GC1GX53 Colorado Spirit Quest #96--Griffin Monument
Type: Traditional | Size: Micro | Difficulty: | Terrain:
By: outdrlvr201 @ | Hide Date: 10/04/2008 | Status: Available
Country: United States | State: Colorado
Coordinates: N39° 42.072 W105° 44.456 | Last updated: 08/30/2019 | Fav points: 0

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!! Exciting New Cache Series!!

“COLORADO SPIRIT QUEST”

The Colorado Spirit Quest is a series of caches placed by many individuals, near cemeteries and historic sites in hopes of paying respect to the many pioneer ancestors that have ‘walked’ before us.

There are hundreds of cemeteries in the rural and mountain communities across Colorado. This series will introduce you to many of them.

The cache pages will provide a virtual history tour of the cemeteries and tombstones.

COLORADO SPIRIT QUEST is not affiliated with any other ‘Spirit Quest’ group. Special thanks and credit are given to SixDogTeam who started the Indiana Spirit Quest in 2004. The idea has rapidly spread into many states.

The CSQ endeavor is an enormous and relentless task. It cannot be accomplished by just one or two people. This project will only flourish if there is a multitude of volunteer cachers willing to place these caches.

After locating the cache container, take some time to reflect back on the lives of those pioneers and the effort it took to make Colorado such a great state.

If you are interested in joining the “Walking Through History Clan” contact may be made by sending an e-mail to the owner of “Colorado Spirit Quest #1 – Mountain Passage”. Use the ‘Send Message” link at the center of the page of their profile.

Each person that places a CSQ cache is responsible for its maintenance.

REMEMBER:

If you are APPREHENSIVE about cemeteries – AVOID this series.

Thanks to Clan Members: Greasepot, Taylorgeotracker, Ivy Dog Parents, Team Boogity3, Grand High Pobah, Boborr 80909, Imusttravel2000, Buzz Lightyear I, Sandhill 49er, MrVolkswagen, Isisfan, LadyCoots, Rockymtn8iv, Fork-L-Man, *Sparky*, TwoCs and Outdrlvr201.

New Clan members are always Welcome

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Griffin Monument

Bring your own writing instrument to an easy find which awaits you after a vigorous hike up the mountain north of Silver Plume. As you hike steadily up about 1250 vertical feet over around 2.3 miles, you will pass many reminders of the active mining area this once was. Imagine hauling supplies up this road!

I have rated this hike 3, although parts are closer to 3.5 or 4 because of loose rock and erosion. It is probably not one to bring younger children on as there are several areas with steep dropoffs.

The Clifford Griffin monument is a 5-ton obelisk on a promontory overlooking the valley that I-70 transects on its way to the Eisenhower/Johnson tunnel. It is at an altitude of approximately 10,400 feet.

Clifford Griffin was a superintendent at the nearby 7:30 mine and according to legend/history committed suicide at the age of 39 after the loss of his true love on their wedding night. One story says that he dug his grave and shot himself so he would fall into it. Another said that his mournful violin playing would echo through the valley. The monument was erected by Griffin’s brother, Heneage, the year after Clifford’s death in 1887.

Access the trail by taking Silver Street off Main Street in Silver Plume. The trail is labeled to go to the 7:30 mine. Resist the temptation to turn west at the first intersection unless you want to visit the nearby mine ruins. The trail looks like it heads to Denver after a couple of the switchbacks, but continue on snaking up the mountain and you will reach the monument. A grate over a large mine shaft and a cairn mark the spot where you turn left off the trail down to the marker. As you return, notice the large pile of trees at the bottom of an avalanche route. Life in these mountains was rugged indeed.

08/21/2018 By Sethmkent
Great hike! TFTC! KENTNESS!

09/05/2017 By Lego Crew
Our last morning in Colorado for this trip. We had a great vacation to the Breckenridge area the last five days. As we slowly made our way back to the airport, we detoured to Silver Plume for one last hike. We set our sights on the 7:30 Mine trail and the Griffin Monument. Smoke from the wildfires was drifting over the area, and a thick haze blanketed the mountains. We probably should not have hiked today, but we did and probably subtracted a few years from our lives by breathing the poor quality air. Found the cache after a short search once we reached the monument. Nice views and a cool spot. Many thanks.

07/26/2017 By DaSportsBabe
Awesome hike. My first time here. Didn't have writing tool so here's a pic. I'm glad I made it.

06/18/2017 By PayMeCache
Excellent Fathers Day hike with my pride and joy's: DimensionGarret, weasel311 and Landen24. We admired all the yellow, purple, pink and white wildflowers on the sides of the trail. Ate a small snack and took a break while exploring Clifford's house on our way up and talked about how hard life must have been over 100 years ago. Great conversation and ideas were shared in how he/they got all this stuff up and down the mountain so long ago. Next we ventured in one mine and snapped a few photos before pressing on and arriving to the overlook and memorial. What a gorgeous location and the views were spectacular.

Since I don't have a relationship with my father I always try and make Fathers Day memorable with my kids and show them how important and special family is. I am adding a favorite point to this cache because of all the history, fun places to explore and the memories it created for me and my three sons.

Found Colorado Spirit Quest #96--Griffin Monument on June 18, 2017 using Cachly for iOS.

Thank you, outdrlvr201 for placing a fun cache for all of us to enjoy. I look forward to finding more of your caches.

09/24/2016 By B_Snackbar
Hiked up to the Griffin Monument to help us adjust to the altitude, in preparation for attempting some 14ers (it was not enough). TFTC!