Pike In BV LbNA #77581
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Add Location| Owner: | Silver Eagle
  |
|---|---|
| Plant date: | Aug 27, 2025 |
| Location: | Barbara Whipple Trail |
| City: | Buena Vista |
| County: | Chaffee |
| State: | Colorado |
| Boxes: | 1 |
| Found by: | Not yet found! |
|---|---|
| Last found: | N/A |
| Last edited: | Sep 3, 2025 |
Terrain Difficulty: Easy (moderate slope, 1 mi RT)
In 1806–7, Captain Zebulon Montgomery Pike led a US Army expedition to the southwestern reaches of the Louisiana Purchase, including the area that is now Colorado. Pike’s party followed the Arkansas River toward the Rocky Mountains and on November 15, west of present-day Lamar, Pike spied the mountain that would eventually bear his name. A few days later, with three of his sixteen men, he left the river to climb to the summit of what he called the Grand Peak, but slowed by rough terrain and inadequate supplies, they never reached the top. Resuming their march up the Arkansas, Pike and his men were beset by frostbite, hunger, and exhaustion as they turned north into South Park from the vicinity of present-day Cañon City. They crossed back into the Arkansas watershed near Buena Vista, and stumbled down the Royal Gorge, only to discover they were still on the Arkansas. Eventually they were captured by the Spanish military and marched to Chihuahua, Mexico before being escorted across Texas and deposited on American soil near Fort Claiborne in Louisiana. This box is dedicated to his time in Buena Vista and can be found on the Barbara Whipple Trail.
Directions:
From US 24, go east on Main St to jct with South Main St and bear left to parking for the Whitewater Park by the Arkansas River. Park by restrooms.
Clues:
Walk past restrooms down to Kiosk #1 at the river with maps and information about the Barbara Whipple Trail. Cross over the bridge onto the trail as it bends right to a jct. Go left and up to the North Trail jct and go right to jct with Barbara Whipple Trail again. Go left and up to Kiosk #2 on left with covered bench and information about Pike. From bench, go left and down 34 steps to medium cedar tree a few steps beyond a multi-trunk cedar. LB is at right base between large rocks and under a flat rock & needles.
Silver Eagle's Aerie
In 1806–7, Captain Zebulon Montgomery Pike led a US Army expedition to the southwestern reaches of the Louisiana Purchase, including the area that is now Colorado. Pike’s party followed the Arkansas River toward the Rocky Mountains and on November 15, west of present-day Lamar, Pike spied the mountain that would eventually bear his name. A few days later, with three of his sixteen men, he left the river to climb to the summit of what he called the Grand Peak, but slowed by rough terrain and inadequate supplies, they never reached the top. Resuming their march up the Arkansas, Pike and his men were beset by frostbite, hunger, and exhaustion as they turned north into South Park from the vicinity of present-day Cañon City. They crossed back into the Arkansas watershed near Buena Vista, and stumbled down the Royal Gorge, only to discover they were still on the Arkansas. Eventually they were captured by the Spanish military and marched to Chihuahua, Mexico before being escorted across Texas and deposited on American soil near Fort Claiborne in Louisiana. This box is dedicated to his time in Buena Vista and can be found on the Barbara Whipple Trail.
Directions:
From US 24, go east on Main St to jct with South Main St and bear left to parking for the Whitewater Park by the Arkansas River. Park by restrooms.
Clues:
Walk past restrooms down to Kiosk #1 at the river with maps and information about the Barbara Whipple Trail. Cross over the bridge onto the trail as it bends right to a jct. Go left and up to the North Trail jct and go right to jct with Barbara Whipple Trail again. Go left and up to Kiosk #2 on left with covered bench and information about Pike. From bench, go left and down 34 steps to medium cedar tree a few steps beyond a multi-trunk cedar. LB is at right base between large rocks and under a flat rock & needles.
Silver Eagle's Aerie