Its a Stumper

08/24/2017 By budabeli
Caching my way from Grand Junction to Pagosa Springs on a warm overcast day.

Decided to take an extended driving break and hike the Bear Creek trail up to the Grizzly Bear mine (saw no bears today, which is good since there are very limited escape options). Found the replacement cache which is in good shape... Tftc!

06/30/2017 By K Trackers
I picked this one up while in the local area during the end of the June transition month for what I called the "Freeze and Fry Run"...snivel cold at night and in the morning, sun beating hot in the afternoon. I had to go to Cortez, CO to pick up some old friends from New Jersey to act as their tour guide while enroute to DIA. Of course, I was trying to hike and pick up a few caches before they arrived. I decided to give this one a try because it looked fun, had a decent D/T rating, and was lonely. I had targeted this cache back in 2015, but I was recalled home early and did not have the opportunity to come after it. While planning this trip, I was surprised to see that there was still no activity on this cache. It is a shame that this cache has had only one find on it since 2011. I imagine the distance and previous DNFs served as a deterrent for most, but I still wanted to try. Prior to my departure, I talked to the CO about possibly making a field replacement; the CO has allot of remote caches so I figured he could use some help. After getting the green light, the hunt was on since no one wants to hike all of that way for a cache that might not even be there.

I finally arrived at the trail head late in the afternoon, having successfully navigated Engineer Pass earlier this morning. The only people I saw on the trail where those coming down the mountain side, heading home. As I started the ascent, I quickly realized this trail was not what I expected at all. Somewhere around the half way point up, most of the treeline gave way to an exposed, narrow trail with steep drop offs and lots of loose shale. Although I have seen trails like this before, I haven't seen any like this in Colorado. I thought it was super cool; the scenery, high winds, and steep drop offs ensured the hike never got dull. I really loved it! As I closed on the GZ, the trees returned and areas that might hold a cache became more commonplace. Despite my optimism, I was soon in geo-trouble once I got to where the GZ should be.

I don't think I was getting good reception here. My coordinates unexpectedly led off the trail to the steep slope. Following my GPS, I was lead to areas that not only did not fit the cache description, but seemed dangerous. Putting the GPS off to the side, I followed a promising area that was within 20 - 30 feet and seemed to fit the information available from the cache description and log. Despite a detailed search in excess of what a 2.5D rating normally needs, I was unable to come up with the container. Given the extreme terrain and the fact it hasn't been found in over five years, I went ahead and deployed the replacement container I had prepared just in case. The new container is camo'ed pill bottle in a spot that I think was were the orginal hide was and will hopefully shelter it from the natural elements. Unfortunately, since I was unsure of what to expect, I could not prepare a customized solution and eventually my replacement may also fall victim to the forces of nature. Hopefully, cachers will come to this trail...it is too cool to be passed over. Besides the cool hike and fun hunt, it was an additional bonus that the cache was so lonely. I keep track of caches that are one year or more lonely for challenges. This one beats my previous best of four years and ten months. With this find, I now have (counting only 1 year or more lonely) a total of 86 years, 5 months lonely time on 48 caches from 11 North American States & Provinces.

Thanks to the CO for making this placement, bringing me to this cool spot, and providing a venue for another nice adventure. TFTC.

06/12/2015 By yogya
No chance! Is it still there. Last found was in 2011?

05/03/2012 By Pauleefox
DNF going up...DNF coming down.

09/05/2011 By sjclimber
Watching "Dynamo" for some time, so when this went up, it was time to hit the Bear Creek trail once again. Not a hard find, but be careful here. It is quite a way down the cliff. Appreciate the hide, thanks..