Water anyone? Traditional Cache

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Heartland Cacher
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Hidden : 8/23/2009
Difficulty:
1.5 out of 5
Terrain:
1 out of 5

Size: Size: micro (micro)

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Geocache Description:

The park terrain except for the hogback is flat averaging 6425 feet of elevation. The hogback on the park north boundary gains 40 feet of elevation in the west and increased to 140 of elevation in the east. Much of the park ground cover is prairie and juniper prickly with scattered candelabra cholla. The park woodlands are primarily juniper and piñon. Exotic woodlands are cottonwood and Russian olive. The area west of Horseshoe Lake is partially marsh land with cattails and bulrush.

Lathrop State Park, while sitting in the shadows of the Spanish Peaks and has the honor of being Colorado’s 1st State Park and covers 1594 acres. One of the main features of the park are its two lakes; Martin Lake covers about 180 surface-acres while Horseshoe Lake has about 150 surface-acres. Both host a wide range of water activities and catchable fish. Lathrop State Park is 3 miles west of Walsenburg via US Hwy. 160. Entrance to Lathrop State Park requires a park pass that can be purchased at the visitor center for display on your vehicle windshield. There is also a self-serving station near the park entrance. Two types of passes are available. A daily Pass is valid from the day purchased until noon the following day. An Annual Pass is valid at any state park or recreation area from the day you purchased to same date the following year. Colorado disabled veterans displaying Colorado Disabled Veteran (DV) license plates are admitted free without a pass. Begin on Memorial Day weekend and ending on Labor Day weekend, each Friday and Saturday and Sundays’ during the 3-day holiday weekend a different illustrated or talks and props presentation is offered at the amphitheater. History, geology, and wildlife of the area are just some of the many programs presented. Lathrop’s picnic areas, which received an outdoor recreation award for America’s Top 15 Picnic Areas, are situated around both Martin Lake and Horseshoe Reservoir. Each table sits lakeside or a short distance among the trees, has a stand up fire grill, and most tables are shaded. Picnic tables are first-come, first serve basis. Be aware that there are rattlesnakes in the park. Image courtesy History Colorado. The image was photographed in 1885-6 by William Henry Jackson a distinguished Western and Colorado photographer in what would become the future Lathrop State Park. The two large prairie potholes with water on the right side of the photograph were joined together in the early 1900’s to form the current Horseshoe Lake that was originally naming Lake Meriam. Walking or driving Lathrop State Park you can see many saucer shaped depressions mostly without water. During a wet season some may have water. These are prairie potholes. Several prairie potholes were dammed many years ago to increase the water supply of Walsenburg and area agriculture. One was Martin Lake (Oehm Lake). The inlet ditch was dug from Horseshoe Lake to supplement Martin Lake. Horseshoe Lake had received ditch water from the Cuchara River and now by an improved ditch from the City of Walsenburg Water Treatment plant and its lake. The City of Walsenburg keeps lakes full except in drought. The water in the lakes is only used for domestic drinking water. Several years ago the level of Martin Lake was quite low and a gravel path was constructed along the west side of Martin Lake. The gavel path crossed the inlet ditch on a river cobble bridge. Figure 1 was taken from the current bridge two years ago when Martin Lake was drawn down to replace the dam outlet equipment, and nicely depicts the river cobble bridge

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Lbh ner ybbxvat sbe n fznyy pnpur pbagnvare pbagnvavat n ybt gb inyvqngr lbhe svaq. Cnex va gur Fbhgu Znegva Vayrg ybg.

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)


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