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A long, but scenic hike to view the wreckage of a 1952 plane crash and related themed cache. Expect steep terrain, loose surface, creek crossings (easy, but wet!) or ice along the trail. The plane crash and cache are located in Pike National Forest near a visible trail.
This cache provides the opportunity to view the wreckage from the final flight of Captain Sydney Harrison, veteran of WWII and the Korean War. The length of the hike makes it challenging--allow 6 to 8 hours round-trip, and avoid when there's snow. Not suitable for young children, anyone not used to hiking distances at altitude, etc. Experienced mountain bikers should enjoy this one. There’s been some vandalism to the plane, but the wreckage is definitely visible and mostly intact.
The cache has an American theme, whether patriotic, classic, or pop culture. The original contents include an American flag pin, American travel book, Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter, Mount Rushmore magnet, Marilyn Monroe postcards, Great Americans postcards, maps, Hot Wheels, and an FBP/Department of Justice cap . . . so almost anything goes!
The plane and memorial plaque are located at N 39° 08.565, W 104° 58.156.
DIRECTIONS
There are actually several approaches to this cache. The directions I’ve chosen aren’t the shortest route, but it’s probably the safest route (an established mountain biking trail), and you’ll avoid private property. I live in the mountain community near the cache, so I know how ornery my neighbors can be! My coordinates are probably inexact—use them only as a reference point to the trail. You will ALWAYS be on an established trail--sometimes faint, but always visible. If you are bushwhacking off the trail at any point, get back on it.
As with any expedition of this length, follow basic safety practices—let someone know where you’re going, bring a safety kit, prepare for weather, carry lots of water, etc. Dogs must be on a leash in the reservoir area. You can also access the cache from Rampart Range Road, but I don’t know the entrance point. If you do, please post!
Start at Palmer Lake Reservoir Trailhead.
Follow the trail that skirts the Lower and Upper Reservoir. At 39 06.773N/104 56.515W, take the trail that breaks to the right into the box canyon. Admire the aspens and wave to the beavers (if they’re not hiding).
The trail forks at 39 06.847N/104 56.595W. Stay RIGHT, heading uphill out of the box canyon.
After this climb, you’ll reach a 4-way hiking “intersection” at 39 07.071N/104 56.514W. Follow the trail in front of you to begin your initial descent.
Stay on this main trail for a few miles (I didn’t track them, unfortunately), crossing 5 or 6 (?) minor creeks, and ignoring any detours and offshoots. At one point, the trail descends sharply to the right, but otherwise it mostly follows a NW direction. (Note: If you know the Palmer Lake trails, you can hook up with this main trail after ascending the Rocky Canyon/Ice Cave Creek trail.)
IMPORTANT. After you cross the final creek, you reach a fork at 39 08.850N/104 56.824W. The right fork is more noticeable, but it leads to private property. So take the left fork and the fainter, but still visible, trail heading SW. I piled branches in the rocks immediately as you turn left onto the trail. You are now a little over one mile from the cache. The terrain gets very steep as you climb out of the valley, but it’s not dangerous.
At 39 08.808N/104 57.760W, you intersect a game trail (very visible) running north/south. Go LEFT (right leads eventually to private property). At the intersection, you will see an old, uprooted stump where I placed sticks pointing to the left.
Stay on this trail until you see the plane on your right.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Gur pnpur vf ybpngrq va n funyybj "pnir" perngrq ol rabezbhf obhyqref. Gur pbbeqvangrf jrer gnxra ng gur ragenapr gb gur pnir, fb jura lbh neevir, fgneg ybbxvat!