Profiles of Greyrock Mountain--Southern View

Greyrock Mountain (elevation 7,613 feet) in Larimer County has a highly distinctive profile from Interstate 25 and other eastern vantages. Its steep southern aspect shows dramatically in silhouette as seen from the east. Many admirers of this Ranked Peak do not realize that the mountain’s lines from other directions are also remarkable and highly distinctive. This “Profile Series” consists of seven Traditional caches placed on Ranked Peaks that surround Greyrock Mountain as well as a Multi-staged cache. Views of this mountain from each cache location and from the stages of the Multi are breathtaking, and each provides a special profile dimension of Greyrock. If you have as an objective finding all eight caches in this series, you will eventually view this marvelous mountain from many angles. To attain these views (as well as the treasures of the log books in all the cache containers) you will have hiked dozens of miles and have reached some remote areas. A major challenge confronting you will be discovering the most efficient approaches for accessing certain of these caches. Once you have logged all eight caches in the series, you will have satisfied the goals for a special challenge cache that I’ll be establishing. Don’t worry...I’ll have the challenge cache in place before you reach all of the cache destinations in this “Profile Series”! So enjoy this particular profile cache, and then work at the others. Enjoy your adventures as you “Profile” Greyrock Mountain!

"SOUTH GREYROCK MOUNTAIN"

Greyrock Mountain is a popular hiking destination off Poudre Canyon. The trailhead for this cache is easily accessed from its parking area along Colorado Highway 14, and the hike to the top of Greyrock Mountain is a relatively easy one that many families enjoy together. Several interesting EarthCaches are positioned along the trail, and a multi cache and some traditional caches are also available for serious geocachers. Each of these caches brings you through interesting terrain and provides great views of the surrounding rugged landscape. A loop that involves two interconnecting trails (the Greyrock Meadow Trail and the Greyrock Summit Trail) permits great access to this caching environment. Some of the caches require considerable bushwhacking off this trail system. Depending upon your level of comfort in exploring off-trail caches, you should select those caches that are matched to your level of fitness and experience. Once you’ve made your choice or choices, have fun accessing and finding the caches!

I’m using “South Greyrock Mountain” here to refer to the point identified as 7309 on the USGS map. This gives the elevation of the Ranked Peak (7,309 feet) that is the first one south of Greyrock Mountain. To reach this point and the cache vicinity, hike up the main Summit Trail of the Greyrock Mountain National Recreation Trail and begin bushwhacking upward from the top of the highest switchback on the trail. The logical location to depart the trail at this switchback is evident on the Trails Illustrated Map or on the USGS 7.5- Minute Quad. Make the fairly moderate bushwhack from the trail up to the summit vicinity, and then begin your search. Once in the GZ area, the find should be easy. Refer to the hint if you need to.

Make certain that you spend some time at the true summit of Point 7309, which is very close to the cache container. Look out in all directions and appreciate the remarkable landscapes portrayed from this vantage! Plot out in your mind the approximate vicinities of other back country caches available to you in this marvelous area, and how you can most efficiently reach them. Then descend to the trail and continue your hike.