GC5CBNV CofM Bonus #7
Type: Mystery | Size: Micro | Difficulty: | Terrain:
By: kekj @ | Hide Date: 09/05/2014 | Status: Available
Country: United States | State: Colorado
Coordinates: N38° 44.444 W108° 04.444 | Last updated: 08/30/2019 | Fav points: 0
               

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The first stage of this Mystery Cache is NOT at posted coordinates.  To find the actual coordinates for this small, out of the way, non-traditional mural in Delta you must solve the puzzle below.

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Insert the phrase, “Here, too” into the blanks and solve coordinate numerals from code block.

N 38^o 4_._ _ _ W 108^o 04._ _ _

As client Missy Rogers was sitting in Joe Carlson’s office, “she couldn’t help but notice the blinding light streaming in through the window behind Carlson’s desk.” …This was the trigger which set in motion a chain of events that creating a new kind of mural in Delta.  Commissioning by a private citizen was not a new concept, but the medium of metal and Plexiglas is a departure from the ordinary.

This “mural” enhances a public parking area and is an artistic barrier which breaks the light streaming into the office while providing privacy.  “The work represents Delta County magnificently - Mount Lamborn, Lands End, the Raggeds to the east; Grand Mesa and Devil Thumb to the west.” Delta County Independent, “Missy Rogers creates art client can live with” by Pat Sunderland, June 4, 2014 page A5  http://issuu.com/randysunderland/docs/dci_issue2014-23

Also represented in the mural is the confluence of the Gunnison and Uncompahgre Rivers. It is from its location on this delta that the city received its name.

“Spanish traders entered the Uncompahgre Valley during the late 1600s, introducing horses, mules, firearms, and iron products. In the mid to late 1700s, explorers Don Juan Rivera, Dominguez, and Escalante recorded trade with the Ute Indians who called the Uncompahgre River 'Anacapagri.'
European trappers and traders entered the area in the early 1800s. Fur trader Antoine Robidoux established Fort Uncompahgrere in 1828 (GC475E4-Behind the Old Fort) at the confluence of the Uncompahgre and Gunnison Rivers near the present town of Delta, Colorado. In 1844, Utes attacked the fort killing the inhabitants, who were mostly men from Mexico hired to watch over the furs and other traded goods. The attack was purportedly the result of an unknown incident which had occurred in New Mexico between Utes and Mexicans and was not directed at European settlers.” http://www.uncompahgrevalleydar.org/history.htm

According to the Mountain Men site http://www.mman.us/fortuncompahgre.htm the forts in this part of the country were rather disreputable due to illegality of what was traded. “The Ute Indians apparently encouraged the presence of a trader deep in their territory for purposes of being able to obtain firearms. Tribes located to the north were obtaining firearms from both the Hudson's Bay Company and from American trappers and the introduction of these guns was upsetting the balance of power amongst the western tribes. Although Spanish law and later Mexican law prohibited sale or trade of firearms to the Indians, such trade at a remote location in a difficult country to traverse might be conducted without much fear of official sanction.

“Towards the end of the 1830's prices paid for beaver pelts declined precipitously. To make up for lost revenues, Fort Uncompahgre increased its trade in California horses, and in Indian slaves. Although the taking of new slaves was prohibited by the Spanish and later Mexican authorities, in practice the prohibition was not enforced. Powerful tribes would capture the women and children of their weaker neighbors and sell them in the northern colonies (New Mexico) where demand for laborers and wives was high.  In the 1830's boys between the ages of 8 to 12 years were valued at $50 to $100 in trade goods and girls were worth approximately twice as much.”

To locate second stage:

Using the decoder block above, locate the coordinates for final stage:

If the confluence is on the west side of the mural, insert phrase, “Pert Mom”; if Grand Mesa on east side, insert phrase, “Perp Mob”

N 38^o 4_._ _ _ W 1_ _^o _ 5.410

Warning: second stage will not be accessible when river floods; trail will be covered, though cache will be high and dry. Summer caching will be more comfortable if you wear insect repellent.

Park near given waypoint.  Foot/bicycle path to cable suspension “swinging” bridge (given waypoint) is wide and well maintained. Take narrow path to right when reach west end of bridge.  Follow until it seemingly drops off the edge, this is a view worth seeing.  Turn left on lightly used trail into trees until another even more lightly used path branches to the left, take several paces along path to reach first tree on the left. BYO pen.

A clever puzzle solver could probably find the final coordinates just reading the description....but, be a good sport and find both stages!

FTF Congrats to caching team crawfordcollins and NingaGinga91.

Additional Waypoints

P15CBNV - parking
N 38° 45.198 W 108° 04.734
parking near trail head
R15CBNV - bridge
N 38° 45.343 W 108° 05.319
suspension bridge

11/10/2018 By kekj
Have been wondering for some time about the viability of this cache, had another cache in the area that needed maintenance so took the time to come out and check. The "trails" in the last 50' have changed due to river washing out the banks but GZ is intact, CACHE & LOG IN GOOD CONDITION. Will change description & hint slightly to more closely match current reality.

10/12/2017 By gkhill
Loved the swinging bridge and the views of the confluence of the rivers! Took a minute to locate the cache. Left a tiny pencil. sl TFTC

09/26/2017 By Team SeeShells
Picking up some more Mural caches, and a few others. TFTC SL as TSS.

09/26/2017 By Peachbob
On our way to balloon feista in NM stop to finish the city of murals TFTF This will be my 900th find

09/21/2016 By BG2015
I was finally able to return after solving the first two stages and complete this cache. The description may be a bit dated as the location does not appear "lightly used" any longer. It is more of an open area with trees, but the coords were spot on. Even so, it took a bit of looking to spy the cache. Mother Nature has weathered it and provided some good natural camo. Cache is still in good shape with lots of room left on the log. Thanks for bringing me out here. This is a wonderful walking trail, very secluded feeling, away from the hustle and bustle of the "city". TFTC.

08/23/2015 By Silverheels
This was the last challenge of 2015 that I had to achieve while doing most of them all over the country but this would be near home for the grand finale.
Did accomplish the first stage and was excited to hike the last stage early Sunday morning on trails I had never been on. It was a beautiful set of trails and then came the suspension...WOW!! WOW!! and it was fun to swing and sway across the Uncompahgre...much better condition than the ancient bridge out of Bluff, Utah to the cliff dwelling.
Great minor trails and then to the cache! UH-OH! OH-NO! Found fairly quickly the top of the container properly attached but it had no log and no bottom container portion....I couldn't believe that could happen to a cache so difficult to locate. Began to think that maybe the last time the bottom portion had not been screwed in enough to stay so began searching the tree below the lid location and suddenly saw on the ground in the growth the tiny white log on the other side of tree. Ran around to it and began looking nearby for the holding container and sure enough was able to spot it a little bit away from the log and somewhat hidden in the undergrowth. WHEW!! so glad that it was findable and restorable. Was able to sign, put it back together and reset.
This is a genius set of puzzle solving, history enjoyment and physical delights in the woods. So much thanks to the CO who has created Delta and the Grand Mesa to be a royal family of caches in the whole country.