GC2AWNE rg028 (Traditional Cache) in Colorado, United States created by ronglaser

GC2AWNE ▼

A cache by ronglaser Message this owner

Hidden : 6/26/2010

Difficulty:

Terrain:

Size: Size: regular (regular)

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Geocache Description:

Bull Mountain Summit

This is a 4.2 mile hike (mostly on a closed road) . I am kinda slow and the trip to place this one and 029 took 3 1/2 hours (round trip) from the parking place at the road gate. A rather pleasent walk, with about 600 ft gain in 2 miles. Follow the road until you see a fork -stay to the right (you can take the left fork and then bushwhack the N ridge..my return nearly did that except I took to the trees to avoid lightning and hail) . The road continuosly rises until about 0.2 from the cache. You will see the road begin to go down and a small cairn I erected on the left. Here I set off through the trees for the last 0.2 to the summit. The view is good, but interupted by trees. However, it is the trees that are are most remarkable. Here we see hundreds of years of struggle between lightning and life. The fallen warriors stand witness to a battle that continues even to this day. Bring your camera as giant hollow stumps, exquistitely weathered stump roots and a wonderland of pine shaped by wind, rain, fire, insects and birds makes this, in my estimation, an art gallery well worth the effort required for admission. There is one stump up there that has giant knot hole head high. It seems like the kind of thing you would see at a tourist trap in the Blackhills. Travel down the ridge toward 029 and you will find not only more tree sculpture, but sandstone mass wasting slumps that resemble carpet bombed villages. I returned by travelling down the ridge that trend north, set another cache, and finally was pushed off the ridge as the battle resumed as another afternoon thunderstorm brought lightning, thunder and hail. The first half in the woods was easy going, with a fairly clean forest floor and many brave trees doing their best to protect me and the cacher dogs. At a couple of points the dogs crawled under hollows logs briefly, but loyalty won out and they continued the descent with me. The last half mile or so has a fair amount of deadfall and more of a Blair Witch feel to it as I was yearning to step upon the road any minute that the map said must be there. By now, even my carthart jacket could not keep out the rain, and I found myself repeating the lyrics of a Fleetwood mac tune.."when the rain washes you clean you'll know...you will know..woh oh woh you'll know " Ah yes... the spirit of Bull mountain. I think am beginning to know her. More images for this hike are on rg029 description Update: rg029 will not be published due to container deficiencies So, if you are planning to go here, consider placing a cache near here and removing the rg029. I am uncertain when I will return to this ridge. Coordinates are 40.924489°, -105.829503° It is under a stack of rocks at an overlook. Well worth the walk along the ridge. Update: 029 is legal thanks to the FTF queen , Doglover3pups and her companions