Yellow Jacket Pass LbNA #57468
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Nearby Boxes
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Add Location| Owner: | Adoptable |
|---|---|
| Plant date: | Apr 15, 2011 |
| Location: | Yellow Jacket Summit |
| City: | Pagosa Springs |
| County: | Archuleta |
| State: | Colorado |
| Boxes: | 1 |
| Planted by: | Me N The Wiz  |
|---|---|
| Found by: | Astro D |
| Last found: | Oct 29, 2017 |
| Status: | OFFa |
| Last edited: | Apr 15, 2011 |
Yellow Jacket summit is a minor pass in SW Colorado, located pretty much half way between Pagosa Springs and Durango on Highway 160. (30 mile +/- from each town, but in Archuleta county) The summit of the pass is notable for a large pullout on the north side, where truckers like to park and rest for a while. There are often large piles of gravel stored at that pullout . This is at highway mile marker 114.
On the west side, just slighly downhill from the true summit, you will see a brown National Forest Access sign that says "Relay Station". There is also a mailbox on a green post here that says "Delzell".
This is a seasonal road with a gate. It is closed in the late fall for snow, and opens when the road is clear. At the time of this posting, the gate is open for the season. Even if the gate is locked, the road is still open to hikers (only closed to motorized vehicles),however, there is generally enough snow cover in the winters to make the box inaccessible then)
You can park at the gate, or drive in if it is unlocked.
From the gate, the road makes a long, sweeping curve to the left, taking you out of sight of the highway. After a short distance, this curve will straighten out briefly, then start to curve around to the right. AT this very short straight section, you will see a brown road marker on the left side of the road marking a small ditch. There is also an orange marker that says "Warning telephone cable" right next to the road marker. Standing next to this marker, with your back to the road, you will see a lone tall Ponderosa pine that is somewhat asymmetrically shaped. There are obviously fewer branches on the left side than the right, especially in the middle.
Walk over to this tree, and turn and face back toward the road. There is a small cluster of Gambel oak just at your left hand only 3-4 feet away. At the base of one of these small oaks you will find Yellow Jacket waiting for you, hidden under what looks like the natural forest cover of pine needles and oak leaves and a small pile of pine cones.
Once you've visited, please make sure you replace Yellow Jacket in his hiding place. If you have time, it is a pleasant drive or hike into the Relay Station area of the HD Mountains. Pleasant hiking and picnicing in a low-traffic area.
Please do take the time to record your find when you get back home!
On the west side, just slighly downhill from the true summit, you will see a brown National Forest Access sign that says "Relay Station". There is also a mailbox on a green post here that says "Delzell".
This is a seasonal road with a gate. It is closed in the late fall for snow, and opens when the road is clear. At the time of this posting, the gate is open for the season. Even if the gate is locked, the road is still open to hikers (only closed to motorized vehicles),however, there is generally enough snow cover in the winters to make the box inaccessible then)
You can park at the gate, or drive in if it is unlocked.
From the gate, the road makes a long, sweeping curve to the left, taking you out of sight of the highway. After a short distance, this curve will straighten out briefly, then start to curve around to the right. AT this very short straight section, you will see a brown road marker on the left side of the road marking a small ditch. There is also an orange marker that says "Warning telephone cable" right next to the road marker. Standing next to this marker, with your back to the road, you will see a lone tall Ponderosa pine that is somewhat asymmetrically shaped. There are obviously fewer branches on the left side than the right, especially in the middle.
Walk over to this tree, and turn and face back toward the road. There is a small cluster of Gambel oak just at your left hand only 3-4 feet away. At the base of one of these small oaks you will find Yellow Jacket waiting for you, hidden under what looks like the natural forest cover of pine needles and oak leaves and a small pile of pine cones.
Once you've visited, please make sure you replace Yellow Jacket in his hiding place. If you have time, it is a pleasant drive or hike into the Relay Station area of the HD Mountains. Pleasant hiking and picnicing in a low-traffic area.
Please do take the time to record your find when you get back home!