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the Degree Confluence Project
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United States : Colorado

13.0 miles (20.9 km) NE of Buena Vista (Chaffee), Park, CO, USA
Approx. altitude: 2827 m (9274 ft)
([?] maps: Google MapQuest OpenStreetMap topo aerial ConfluenceNavigator)
Antipode: 39°S 74°E

Accuracy: 3 m (9 ft)
Quality: good

Click on any of the images for the full-sized picture.

#2: View Southeast #3: View Southwest #4: View Southwest #5: GPS Position #6: Muddy Bike and geocache at confluence #7: Fork in Road - go right!!! #8: FS Trail 168 - take this path!

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  39°N 106°W (visit #4)  

#1: View Northeast

(visited by Shawn Fleming)

12-Jun-2010 --

This would be the second of five attempted confluence visits on a trip to Colorado and back. I was on my way from Creede, CO where I had been researching the feasibility of visiting 38N-107W and had just successfully visited 38N-106W earlier in the day.

I turned off US-285 onto the unmarked Forest Service Road 433/Co Road 402 here . There was a single camper parked at the lake to the south. I continued west until I was stopped by a locked gate across the road. The sign said it was due to spring runoff. I checked my GPS for Sun and Moon data – I had just about an hour and a half before sunset. I prepared to travel the rest of the way to this confluence by bike. I set off along a very muddy double track. The clouds were low and it was misting.

I missed my planned turn at Forest Trail 168, where I should have gone to the right. My path to the left took me an extra 1.5 km over slow muddy double track where I had to walk my bike part of the way. At the confluence , I found an ammo box that turned out to be from the Utah Association of Geocachers. Inside were lots of pencils bearing their name. I left a short note about the DCP inside. I used my Spot Satellite GPS Messenger to send a custom message declaring success. The low clouds, mist, and setting sun degraded the pictures that I took. The confluence is just north of Forest Trail 168.

Picture 1 looks northeast. Picture 2 looks southeast. Picture 3 looks southwest. Picture 4 looks northwest. Picture 5 shows my GPS location. Picture 6 shows my very muddy bike. Picture 7 shows the fork in the road.

It was much quicker on the way back to my van from the confluence along the trail. It only took 16 minutes to travel 3km along mostly downsloping terrain. The trail was very muddy and the back of the jacket and bike were completely covered in mud. I would need to do laundry in the next day or two! I made it back to US-285 before it was completely dark.

Total time and distance off US-285 was 1:45 and 10.7km.

Another muddy confluence adventure! Onward to 39N-105W !


 All pictures
#1: View Northeast
#2: View Southeast
#3: View Southwest
#4: View Southwest
#5: GPS Position
#6: Muddy Bike and geocache at confluence
#7: Fork in Road - go right!!!
#8: FS Trail 168 - take this path!
ALL: All pictures on one page