06/12/2019 By TTO2
First I need to apologize for the long log, but I have had people from all over the world tell me that they would like to have seen more in our logs, not only about their cache specifically but more on the amazing journeys that we take and haven't documented well in the past. Now, if you would like to skip to information that is specific to the cache, please skip to the bottom to see there is anything helpful. Only 25% of the time do we provide something that we either didn't read in another log or something that we felt needed to be added for clarity or a nudge in the right direction.
This geocaching trip was two weeks and designed to make up for the six months that we gave up dreaming, wishing, designing, and building the GPS Adventures Maze Exhibit. TTO1 and I are two of the 4 "Builders" of the GPS Maze Adventures Exhibit, and Kiecker the third. All three of us cache together a lot, and this trip was no different. Kiecker didn't get the entire two weeks in with us but was with us a majority. It was extremely helpful to productivity on several caches that he had already found in some of the areas that we visited.
We started north from Dallas to Oklahoma, and the trip would find us at the end finding caches in nine States. Near the beginning, we had to stop for a daughter's college graduation in Denver. Boy, I despised that stop as I had to abandon my geocaching accoutre for something professional and "suitable," my wife demanded. So, the next day, I got her back taking her on caching excursion to the tree and snow line that started with a 22-mile dirt road trek. Sure glad we had the right vehicle for this portion of the trip. The rest of the trip we could have done fine with just a two-wheel drive.
One of the more memorable stops was again in South Dakota. We stayed up too late and had a great visit with not only the Famous SoDakZak but also with a group of cachers that we had just seen at the Maze. Just a great group of folks.
Several of the days we spent threading the proverbial storm needle. Unlike the other group, we were able to circumnavigate all the inclement weather. Just know, this was not by design. We have all the wet weather gear one could put on thinking that we would have to do most of this trip in torrential downpours. As luck would have it, just the vehicle got the brunt of the pounding rain on a couple of the longer driving leg of our sojourn.
Another new thing we tried this trip was to do like we see a lot of folks are doing with videotaping. We love the longer hikes, extremely lonely caches, and higher rated caches. Adrenaline junkies, we aren't, as we carry a lot of safety gear just in case, but in the end, we found that we suck at it. We are hoping to find someone that will join us on our trips that is a good videographer and doesn't mind the >10Km hikes with 1200 ft elevation change and being 65-100 feet up in a tree. Till then we will just take and post pictures.
We would be remiss if we didn't thank all the geocachers that in some way added to this game/sport/hobby/obsession with their individual hides and varying levels of effort that they put into their geocaches. We don't award a lot of favorite points but this trip had inordinate amount given compared to previous trips. We also ended up on this trip making two remarkable achievements of our own - even if we do say so our selves. 25k finds and 2nd Original Fizzy Loop. We did have ambitions to beat our old record of counties in a day but the weather and flooding were not going to allow that to happen.
After a 6-hour road trip, we finally made it here to the lonely cache. Sadly, things have changed since this one was placed making it a little harder to get to but we needed the hike. Lots of snow this year too. Found what we were looking for and moved out quickly as we still had a long day ahead of us. TTO1 will be posting pictures of this beautiful area in a few days. This area needs more caches.
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07/24/2013 By Zuni Kid
Bueno! Finally decided to go for it. As advertised by the PurplePilot family it is a very fine hike. Chelly looks to be a pointer on one of the grouse up there. Cache log a bit damp but no problem. The old beaver dam just before the cache, utilizing the scenic tourist route, is full of brook trout. Surprised me. This must have been an important road at some point in time. Perhaps before the Wilderness designation?
Gracias!
06/08/2013 By snow_rules
#1947
3rd and final cache on the day.
Spotted a few deer and a turkey on the way and when I got to the meadow where the cache is located 4 or 5 cow elk that hesitated a bit before heading into the timber. Was able to make the find and enjoyed the solitude for a few moments before heading back down the trail.
Thanks for the cache.
Elk in the meadow
09/30/2012 By PurplePilot
We made our annual pilgrimage to this gorgeous spot a little earlier this year. The weather was perfect, the colors were gorgeous, and NO HUNTERS! There was a cattle roundup going on which the cowdogs loved.
Now where was that cache?
08/01/2011 By PurplePilot
Took dog # 3 up to the site for orientation. She refused to face the same direction as the other two.
Three doggies at the cache
On the way up...
10/19/2010 By PurplePilot
My wife and I made our annual pilgrimage to see the leaves...perfect timing this year! The log was wet, so I dried it out and replaced the o-ring. Noticed an aspen tree near the cache with my name on it from several decades ago (no, I did not do it, but an interesting coincidence).
PP's name on an aspen nearby
Chelly and a full grown Simba at the cache
06/13/2010 By cyclegreen
#7487 Bushwhacked up from the end of the road. It was faster even considering the washout. SL. TFTF!
10/06/2009 By PurplePilot
Visited the site during our annual pilgrimage to see the fall colors. I meant to bring a new o-ring, but left it back at the campground. If any future cacher has one, please bring it along (standard micro container). Took a picture with our latest cowdog addition. Didn't get shot again.
Chelly and Simba atop the cache
08/28/2009 By rockhoundew
Had good time hicking the road to the cache. Beautiful senery. Had set waypoint and the north side of the rock slide on way up so we could shortcut on the way down. Good idea I thought. Found cache and told guys we could hike next to the creek on way down but one founmd elk trail and we began following it. It led us down into the rockslide. I said guys we need to be on ridge north of where we were. Nobody wanted to climb back out (three guys totaling 210 years) so we kept going deeper into the rockslide. An hour later with many bruses and cuts later we got back on the trail. Just a warning- If you want to take shortcut make sure you don't get into the rockslide. We actually had a good time and some good laughs. Had a great time.
rockhoundew
08/27/2009 By rbama
Long story here. Read rockhoundew's and gravitygroup's logs about the "old men's (The Three Amigos) day. They tell it like it was. SL TFTC
08/27/2009 By gravitygroup
4:00 pm. Three old men hiked up to this one and found it. Great trip and cache. Now, not enough room and time to tell the story of the return trip via the shortcut down the infamous "rockslide". Advice, don't take any kind of a shorcut return route. Easier that way on your skin and bones. Three of us with 220 years (75+75+70) between us, we should be somewehat intelligent, rignt? Guess again. Bottom line is that we are a lot smarter now than before we took the "shortcut". It was/is a great and enjoyable cache. We will talk about this one (the well placed cache and the return "experience" from up the hill anyway) for a long time. SL TFTC
[This entry was edited by gravitygroup on Friday, September 04, 2009 at 2:13:32 PM.]
Chelly's Peak
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