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Willow Creek Geocache

State Geocache is Located: Colorado

Latitude: 40 degrees 47.765 minutes North
Longitude: 104 degrees 27.480 minutes West
Elevation: 5,130 feet
Map Datum: WGS 84

GPS used to take readings: Garmin eTrex Venture

Date Geocache put in place: June 14, 2003

Distance to nearest paved road: Approximately 17 miles
Distance to nearest road accessible by vehicle: 0.46 miles (according to GPS)

General comments about the Geocache Site: This is probably the toughest of the easy caches I will place and the most remote. It is out in the middle of nowhere. Unlike most of the geocaches I will place, 4-wheel drive is not required to get to the site. However, a short wheel-based car at minimum is required. According to my GPS, the straight-line distance from where I parked and the cache is 0.46 miles. However, due to the terrain and such, the hike to the geocache ends up being approximately 3/4 mile or so. As you can see from the pics below, the geocache is in a small side arroyo.

The geocache that I placed was a slight departure from the normal homemade geocaches that I place. This geocache was simply a small round tupperware container placed under an 8 inch flower pot. Due to the open terrain, I wanted a simple geocache I could place and this is what I settled on.

I have left a notepad with pencil and several items in the geocache. If you bring something to leave in the cache, make it a small item. The container is approximately 7 inches in diameter and tall. If you find the geocache, send me an email. I'd love to hear about your journey.

CAUTION!  CAUTION!  CAUTION!  CAUTION!  CAUTION!


A few precautions are in order- wear good hiking shoes as cactus is everywhere and watch out for the Western Diamondback Rattlesnake! I didn't see any on this trip, but over the years I have seen many rattlers out in this country. Also, bring sunscreen, a hat and plenty of water. Shade in practically non-existent. This is not meant to frighten you, but if you look for this geocache, watch where you are going! Walk slowly and constantly scan the ground in front of you. 'Nuff said.

This is the geocache in place. I had to dig a hole a couple inches deep for the conainer to fit in. This allowed the flower pot to be placed over the container.
The geocache was then covered with an 8 inch flower pot. The pot was painted with a light brown fleck paint. The pot is lying upside down on the ground as shown.
The geocache is under a rock outcropping.
Here is a view of the geocache under the rock outcropping. The overhang is approximately 4 feet high.
Here is another view of the rock outcropping from further back.
The picture below is a panorama of the terrain below the arroyo and the geocache site. I tried to stitch 2 pictures together, but I don't have proper stitching software, so the pic has a seam in it. But it gives you an idea of the surrounding countryside. Look for the 3 trees (seen on the left side of the pic) and you will see the side arroyo.