The Elk Mountains of Colorado is a beautiful and rugged mountain range near the city of Aspen. The Elks are home to several of Colorado's most rugged "14ers" (peaks reaching and exceeding 14,000 feet above sea level), including Castle Peak, the Maroon Bells (Maroon Peak and North Maroon Peak), Snowmass Mountain, and what many consider the hardest 14er in Colorado to climb by its standard route, Capitol Peak.
To log this Virtual Cache you will first need to climb one of the Elks' and Colorado's most difficult 14ers, Pyramid Peak. Like its neighbors the Maroon Bells, reaching the summit of Pyramid Peak (14,018') involves climbing very steep terrain with loose rock and significant exposure to falling. Climbing Pyramid Peak is serious business and should not be taken lightly!!!
Seekers of this Virtual Cache must be prepared for difficult climbing conditions and have the skills to climb Class 4 terrain without the use of ropes. Guide books and on-line resources are available that describe the route to the summit. When you go, take all of the route information with you. Navigating the upper part of the mountain involves challenging route-finding. If you stray off route you can easily get into Class 5 climbing. Navigation and route-finding are significant factors in this cache's Difficulty rating. And be sure to check the weather forecast. Getting caught in stormy weather on Pyramid can potentially be life threatening.
Logging Requirements:
1) You must visit the location after the date of publication and include a photo of you on the "Plank" in your on-line log. Above is a picture of me on the "Plank" holding my GPSr and yours should be similar. Two exceptions, showing your face in the photo is not a requirement and you don't need to have a Mountain Goat photo-bomb you. 
2) In the photo you must be holding a GPS, phone, or sign so it's evident you are there for this Virtual Cache.
3) The photo must clearly show you are standing, kneeling, or sitting on the Plank. If you are solo (not recommended) you will likely need a tripod or the assistance of someone else at the summit to take the photo.
The summit of Pyramid is a special location! Be sure to soak in the tremendous views of the Maroon Bells across the valley, other high peaks of the Elks, and mountains beyond. All of the Elks 14ers and a number of 14ers in other ranges can be seen from this summit. The ruggedness and various colors of the geology are truly fascinating. And as a bonus, you can log the summit benchmark too.
When it's time to head back, remember, you are only half way! Be very careful on your way down. Your safety, not the cache, is number one so be prepared and make wise decisions!!!
Virtual Rewards 3.0 - 2022-2023
This Virtual Cache is part of a limited release of Virtuals created between March 1, 2022 and March 1, 2023. Only 4,000 cache owners were given the opportunity to hide a Virtual Cache. Learn more about Virtual Rewards 3.0 on the Geocaching Blog.