GCHBZ5 Tribute To A Friend
Type: Multi | Size: Regular | Difficulty: | Terrain:
By: TundraChief SilverHare @ | Hide Date: 12/18/2003 | Status: Available
Country: United States | State: Colorado
Coordinates: N39° 35.176 W105° 18.317 | Last updated: 08/30/2019 | Fav points: 0

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You would do anything for anyone, you would have given me the shirt off your back, you were kind, generous and caring, qualities that you never lacked. This cache is in memory of Ryan who gave his life in the line of duty as a police officer. He loved people, the mountains and hiking “fourteeners”.

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This is a two-part multi-cache adventure that begins at Ryan’s gravesite in the Evergreen Memorial Park. Then a short drive and a little hike to a peaceful forest setting about four miles west near Maxwell Falls, where Ryan enjoyed hiking, rock climbing and building friendships.

Go to the posted coordinates to learn Ryan’s last name.

Inscription on grave marker reads: JAN. 6, 1974 – MAY 6, 2001; POLICE OFFICER OF THE YEAR 2001; Blessed are the Peacemakers – Matthew 5:9

Transposing letters in Ryan’s last name for numbers using the following formula can determine the coordinates for the cache: N 39 3G.G0M; W 105 2A.I7U; If stymied use the hint.

To seek the final cache, park at N39 33.910 W105 22.787. Follow the trail and two-track logging road through the new growth timber stand for approximately 0.266 miles on a bearing of 7 degrees true. Continue on the trail until you are within 350 to 400 yards of the cache. Bushwhack from there through a gentle slopping pine forest. It is an easy hike. In heavy snow conditions use of cross country skis or snowshoes is advised.

The cache is in a small ammo box and is well hidden behind a rock within three feet of the highest elevation on the hill. Please replace the rock so as to maintain the cache’s hiding place. Take a moment to experience the solitude of the forest and think of what Ryan sacrificed on our behalf.

The cache is located on US Forest Service property. It is not wilderness.

Additional Waypoints

05/12/2018 By GeoDog74
We looked long and hard for the final leg of this Cache up no avail. We used the hint for coordinates but must ha e been of somewhere. If someone could help us we would be most appreciative!

02/07/2017 By animjason
I was in the area to grab some hiking caches, and saw that there was an old multi nearby. I had to grab this one too, even with the decent detour to the final.

Found the cache even with some snow, and more falling on us. Good coords and hint. The puzzle is very confusing unless you read the hint, but I confirmed with a previous finder to be sure.

Cache in good shape. Thanks for keeping it around.

09/21/2016 By COHODAG
Looooong time working on this one! Glad to have it off the To Do list! TFTC

08/14/2016 By Mr, Peabody
Found for the summer Mission GC challenge. Wasn't expecting the final to be so far away and quite that long of a hike. But it was a nice park I hadn't been to before, and was nearly deserted. TFTC

08/14/2016 By VirginiaS
More hiking than I expected, but a lovely park. RIP Ryan.
Mushroom formation

04/12/2015 By youkfish
I made a stop at WP #1 last fall and finally made the nice hike from the north trailhead. I was the 7th car in the lot in the morning and when I got back to my truck, there were 40 or so cars parked on the road. Hiked up to the falls and then looped back to make this find. Very nice spot and a great tribute to our fallen heros. Cheers!

03/28/2015 By icezebra11
Today I set out from my home in Loveland and headed south to log a number of caches that I need for my 2X Fizzy, California Fizzy, and Jasmer. I went as far south as Waterton Canyon south of Conifer.

I was able to decipher the information and come up with the final coordinates. Drove to the recommended parking and set out for GZ. Upon arriving, it was a quick find because the coordinates are accurate and the clue is right on.

Thanks TundraChief SilverHare for this wonderful tribute to Ryan!
The cache and log

03/14/2015 By BIS()N
Made the hike to the final through some snow, but well worth the views. Very honorable memorial cache - TFTC!

09/05/2014 By g13rth
Didn't wish to complete the multi-stage, but did want to honor the fallen officer. Nice idea for a tribute. Thanks.

08/28/2014 By CerealBoxMonsters
I've been looking to find this cache for several years, today seemed like a good day to do it. It was a nice hike, and the cache was easily found - it's in good shape (although, I removed several inappropriate items left by several people who just happen to accidentally come across the cache container). It is a great cache, and wonderful memorial tribute cache. TFTC

Tribute to a Friend

Somewhere along the Maxwell Falls trail

10/23/2012 By Back Country Horsemen
Well, I wonder if this is a record? It only took me 8 years from the time I found the initial part in Oct. 2004 to now when I finally got to make the hike to get this finished! I parked at the Lower lot for Maxwell Falls as there are a lot of caches hidden along these trails now. I had a great day for a hike, but there sure were some huff & puff sections. Surprisingly Lots of non-cachers have stumbled upon this final and sure have written some eerie comments about themselves... Someone left a very large, rusted knife & someone else left a pancake turner, both outside the actual cache container. In all my years of caching this is the 1st time I've seen anything like it. Anyway, this is a nice tribute. I hope Officer Ryan is never forgotten.