GC2KTA1 Profiles of Greyrock Mountain--Northern View
Type: Traditional | Size: Regular | Difficulty: | Terrain:
By: Denali41 @ | Hide Date: 12/22/2010 | Status: Available
Country: United States | State: Colorado
Coordinates: N40° 43.640 W105° 18.040 | Last updated: 08/30/2019 | Fav points: 0
                   

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Reaching this cache requires limited rock scrambling over Class 3 terrain.

Greyrock Mountain (elevation 7,613 feet) in Larimer County has a highly distinctive profile from Interstate 25 and other eastern vantages. Its steep southern aspect shows dramatically in silhouette as seen from the east. Many admirers of this Ranked Peak do not realize that the mountain’s lines from other directions are also remarkable and highly distinctive. This “Profile Series” consists of seven Traditional caches placed on Ranked Peaks that surround Greyrock Mountain, as well as a Multi-staged cache. Views of this mountain from each cache location and from the stages of the Multi are breathtaking, and each provides a special profile dimension of Greyrock. If you have as an objective finding all eight caches in this series, you will eventually view this marvelous mountain from many angles. To attain these views (as well as the treasures of the log books in all of the cache containers!) you will have hiked dozens of miles and have reached some remote areas. A major challenge confronting you will be discovering the most efficient approaches for accessing certain of these caches. Once you have logged all eight caches in the series, you will have satisfied the goals for a special challenge cache that I’ll be establishing. Don’t worry...I’ll have the challenge cache in place long before you reach all of the cache destinations in this “Profile Series”! So enjoy this particular profile cache, and then work at the others. Appreciate your adventures as you “Profile” Greyrock Mountain!

“NORTH GREYROCK MOUNTAIN”

A long peak rises above the north end of Greyrock Meadow, extending toward Livermore Mountain. It’s identified on the USGS Poudre Park quadrangle as Point 7681, but is known by hikers and climbers as “North Greyrock Mountain”. It’s summit elevation is actually a bit higher than that of Greyrock Mountain. Views from its top are stunning, and from this spot the silhouette of Grayrock Mountain is highly unique; it’s a profile that’s been seen by few adventurers.

The peak has a summit register at its highest point. Scramble up a short Class 2+ stretch to reach this register. This is NOT the cache. The cache is located below and east of the summit. Do not attempt to descend directly from the summit to the cache. Instead, descend by the short Class 2+ pitch that you earlier climbed, and then work your way around the summit block and approach the cache from below its position. To reach the container, about 20 feet of Class 3 terrain must be ascended. This is an easy pitch that has lots of nice hand and foot holds, but don’t attempt it if you are uncomfortable in rock scrambling situations. The cache is a regular-sized container and is covered by two aged pieces of wood. It’s located several feet below a juniper tree and adjacent Ponderosa pine tree.

Approaching and gaining the summit of North Greyrock Mountain is a back country activity that should not be taken lightly. Once you leave the Greyrock trail system at Greyrock Meadows, you are off-trail for a considerable distance, some of it through rugged terrain. It’s safe if you hike carefully. Make certain that your backpack contains extra water, food, clothing, a head lamp (in the event you are delayed for any reason), etc. And leave information with a person who is not coming with you about your expected route. On my four climbs up to this summit, I had cell phone transmission on two trips and no coverage on the others. So cell service tends to be sketchy in this area.

Enjoy your backcountry adventure for this cache, and be safe!

10/09/2015 By Cache U
Went after this one after completing Profiles-Western View. My legs were a little fatigued after doing the Western View (plus the post-adrenaline rush let-down), but no problem getting to the summit. Like a previous finder, I saw two very likely spots where a summit log could have been, but didn't find anything. Descended and went around the base to the north to get to the approach for the cache itself. No problem in dry weather, but it might be a bit tricky if it were wet. Both cache containers are in good shape, but I couldn't open the larger one. I was hoping to go directly to Greyrock from there, but time was running out so descended back down to the meadow to get on the Meadow trail and took the Summit trail back to the car. An exhausting and very enjoyable day; thanks for the great fun!

05/21/2015 By Denali41
I climbed North Greyrock today with two friends and my puppy Orizaba. It rained or was very wet for the entire long hike in and out, and lichen-covered rock was slippery. We took our time and were careful and had no real problems. I climbed up to the cache location and found the container in its proper place. However, the log sheet was damp and past log notes were faint. I snapped the top on so it would not leak, but also put out a second cache container (small size) adjacent to the first one; it's secure and waterproof. We had planned to also climb up to the Aiguille (West Profile) today, but the wet rock would have made this very unsafe to attempt. So my expected check on the condition of the cache on Aiguille du Greyrock did not occur!

04/12/2014 By ArkF
Thanks for this fun but tiring cache! I hiked up the Greyrock trail, picking up a couple earthcaches on the way. I left the trails at the meadow and headed up my best guess for a good route to this cache. Was clever enough to avoid going up a false summit, but got fooled on a different one, and had to backtrack a ways. Enjoyed the views in all directions as I ate lunch, then headed down and got the cache. Really enjoyed all the rock scrambling, as a nice reward for trudging up the slope. This wasn't my first 5-star terrain cache, but it was the first I feel I actually earned, as I got to the others on a ski lift.

Some water had gotten in the cache in the past year somehow, even though the lid was on good. Was able to sign the soaked log, but only semi-legibly. Dried it out as best I could, but that wasn't much.

04/06/2013 By icezebra11
I was a really nice April morning. Headed up the trail about 9:30 am and took the Meadows fork. Made my way across the meadows and headed uphill to the hiding spot. Found the container and signed the log. Went up onto the summit and took in the great views. Looked for a summit register but didn't find it. Found a few stacked rocks that looked like might be holding the register but no luck. Descended to the meadows and then took the main Greyrock trail down. A little over 8 miles round trip. Thanks Denali41!!

08/10/2012 By Denali41
Post-fire maintenance check. I was on a nearby mountain summit that had a good view of the cache locality and looked carefully with binoculars. The cache area was NOT burned by the Hewlett Fire, so the cache will be intact and available for finding when the trail system reopens to public use.