Geocache file generated by BrassCapCache BrassCapCache 2026-08-10T00:01:06.0000000-07:00 cache, geocache, groundspeak 1670.693 2006-05-09T02:00:00-06:00 BCP291 Bighorn Trail by outforthehunt, Benchmark (1.5/3.5) http://brasscap.albertabattlecache.ca/capbreakdown/BCP291.html Bighorn Trail Geocache Geocache|Benchmark Bighorn Trail outforthehunt outforthehunt Benchmark Virtual 1.5 3.5 Canada Alberta <a href='http://brasscap.albertabattlecache.ca/capbreakdown/BCP291.html'TARGET='resource window'>Past Finds for BCP291</a> <a href='https://www.geocaching.com/seek/log.aspx?ID=17395&LogType=2'TARGET='resource window'>Log Your Find</a> .3M AGL GSC CP CNC CYL .3M DIA elevation 1670.7 GSC CAP IN 30 CM DIA CONCRETE CYLINDER 35 CM AGL 2016-07-11T20:00:00 Found it Coolcat21 BCP291 - Bighorn Trail Posted: N53° 19.613' W117° 32.553' My GPSr: N53° 19.614' W117° 32.557' Finding this cap was my primary goal today as I started up the Big Horn Trail from the north trailhead. At that point in the day it looked like the weather might hold and the prediction of 40% chance of rain might just land on the 60% side. There'd obviously been a recent rain here, and a heavy one, maybe last night. I was hoping that would help me to beat the odds. Just as I started out from the trailhead I noticed an ample heap of bear scat, so I was wary during the whole hike, letting out a HEY-YOOOOOO! at blind corners and whenever my senses got tingling. The trail is very well signed, especially at the beginning, but even more importantly, whenever there could be any question about which trail to take when side trails intersect the main, there was a sign to show the way. That was impressive. But my legs and pounding heart were not so impressed with the elevation gain. These kinds of hikes remind me how out of shape I really am. But as the zen monk says, "When you stand, stand; when you sit, sit. For goodness sakes don't wobble!" So when I was tired, I rested. That seemed to work! <img src="/images/icons/icon_smile.gif" border="0" align="middle" /> After finding <a href="https://coord.info/GCNK51" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">PDOPS cache</a> along the trail near the 3km marker the elevation gain got pretty serious and sustained. Finally I found myself as close as I was going to get to the cap and still be standing on the trail. It was about 216m or so away from the cap it was obvious I'd have to go off trail (I was expecting that) straight up the steep ridge (I wasn't expecting that). I decided to read a few previous logs and saw that Sleepy Hollow had actually asked PDOPS (a local who would know) from where on the trail to start up to the cap. Now there's a concept: prior planning. <img src="/images/icons/icon_smile_clown.gif" border="0" align="middle" /> I hadn't done any of that, but that got me thinking that a mad dash straight up from where I was may not be the best approach. I decided to go little further up the trail to scout for a better approach than I was seeing and was very lucky to find at N53° 19.506 W117° 32.675 some orange flagging. There really wasn't any trail there that I could make out but at least the slope was relatively clear going, with very little bushwhacking for about 75m or so. The way up was some steep, so the "Take it easy, but take it" mantra kicked in and I took more than a few rests, while gradually, but happily seeing the "distance to next" number decreasing. Eventually I reached a small clearing and voila there was the cap encased in a metal cylinder. I was so happy to get to this one. There was a sliver of a view just over the trees surrounding this little meadow and after grabbing my pics of the cap, I intended getting past the trees blocking the horizon and checking out whether I might get a better view of the valley below, but suddenly there was a low, powerful rumbling, and this time I was pretty sure it wasn't my stomach. There it was again. Yup, that was thunder and seemed to be very close. It looks like the prediction of 40% chance of rain was going to win out after all. Instead of sightseeing, I decided to make a beeline back down the hill -- I climbed up this? -- to the trail. On the trail, it was all downhill this time and that was a good thing. But alas the rain caught up with me: for about the last 2.5 km of the 4.25 km leg I got rained on, very steadily. My trusty rain coat helped of course but everything from the waist down had no chance; I was soaked to the bone and looked and felt like a drowned rat by the time I made it back to the trailhead. But that's nothing a new set of dry duds didn't fix up. Thanks very much for the cap and the chance to get at least a taste of walking the Big Horn Trail! 2013-10-23T20:00:00 Found it Rocky 1 BCP 291 Bighorn Trail N53 19.613 W117 32.553 Photo sent 2011-07-27T20:00:00 Found it twitch- -BCP291 Bighorn Trail <img src="/images/icons/icon_smile_approve.gif" border="0" align="middle" /> On a solo bike ride along the trail. 2011-07-14T20:00:00 Found it k5¢ents BCP291 - Bighorn Trail Led a group of Junior Forest Wardens on this awesome hike. A lot of work to get to this one, but the views were worth it. Thanks. 2010-08-10T20:00:00 Found it Sleepy_hollow BCP291 - Bighorn Trail I was looking to do a less frequently visited cap with a nice ridgewalk and this one appeared to fit the bill. I received a little local advice and discovered the best approach for parking and the spot to leave the Bighorn Trail for the cap site. So needless to say I got an early start this morning and parked at the south end of the Bighorn Trail near the Gregg River. By starting at the south end of the trail I was able to pick up all of the well positioned caches along the ridge, including a couple of bonus caches, and a brass cap. The ridge is a nice quiet spot with plenty of views and opportunities to view the fine re-forestation work done in this area. The Bighorn Trail is simply the best signed trail I have seen anywhere in Alberta with signs every kilometre to indicate the distance travelled in either direction, regular trail markers, and specific signage to point you in the correct direction where trails intersect. The views of the Rockies to the west and valley south along Highway 40 towards Cadomin are excellent. Travel to the cap site involves off trail travel to the top of an isolated ridge. The cap as described in the hint sits in a stove pipe type situation in a location that had earlier development - interesting spot historically and from the views of the local area. Overall the Bighorn Trail hike covered 23.7 km and took 6.5 hours - what a great way to spend the day. I would like to thank pdops for his advice and assistance in completing this fine hike. The Bighorn Trail is a spot that simply deserves more visitors, so be sure to check it out. Thanks OFTH for a fine elevated cap in an extremely interesting location!