“He slipped. We wept. He rose, ’cause he chose.”
His name is Jamie. He is 15. He will always be 15.
He was a drummer in a punk rock band, a skateboarder, rock climber, comedian, scholar, friend, brother, and son. It was June 29th, 2000 when Jamie and his dad set out to boulder a small bluff in Colorado. Jamie and his dad prayed before they climbed and praised God for the incredible mountain that He made for us to explore. While climbing Jamie slipped and fell and went home to Heaven at the foot of this beautiful waterfall in the Colorado Mountains.
We share this story with you to offer you hope. Jamie wasn't afraid to die. His favorite shirt said, "I would die tonight for my beliefs." Now he didn't die for his beliefs but he did die with them.
---Blessings be Yours, The Matush Family
How it came about:
Many people come to these falls every year and get to see Jamie’s Cross. It started with just a little notebook in a jar that wasn't all that weatherproof. Visitors to the cross would leave touching stories in the notebook. We upgraded the container a year or so ago to protect the book. The problem was that the family only got to see the entries every few years or so. While visiting the falls last year with Jamie’s father, we realized that Geocachers had been visiting and leaving items even though it was not an official cache. When I explained what a cache was and that he would be able to go online and read people’s entries anytime, Jamie’s dad loved the idea so we have made it an official Geocache.
Please share in your log entry your experience here at the falls for the Matush family and others to see. Please put the container back with the opening at the bottom to help keep it dry.
Getting the Cache:
This Cache is located in the Phoenix Park area about 6 miles north of Creede, Co. It will only be accessible part of the year. Proceed up Willow Creek (Forest road 502) about 3/4 mile junction of East Willow and West Willow Creek Road. Turn right on East Willow Creek Road #502. 4-Wheel Drive is recommended but not always required for this part of the trip. You will travel about 3 miles before you reach the turn off ( to right/north) for the Phoenix Park 4-wheel drive road ( Waypoint "Going 4X4"). This is where 4-wheel drive is HIGHLY suggested. There are areas of large rock traverses and several water/creek crossings. Or you can hike in from here. It is approximately 2.5 miles to the end of the 4x4 trail. From there it is about a 500 ft hike up to the falls. Cache is 4" PVC pipe, about 12" long
It is recommended that you use the Waypoint " Going 4X4 " ( N 37° 54.252 W 106° 55.001 ) as a reference as the turn-off can be difficult to see.