GC214GP The Jordan Tree
Type: Traditional | Size: Small | Difficulty: | Terrain:
By: estes01 @ | Hide Date: 11/29/2009 | Status: Available
Country: United States | State: Colorado
Coordinates: N38° 53.204 W104° 55.158 | Last updated: 08/30/2019 | Fav points: 0
                   

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When I first placed this cache in November 2009, Williams Canyon was my favorite hike. The trail passed through lush green forests and towering limestone cliffs. It was beautiful.

The Waldo Canyon fire in June 2012 narrowly missed the canyon. Hotspots dropped down from the west rim in a few areas before the wind changed and the fire went north. The original Jordan Tree and the cache hanging from it were burned, but the tree was still standing.

Then the floods came. In August and September 2013, two flash floods changed the canyon forever. The Jordan Tree was washed away and the original trail was buried or badly eroded.

The canyon is still accessible, but it is no longer an easy hike. You will encounter rubble, crumbling embankments and possibly falling rocks and trees. Do not attempt this hike if there is any chance of rain. The trail is closed just beyond The Jordan Tree. A sign used to mark the closure boundary, but the floods have carried it downstream.

The canyon walls make an accurate GPS reading impossible. Please refer to the spoiler photo and hints to locate the cache.

***Congrats to jadum for the FTF on 12/01/09***

07/04/2019 By YamaGypsy
This was a grand 4th of July hike with Lemonheadmafia. We've never hiked this area before, but definitely will be back! Cache is in good shape. Sl, thanks!

06/25/2019 By K Trackers
This morning I made my first foray into Williams Canyon enroute to the three cache cluster on the high ridge to the west of this cache. I crossed the LD at 0430 before the sun came up. My timeline was abbreviated because I had a full day of things to do after the hike, so I left early to make sure I got at least some trail time in. To add to my time pressure, I passed a “No Hiking, No Trespassing sign” oriented to the north. Yikes. At the time this confused me, because I thought Williams Canyon was open to the public…had someone closed off the canyon? I figured I would sort it out later, but was determined not to dally and run the risk of being challenged for being here once all of the “slothy muggles” woke up and became active.

This was the only cache in the valley I attempted. My intent was to leave the bulk of caches in the valley unfound to justify a return trip. I figured I only had enough time to hit my high ridge cluster. Since this cache was so close to the “western pivot” to gain the ridgeline, it seemed like a waste not to try for this one. Fortunately I was able find the location of the old Jordana Tree, I mean Jordan Tree and the cache without the spoiler photo. The cache is still in great shape. However; I’m not sure if it will stay that way since I left the lid to the container open, ate the plastic bag, threw the log on the ground, and danced around a bonfire like a heathen after making the find.

For me the highlight of the hike was the return trip. I was moving at a fast clip due to my concerns over the “No trespassing” sign. Like I mentioned earlier, I didn’t want to get “caught.” Thinking I had made it out of the valley without detection, I turned a corner near the entrance and saw a person standing there; looking at me like they were waiting for me. Oh no, it looks like the jig was up and I was caught. Turns out that it wasn’t security personnel with truncheons labeled “K Trackers,” it was a local artist named Seel (hope I spelled that right) working on one of her paintings. Seel explained to me the No Trespassing signs were there because of the flooding concerns…as five different groups of hikers passed us by. Now that some of my time pressure was off, we chatted for about 15 – 20 minutes. It was a great conversation and the highlight of the hike. I always enjoy meeting random and interesting people and Seel did not disappoint. Thanks to the CO for placing this nice cache for everyone to find, TFTC.

11/07/2018 By gampa&gamma
This was a quick find using the hints provided. Signed the log and retrieved the trackable so it could get moving before winter. Thanks for the cache.

02/17/2018 By estes01
All is well on the Williams Canyon trail...it's getting back to the spectacular hike it was before the fire. The Jordan Tree marks the trail that branches off to Waldo Canyon, which is also open now. Interesting hike.

01/06/2018 By Bokmeow
found it on a gorgeous day in january! thanks for the cache. tnlnsl :) all is well and good with the cache. we had a great hike on this trail today and saw more than 7 hiking partners/ couples. it's time to reopen this trail officially.

06/02/2017 By OR85OR450
Well, Hartsdale snossed, & Hartsdale lost! I made my way up here and more... thought the canyon is just great, especially in that what few folks come seem to leave no trace!! I found no trace of evidence that there is still official closure in effect, apart from those signs down at the top & bottom of the stretch the'Cave... ' claimed (??). Have they treated that real seriously in the past ?? All the cache pages say to come in this way, soooo.... I did

11/12/2016 By estes01
Heard that the O-ring was missing on this container so decided it was time to check it out. As Jordan was visiting me, I dragged him along too. The area and tree was a lot more impressive when I put this cache in, so had to laugh when he looked at the tree and wondered why I chose to name it after him. Still a very interesting hike even though there isn't any trail there anymore. You mostly walk up the creek bed and hope it doesn't rain. TB drop...hey Hartsdale, you might be interested in this one.

10/31/2016 By MountainBear
Found with Java Chip on Halloween! Saw lots of little Ghosts and Goblins trick or treating in Manitou on our way back to the car. TFTC!