Big Ed (the second)

This micro is located approximately 850 feet above the Edwin C. Johnson Tunnel at Loveland Ski Area.

Most of us refer to the two-tunnel complex that burrows through the Continental Divide as the "Eisenhower" tunnel. If you look closely as you approach the western portal of the tunnel from the direction of Silverthorne, you will see Johnson's name instead. If you're not an old-timer or the state historian, you might ask yourself, Who is this Johnson?

Edwin C. "Big Ed" Johnson was arguably the dominant politician in Colorado during the middle part of the 20th Century. He was a two-term Governor in the 1930's and the 1950's, with an 18-year stint as U.S. Senator in between. As with any long-tenured politician, he was instrumental in bringing Federal dollars into the state to support highway and water project development, as well bringing the U.S. Air Force Academy to Colorado Springs. He was an ardent and effective advocate of building an intertstae highway through Colorado. On the other hand, he was also an enthusiastic supporter of building Japanese internment camps during WWII and went so far (as Governor) to blockade the southern border of Colorado to prevent immigrants from Mexico from entering the state during the Great Depression.

The Johnson bore was begun shortly after the opening of the Eisenhower Tunnel, when it became apparent that one tunnel with two-way traffic would not suffice. Construction occurred between 1975 and 1979. The Johnson bore cost $103 million and employed up to 800 persons during peak construction.

My intention was to locate the cache directly above the tunnel bores. Original location was not above the tunnel, so it has been moved to a location that my app says is directly above the eastbound bore. Should be in a grove of stunted trees, just off a traverse trail. Enjoy another cache in the subalpine zone and be aware of changing snow and weather conditions in this part of the ski area.