Ghost 10 - Gold Hill Multi-Cache

This cache has been archived.

HighCountryAdmin: I am archiving this cache to keep it from continually showing up in search lists, and to prevent it from blocking other cache placements. If you wish to repair/replace the cache sometime in the future, please contact me, and assuming it meets the guidelines, I will be happy to unarchive it.

Thank you,
HighCountryAdmin
Volunteer Cache Reviewer

Geocaching Guidelines: http://www.geocaching.com/about/guidelines.aspx

[red]NOTE: Please do not reply by leaving a note on this cache. I am not notified if a note is posted to this cache. If you wish to respond to this message please do it from my profile page by clicking on the highcountryadmin@gmail.com Email Address link. Or, email me directly at highcountryadmin@gmail.com. Always reference the cache URL, or GCxxxx waypoint number in your correspondence.[/red]

More
Hidden : 9/5/2002
Difficulty:
1 out of 5
Terrain:
1 out of 5

Size: Size: regular (regular)

Join now to view geocache location details. It's free!

Watch

How Geocaching Works
Looking for a different adventure?

Please note Use of geocaching.com services is subject to the terms and conditions in our disclaimer.

Geocache Description:

The 10th in the Ghost Series. It consists of 5 micro caches to get to the final cache. Located at an elevation of 8671 feet

This cache will take you thru 5 old towns in the mountains west of Boulder. Using the form to determin difficulty it suggested a 3/2.25, but that is way to high. With the exception of the first and last micro-cache, all are within 30 feet of where you can park, the first and 5th aren't much further. All 5 micro-caches are 35mm film canisters. You may not be able to see them, but they are actually very easy to find. These caches aren't to make you search for something difficult to find, but more of a history lesson.

Step 1. Orodelfan - Was also known as Maxwell's Mill, Hortonville, and Hunts Concentration Works. The name changed based on the facility in dominance at the time. Eventually the name was changed to Orodelfan. This site at the turn off to Crisman was once a camp around various mills to produce the ores that came down from the hills. Nothing exists on the site now.

Step 2. Crisman - The Logan mine, located in 1874 was said to be the richest mine in the country. They say its free gold was so pure it was put in a stong box and taken directly to the Denver Mint. The town had a general store and a post office in 1875. Little or nothing of the old town exists today. After leaving Crisman about midway to Salina, start looking uphill to see the old roadbed and the stoneworks.

Step 3. Salina - Named for the city in Kansas from which many of the first setlers came. Not a ghost town as there are residents today. But many old cabins/homes still exist. It took 14 years before prospectors first worked their way down the valley from the first strike at Gold Run in 1859. The first locations were made at Salina in 1874 and within a year nearly 100 claims were staked out and a reduction mill was working to capacity. The population exceed 100 by 1875 and doubled in the years after. At this point, you can take a break from this cache hunt, and take the road to Sunset (Ghost 7 - Sunset), for a quick cache (this is the easy route to it) and come back and continue the search.

Step 4. Summerville - Located half way between Salina and Gold Run as it was known at the time. There was some mining here, but the ore was average grade and soon mined out. Some mining started again at the turn of the century when more efficient methods of milling made it profitable. Several old buildings and cabins are here among summer cabins and a few residents.

Step 5. Gold Hill - (Also known as Gold Run)Gold Hill was beleived to be the first permanent mining camp in Colorado. Rich ores were located here in 1959, and within a year some 1,500 gold hungry prospectors covered the area. Gold Hill was one of the more sociable cities in the Boulder area. Other than its many dances and musicals, the city was known for its flower gardens. It had a large roller skating rink, sledding was popular and some of the first skiing in Colorado was done here. The town was destroyed by several fires and rebuilt. Today there are year around residents, and many old cabins and business buildings. The Gold Hill General Store which is open is a typical false front building from that era. Take some time and drive around the old town. (The micro cache has been temporarily removed, but you will pass thru the town to get to the final stage)

Step 6 - The normal sized cache is located above the town of Gold Hill - a short hike is all thats needed, and should be easy to find.

Take your time and watch for old roadbeds and crumbling mine and cabin ruins.

Cache contains a vial of gold for the first finder.

Also a camera - take your picture and record the frame number in the log. The Ghost 10 Travel Bug begins his journey here too.

Enjoy

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Fgrc 1 - Ynetr ebpx bire yvggyr ebpx bire pnpur. Fgrc 2 - n ebpx jvgu ab yvpura - bhg bs cynpr. Fgrc 3 - erfgvat orgjrra ebpxf jnvgvat sbe arjf. Fgrc 4. Va n perivpr pbirerq ol fbzrguvat uneq. Fgrc 5 - Grzcbenevyl erzbirq. Fgrc 6 - Lbh fubhyq unir ab ceboyrz svaqvat guvf.

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)


Advertising with Us

Inventory

There are no Trackables in this cache.

View past Trackables

What are Trackable Items?