I have a new email friend whom I call “KT”. That’s not his/her (H/H) actual name, but it will do.  KT emailed me that he/she is an excellent navigator. Of course effective navigation requires multifaceted skills, including knowing where to find and how to use salient map and other resources needed to determine possible routes to a destination--and from these options to chose the optimal route plus the tools needed to achieve the destination. Recent episodes suggest that KT could benefit by refining H/H navigational skills, so I have developed several scenarios that can serve as cumulative checkpoints in establishing an appropriate portfolio of expertise. This is the first scenario. It is followed by other scenarios employing additional navigational requirements. The cache descriptions are not “instructional”; instead, they provide opportunities for the cache seeker to explore navigational solutions to attain success in getting to the GZ points. For those seekers who already possess the  basic skills, developing a plan to reach each of the three caches should be straight forward.

 

This cache is located near the summit of Douglas Mountain, which rises to an elevation of 9,550 feet.  It is located above I 70 a little east of Georgetown.  Douglas Mountain is in Clear Creek County and is a ranked Peak having a Prominence of 810 feet. Determine a good parking location and then map out a good route to the top of the mountain. Near the summit is a structure on four wooden legs. Rising above the four legs is a vertical wooden pole.  Find the structure and stand directly below this vertical member.  The cache is located 22.1 meters at 2794 mils from the point directly below the vertical pole. It is a small container resting against a fairly large rock and covered by a few small rocks.

 

The Difficulty rating combines the challenge of doing the necessary up-front mapping/navigational evaluation, as well as making the field calculation of the cache coordinates and then finding the cache. The Terrain rating reflects the challenge of reaching the summit area and descending back to your parking spot. Enjoy determining a good route to follow to the top of Douglas Mountain; enjoy your hike to the summit; and enjoy finding the cache!