GC8EVQQ CEGT Bait #1
Type: Mystery | Size: Small | Difficulty: | Terrain:
By: icezebra11 @ | Hide Date: 10/13/2019 | Status: Available
Country: United States | State: Colorado
Coordinates: N40° 41.220 W105° 22.435 | Last updated: 06/19/2022 | Fav points: 0
                         

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Beginning back in 2016, several very challenging caches began to be published by a previously unknown group called the Colorado Extreme Geocaching Team (CEGT).  Over the next couple years, except for their Virtual Reward cache, every cache they placed was rated 5/5 and each one provided a formidable challenge to cachers in search of these hidden treasures.  Through focused effort and perseverance, I was eventually successful in logging all nine of CEGT’s 5/5 caches.  Each one of those gems provided me a great sense of accomplishment when I was able to sign my name in its log!

Unfortunately, for those of us cachers that enjoy difficult caches, it has been over a year since CEGT has published a new “extreme” cache.  So I decided I would continue their “extreme” approach and publish a few 5/5 caches of my own.  I’m sure each will be of special interest to CEGT and others who focus on the difficult ends of the caching scales!  At this time I’m not sure how many caches will be in the series but this is the first.

Solve the following puzzle to determine the coordinates of the cache:

Kj mxqggvjmtz jej ugit ttsagf fgvm mt gkrkmgit mjmxma joog xnbu xxxcwakg gunnh ntxi hxgr lhwrj tv e rtvmznfi uy hsxma hkztikl hsxma stx omtnviy tph zakvzr qrk iqmtm hsxma woq uiihphy. Mji rhpkomwhk hh xnx eeiag aunnh ntxi hxgr gm qrk awrjkgh veww lbxi jxivkxu xch vlxxg qogwxkl crj myitmarogg tubpx kbilzr hsak uiihphy. Ug wgyg!

BE VERY CAREFUL GETTING TO THIS CACHE!!  DO NOT ATTEMPT THIS CACHE UNLESS YOU ARE COMFORTABLE CLIMBING FOURTH CLASS OR HIGHER TERRAIN!!  The terrain rating is accurate, many people will need to have a rope and harness to access GZ and return to safe ground.  The final 30-foot pitch of my route was exposed Class 4 which I climbed without a rope but I did rappel down off the top.

In addition to having to solve the puzzle, route finding is a significant part of the Difficulty rating.  I was able to find a route that was Class 2 until the last 30 vertical feet.  Do your research to find the easiest route to the cache.

Good luck and BE SAFE!  In order to log a "Found It" you must personally sign the log, no proxies. I look forward to seeing the logs of seekers, successful or not.

Additional Waypoints

10/26/2019 By Denali41
Well, I'm posting a disappointing DNF on this fantastic cache, but not finding it is entirely my fault. I solved the puzzle the day after the publication and had hoped to get after it in the field that week. Instead, I stayed home as the winds raged for three days, and then had several days of cleaning up all the tree branches that came down on the farm during that fierce wind period. Today was the break in the weather I needed. I loaded my pack with a climbing rope for the rappel, put my climbing harness and some basic hardware and webbing to build a rap anchor in along with my climbing helmet and lots of extra clothing etc. in, and was ready to head out. I've loaned out my glacier rope (perfect for rapping) to another climber, so needed to take a much heavier alpine rock leading rope--that 60-m heavy rope weighs a ton, especially when I added all the other items plus food and water into my pack. Ugh, a very heavy load to carry up forbidding terrain. To reach the cache location requires a climb of almost 1500 vertical feet in a horizontal distance of a bit over 1/2 mile! That works out to almost 3,000 vertical feet in a horizontal mile. So this baby takes it out of a person carrying a heavy load! Especially if that person also carries some "age" and past injuries and surgeries in his inventory. The "hike" went well, but at the last moment I changed my overall strategy on final route finding, to my detriment. I had pretty well determined the direction I planned to try for the final steep ascent but as I got close I temporarily changed my mind and instead tackled a different approach--figuring I was right there at the moment and by testing them out I would not need to return to this side if the primary route didn't "go". Wrong last-second change in plans! The cache is atop a structure that has significant "verticality", and certain sides are sheer and not climbable without artificial aid. I saw two weaknesses as I approached, and they were the features that changed my mind. Rotten decision. I ascended both, and each required low 5th Class climbing and because I was alone, no protection placement and belay were possible. I got within 23 feet of the cache coordinates, but at an incorrect vertical level. On my second descent, I needed to do a strong "hang" on my right arm to make one move; my artificial shoulder replacement apparatus did NOT like that move!! I got to the bottom OK, but resuming my search by moving around to the orientation I had originally expected and then to do that ascent climb was now out of the question for today. Instead, I had a long descent down, with the heavy pack making my shoulder sing through the entire descent. Took my shoes off, put my sandals on, and forded the icy cold Poudre River for the second time today, feeling some real disappointment because of my stupid decision up top.

Now, this puzzle and cache are superb. It annoys me that I failed to reach the treasure. I've found a great many backcountry caches in Colorado and Wyoming. This might be the most challenging one thus far, and it goes unfound for the moment. Thanks for a great adventure opportunity, icezebra11!!

10/23/2019 By CEGT

CEGT has solve the puzzle and are arranging a trip!

10/14/2019 By icezebra11
I discovered a slight error in my puzzle so I have made the appropriate changes to it. The error wouldn't have made much of a difference in the field but the solution was not working with the geochecker. If you've been on the right track, this slight change should get you to geochecker success. Good luck!!

10/14/2019 By Memfis Mafia
Awesome

10/13/2019 By IgnotusPeverell
Published