After breakfast we decide to try for a few First to Finds (FTF) near Monument Peak. As we have lost some time with breakfast we do not necessarily expect to be the first but still decide to try it. On the way we encounter a few elks right next to the road, they are very used to people and do not even bat an eye, fun.
We start first with a cache that we haven’t found last time we were here and we find it this time however we also notice that it is much hotter than we planned for and the forecast told us. In fact hiking up is uncomfortable so we decide to go for one FTF and then return and try to go towards higher altitudes.
On the way to the cache we meet with other geocachers from the event that just found the cache, missed the FTF just by half an hour. We also find the cache and then start on the way back enjoying the downhill trail and the flowering cacti along the way.
We also find evidence of hunting along the trail or so we think, there is an elk hide in a tree and what other reason could there be? And then we are back at the car and the safety of our A/C that we turn full up to recover a bit as we make our way to the next point of interest.
On the way we stop in Pine at the Farmers’ Market hoping to find some vegetables or bread but nothing is available today, quite annoying. Especially as we have to park far away as there is a festival and walk in the heat to the shop. At least we see an acrobatic squirrel before continuing on to the Control Road to explore ways to reach the Highline Trail.
