105° 11.114
Parking for EOS1-4: Wildflower There is closer parking, but this parking area is at a trailhead ~.1 miles from the cache if you are looking to stretch you legs.
X11FRMX - Signal Butte (362) / 364 Intersection
N 39° 04.386 W 105° 11.962
Turn right (NW) to head towards Burn. Stay left (SW) to head towards Untitled.
X21FRMX - GC1FTMC Parking
N 39° 02.662 W 105° 13.878
Parking for EOS1-6: The Butte of Jokes