Perfect Porphyry Traditional Cache
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Welcome to our family-favorite basin. You can make this hike as easy or difficult as you want. A 4WD or high clearance vehicle is recommended. The terrain is not difficult but depending on where you begin, your hiking altitude gain is 300 ft. (from trail head) or 1100 feet from the “Rough and Dangerous Road Ahead” sign (see picture).
Take Highway 550 south out of Ouray. The turnoff is 14 miles from the Hot Springs by the yellow "Falling Rocks" sign (a bit past milepost 80). Because of 2008's heavy snowfall the road is washed out in places so you may need to park after 1.7 miles at the sign that says "Rough and Dangerous Road Ahead." This adds an extra 3 miles round trip to your hike.
You will begin at the trail head but once you reach the first lake (Bullion King Lake) you can head toward the cache from any direction. Keep an eye open for Ptarmigan! After you find the cache have a picnic overlooking the third lake (Porphyry lake) and climb a ridge for the view.
BEWARE: Open mine pit in the area. You will see the debris. If there is snow, DO NOT WALK on it.
We've created a cache with a travel theme in mind, since our family is scattered in Colorado, Kansas, Switzerland, The Netherlands and France. It’s original contents are: a 2008 Euro football (soccer) card, a Swiss 10 centimes coin, British Airways playing cards, a beautiful stone from Dominguez Canyon, a golf ball from Alaska, fingernail clippers and a Czech Republic Charity GEOCoin.
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Treasures
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