GC2K7QK Bellvue Dome Overlook
Type: Multi | Size: Small | Difficulty: | Terrain:
By: Denali41 @ | Hide Date: 11/14/2010 | Status: Available
Country: United States | State: Colorado
Coordinates: N40° 37.192 W105° 09.778 | Last updated: 08/30/2019 | Fav points: 0
                   

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CONGRATULATIONS TO CLAN MROCZKO FOR FTF!!

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255 Ranked Peaks “reside” in Larimer County. Only one county in Colorado (Gunnison County) has more than Larimer! The lowest Ranked Peak in the county is Bellvue Dome (also known as Goat Hill); it’s positioned just north of LaPorte and attains an elevation of 5,603 feet above MSL. This dome has a distinctive profile that rises abruptly above Watson Lake and the Cache La Poudre River. From several high points along Horsetooth Reservoir, this wonderful “hill” can be seen advantageously. When viewed from certain directions and under interesting lighting conditions, Bellvue Dome shows really special beauty.

A network of trails connects many of the high points around Horsetooth Reservoir, with the highest peak being Horsetooth Mountain. From several of the higher points along these trails, one has wonderful viewsheds of Fort Collins, the reservoir, and the lower foothills. Some vantages give stunning glimpses of Bellvue Dome.

This is a 3-stage multi cache that will introduce you to or motivate you to return to the Horsetooth Reservoir vicinity. Use it for a good hike; you will enjoy the views while you work through the cache stages!

The Stage 1 cache container should be easy for you to locate. Inside the container are the coordinates for Stage 2. Go there.

At Stage 2 you will be standing at some information signs. One sign is relatively small, and consists of several plaques mounted on a single upright post. Two larger signs that have educational information are about 10 feet from the plaques on the post. These larger signs are side-by-side and each is covered by glass.

Look at the largest plaque on the smaller sign, the one on the post. At the bottom of this plaque are two sentences; the first is printed in bold black letters. The second sentence contains two separated series of numbers, the first series printed in bold digits. Look only at this first series of digits:

• The fourth digit in this series represents F

• The sixth digit in this series represents C

• The eighth digit in this series represents B

Directly below the largest plaque (and still on the same wooden backing) are several equal-sized smaller plaques aligned in a row. Look at the one on the right and note the series of digits at the bottom of this small green plaque:

• The third digit in this series represents D

Several small individual plaques are attached to the post directly below the signs on the wooden backing:

• The total number of signs mounted directly on the post represents H

Now move to the two signs in glass and study the sign on the left. In the lower right corner of this sign is information that is highlighted in yellow. It has a title on a blue background. The final written line in the yellow area contains 10 digits:

• The sixth digit in this series represents G

• The third digit in this series represents A

Finally, on this same left sign enclosed in glass, count the total number of red stars shown in the information:

• This total minus 1 represents E

Now it’s time to find the Final stage. You are presently standing A B C D meters west and E F G H meters south of the final cache. Go find it, and enjoy your hike. The cache container is a pill vial.

Have fun, and enjoy the vistas while you are hiking and while you are near the final stage. Be aware that rattlesnakes are present throughout the zone of our foothills environment, so be cautious during seasons and periods of the day when they might be active.

Because I've needed to re-hide the cache at the final coordinates due to a muggling event, it's become more challenging to locate. So I've posted a spoiler photo on this cache page. Look for the cache in the rock cavity just northeast of the conspicuous clump of prickly pear cactus that shows in the photo. A number of rocks have been placed in the cavity to conceal the container. Make certain that you replace everything just as you found the concealing rocks.

Additional Waypoints

06/14/2019 By Denali41
I was hiking today with a friend who is visiting from the Four Corners area and we decided to include this destination after we came out of Lory State Park. So he and my puppies Orizaba and Chimborazo checked the three stages of this multi and found that everything is fine with the cache sequence and containers.

08/10/2018 By Denali41
I stopped at the first stage to replace the container with a magnetic piece, to make certain it doesn't "wander". I then checked the second stage before my puppies Orizaba and Chimborazo hiked with me to the final location. Everything checks out fine on this cache sequence.

02/19/2018 By jayson8898
Looked around the guardrail for awhile and could not find step one.

05/30/2017 By Denali41
With the communication from doglover& pups that suggested there might be an issue with Stage 1 (the listed coordinates), I stopped there today. Indeed, the original guardrail has been modernized with a new one, placed at exactly the same location. I replaced the missing stage container that has instructions for reaching the second stage. No change of coordinates is necessary.

05/02/2017 By doglover&pups
After striking out twice CO graciously gave us the coordinates for stage two. The guard rail and posts look like they might be new. After leaving the area of stage one the first time I was surveying the landscape and saw a certain point I told Hubby I bet it's up there. As it turned out I was right! We found stage two without any problems. Got the information and headed up the trail. Met several others on the trail, both walkers and bikes. The views from the top were amazing. Found the cache after a few minutes of looking. Beautiful day, but on the way home we ran into some rain. Thanks for the cache and for another adventure!

03/15/2017 By Denali41
Denali50 and I, with our puppy Orizaba, checked the three stages of this cache today. Everything's in fine condition and awaiting future seekers.

10/29/2016 By Barasaur
Figured this one out a while ago. Grabbed today. Thanks for the scratched up legs.

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