GC995B Traditional Cache On the way to Alpine Tunnel Lake
Type: Traditional | Size: Regular Regular | Difficulty: 2 out of 5 | Terrain: 4 out of 5
By: Team J&K @ | Hide Date: 10/08/2002 | Status: Available
Country: United States | State: Colorado
Coordinates: N38° 38.888 W106° 24.434 | Last updated: 08/30/2019 | Fav points: 4
Not Recommended for kids  Scenic view  Available at all times  Not Recommended at night  Not Available during winter  Not Wheelchair accessible  Parking available  Public restrooms nearby  Medium hike (1km-10km) 
This cache is located at about 12000 feet. It is about a mile hike from the parking area for the West Portal of the Alpine Tunnel. Can also be accessed from the East Portal and the Contenital Divide Trail goes close by the cache.
This is one of our favorite spots in CO so while we were there on vacation, we left this cache behind. From the West Portal parking, walk toward the tunnel on the old railroad bed. You will come to a low pink monument to the left of the railbed and to the right of the railbed there will be a path. Take the path and it will lead you up the hill to the cache. 8/13/04 We checked on the cache and could not find in in the spot we left it nor anywhere nearby. We hid a new one in a slightly different area. The coords posted are the new coords. The cache is an ammo box which is entirely covered. Please be sure that it is rehidden well so that it won't be found by hikers just passing by. We hope you take the time while doing this cache to enjoy the view from above the tunnel and also enjoy the restoration of this historic area. PLEASE REHIDE IN THE SAME MANNER AS YOU FIND IT. Thanks
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 Hints

Completely covered under a small evergreen - there were two gnarled pieces of wood that I put under the other side of the bush to indicate which bush.

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Driving Directions

 Logs

10 Logs: Found it 8  Write note 1  Owner Maintenance 1  

Found it 09/17/2017 By JJ Jeepers
Found this one while riding the Alpine Tunnel Loop on Mtn Bikes. We had some light snow flurries while at the cache site.

Thanks for the cache!

Found it 08/06/2016 By Back Country Horsemen
This was my 2nd trip to the east side of the Alpine Tunnel. The first time was on my horse 5 or 6? years ago & it was a beautiful ride. We did go on up on the CDT to the ridge & then somehow made it east over to Hancock Lake & back down to our trailers. Since I was with a group of muggle riders I didn't get to stop for any caches. So while the 4x4 group was driving Hancock & Tomichi Passes I hiked out to find these 2 caches. My GPS said I was only .16 mile from this one at the tunnel but there must be a 500' altitude gain. The CDT trail was great but still plenty steep. After finding the cache in good shape I took a peek over the ridge at the west portal area and sure enough there wasn't a soul there. Sad-but so glad we got to visit there 2 years ago by ATV. Wonder if they will ever clear the slide, although this is a FS road...

Write note 04/29/2016 By Team J&K
Looks like the palisades area had a hard winter!!
The road from the west seems to be closed to motor vehicles, a LONG hike still might get you there.
The best way up for now is through St Elmo/Hancock to the east portal and then UP to the hide.
We will watch for updates to the road from Pitkin.

Owner Maintenance 09/12/2015 By Team J&K
We went for a walk today!
A LONG drive up a rough road from Pitkin! Then a hike up to the cache site from the parking. 12,000' never seemed so easy (not).
We found the cache in great condition, just lying there in the shade. Added a pathtag and some Mardi Gras beads and cleaned it up a little.
The top of the tunnel is a wonderful place. It about killed us oldtimers getting there, but it was worth the trip. The Aspen are just starting to turn, yellow and some orange in the hills.
We have upped the T rating since the road is really rough.

IMG_1367

IMG_1382
IMG_1392
IMG_1372
The size of the original tunnel

Found it 09/07/2015 By cajrrman
I had been wanting to do some hiking and caching up this way for a long time and today was the day. In fact, this cache was on my 2015 caching bucket list! This was the 2nd of 3 finds on our hike to Alpine Tunnel (east side). It was 11:00 am when the find was made. We also hiked over to peek at the west side of the tunnel and could see a number of people down there but we stayed up on the top of the ridge. It was quite breezy and about 50 degrees at the top.

After getting back down to the main trail, there were two cyclists heading up to the area of this cache. I wonder where they ended up.

Thanks for the cache - love it! And first to find in over a year!

This entry was edited by cajrrman on Wednesday, 09 September 2015 at 04:08:03 UTC.

Found it 08/04/2014 By redball99
TFTC

Found it 08/04/2014 By Sooner_Boy13
Awesome Cache

Found it 07/16/2013 By Mile Hi Travelers
Very little oxygen at 12,000 ft. Whew. Beautiful flowers. Came for the East Portal. Not bad for 69 and 70 years old. Thanks.

Found it 07/06/2013 By tincuphunter
Almost 2 years since it had been found. It's in great shape and we loved the location. We hiked to Tunnel Lake and over to Tincup Pass and loved every second but the elevation about killed me. :>)
TFTC

Found it 08/16/2011 By COpackrat
Found on the hike up and over the tunnel to the East Portal - nice area! TFTC