Being Iowa State Alumni (which is in Ames, IA), it seems only fitting to place a cache at a monument erected for the two gentlemen whom our university’s home is named after.
(The townsfolk elected to name the town Ames in the hopes that the Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR), backed by Oakes and Oliver Ames, would build through town. They didn’t. The UPRR built in Boone, IA.) Anyway, this monument was erected in 1882 to honor the financial backers of the UPRR. I believe the monument is technically on UPRR property, but the public is obviously welcome to visit and enjoy.
The view is amazing. Looking toward the interstate you can see the odd and unusual granite structures of Vedauwoo Glen, Turtle Rock, and Green Mountain. Looking south you can see the Laramie Mountains of Colorado. Just north of the monument is a cemetery and several foundations. These are associated with an old railroad town, named Sherman. (Geocache GC2810Q) Several pipelines and an aqueduct pass through the area, but with some careful observation you should be able to identify the old railway right-of-way that ran through Sherman, past the monument.
Ames Monument is easy to find from the Interstate. If heading westbound, it is the next exit after the Lone Tree (a fun stop, with a little tale.) If heading eastbound, it is the next exit after the (former location of) the Big Giant Head. If you are heading to or from Mike Sexton’s historic Big Giant Head geocache (Geocache GCF94), you can just take old US Highway 30. The monument is south of the interstate.
When we were last in the area there were tons of yellow & purple flowers carpeting the ground. The area could do with a little Cache In/ Trash Out cleaning. The cache is an evolving container (now a bison tube, formerly peanut butter jar, formerly a 35-mm film canister containing a you-found-it letter and a friendship bracelet.) This was our second cache placement, and we wanted to experiment with trying something small. Other geocachers have replaced the container over the years since the weather is quite harsh and nothing lasts for more than a couple winters. If you replace the container, just add a picture to your log and I will update the description.
If you are looking for other activities, here are some suggestions: (1) From the same I-80 exit, head north to the Vedauwoo Rocks and the Devil’s Playground. The Turtle Rock trail is an easy 3-mile walk for the family. The Vedauwoo Glen trail is only 0.3-miles long, but is moderately difficult. (2) Take a drive on Happy Jack Rd, State Highway 210. This offers a different view of the Sherman Mountains extension of the Medicine Bow National Forest between Cheyenne and Laramie rather than taking I-80.