Denver, Colorado
The Saturday locations are in! Check the significant dates section for details and carpooling.
Denver is split between four graticule at latitude 39 and 40, longitude -104 and -105. This page is going to try to keep information on all four and coordinate efforts to reach them. Our goal is two-fold. First, arrange, coordinate and participate in Saturday meets, and second, try and get someone to reach the hot spots on all the other weekdays, so as to conquer the graticules. With enough people and interest, (which being a hiking state, we should be able to generate interest) we could set records and compete with other graticules around the world.
If you plan on actively seeking locations in these graticule, sign the participants section so we know who is out there. Also, please include where you're from so we can arrange carpooling.
// We should consider an easy to find meeting spot prior to Saturday @ 4pm for those without GPS to gather and find the actual spot together (note it in the Dates section) - Mario
// Also for those who want to carpool - Doug
We also have a Facebook group: Geohash-Denver.
Contents
Participants
Damien and Leah (if the location is near Boulder... gas is expensive)
Jessica (if the location is near Ft. Collins... ditto)
Michael (in Littleton for the summer; can travel semi-long distances)
Mario ([Northglenn] I can fit 1 in my Honda Insight hybrid for carpooling (split gas, non-smokers))
Jeff (Colorado Springs. Willing to give anyone a ride up to Denver area)
Grant (if location is near boulder)
Ryan (Fort Collins/Northern Colorado but willing to travel.)
Brian (Westminster/Broomfield, pretty centrally located)
CB (Northwest Denver)
Erik (Near Fort Collins - my only wheeled transportation is a bike.)
Jon (Boulder-Broomfield - Can't travel far, only have a bike.)
Tom (Boulder - I was holding out since I'm limited by RTD and my feet, but I got one now!)
Doug (Lakewood/W Denver, soon to be Inverness/SE Denver)
Michael (Fairly central - Superior, just outside of Boulder, but can't go often)
Karen (Littleton/Centennial)
News
5/22
Fourteen geohashers signed up makes us tied for number 2 out of 200+ (at current count) in activity. Woot. Ahead of us is Boston and we are tied with Baltimore. We were previously (5/21) tied for third with Seattle, but have pulled ahead. Lets sign a few more people up and pull into the lead.
If anyone manages to meander over to a hot spot this week, let us know here. Pictures a must! Other than that, I guess we'll wait until Friday morning, which is when we'll know where the Saturday hot spots are.
5/22's coordinate is located in the northeastern part of each graticule, thus making the Southwest coordinate probably the easiest to get to. It looks like it's on a street in some residential area. Pictures anyone?
First Arrival!
Looks like we have pictures of our first arrival in the SW graticule. I do believe we are definitely one of the first. Lets get this arrival out on the main page. Good job. If we can hit a spot tomorrow as well, we'll have our first streak. The arrival article is here.
- Here's an expedition to the 05-22-08 NW Denver graticule.
Significant Dates
May 24th
OK, the Saturday locations are in. It looks like they are going to be a bit of a trip no matter where we go, but totally doable. The easiest seems to be the NE, which has its location smack in the middle of Greeley, right on a road. There seems to be a small city park about a block away, so we could head over there for picnicking and games.
Another good location, just a little farther away than the Greeley location is in the NW hot spot at 40.126648°, -105.547534°. It is in Roosevelt National Forest on the Coney Flats four-wheel-drive road (NFSR 507). The road is still closed from the winter, but the location is about 1.5 miles from the gate, so it should make for an easy (if somewhat wet, given the amount of snow still likely to be on the ground) hike. The plus to going here, is of course that we're not just driving to a random city location so there is a little more of the adventure aspect, but it should be too difficult with the trail head so close.
The other two locations seem unfit, but if anyone sees any redeeming value, mention it here. We should decide quickly so that we can organize car pooling (below). So, cast your vote by writing your name next to the graticule you think is most appropriate.
NW - Damien, Leah, Jaeger NE - SW - SE -
Carpooling
Lets organize any carpooling here. If you are willing to drive, and are alright with carpooling, please list how many people you can list, expected gas cost to be split, how many people can fit in your car and whether your car is smoking or non-smoking. If you need a ride, just list your location.
Drivers:
- Damien and Leah (Boulder) - Can fit two more comfortably, three if someone want to ride b**ch, $20 round trip total, non-smoking (although, little sister might come, filling these spots.)
Riders:
Games on Saturday
Saturday, May 24th's theme is Games. Please list games you intend to bring, electronic or not.
- Nintendo DS - Mario Kart, Tetris and a laptop with a lot of Open Source games. -Michael
- Chess, possibly other board games. -Damien
- 2nd Nintendo DS - I have both Mario Kart and Tetris. Also, I'll check my collection for an easy-to-travel board game, don't know yet. -Mario
- 3rd Nintendo DS - I have Mario Kart and New Super Mario Bros. Would also like to play a game or two of chess if someone brings a board. -Jeff
Graticules
NW
The NW graticule at 40, -105 conveniently has around 15% of the land is either Rocky Mountain National Park or Roosevelt National Forest, unfortunately, many of the locations though are far from civilization. Included in the NW Denver graticule are Boulder, Fort Collins, Loveland, Longmont and others as well as both CU and CSU.
May 21st, 40.179467°, -105.861537°
Today's hot spot for the NW Denver graticule is in Lake Granby in the Rocky Mountain National Park. This is the first location we've received. It is fairly close to roads and not very far from the shore. Unfortunately it is far to the west, away from most of the cities. Perhaps if someone is close they can find their way out there and get a picture or two to launch our Graticule conquering campaign. Since it is so far west, many people might find it easier to get to the destination of the NE graticule.
Lake Granby as well as the nearby town of Granby is named after a lawyer who worked as district attorney in the county. The city of Granby (the closest city to the destination point) is best known for Marvin Heemeyer. Marvin was frustrated over a city zoning dispute in 2004, so he built his own tank and with it demolished town hall and a former judge's widow's home, as well as other buildings. 13 buildings were destroyed for an estimated $7 million in damage. Some people say that Marvin went out of his way not to hurt people, but the question isn't decided. In the end, Marvin's tank, immune to attack from SWAT teams, got stuck and Marvin killed himself with a gun.
SW
Denver itself seems to be split between two graticule, the first, the SW (39, -105), contains the west side of Denver as well as Westminster, Broomfield and Arvada. Contained in the graticule is a good portion of Pike National Forest, as well as several other smaller parks. Again, the far South and West could be a bit remote though.
May 21st, 39.179467°, -105.861537°
This hot spot seems to be far South and West. Around Fairplay and Garo. Doubtful that anyone from the Denver area can reach it, but maybe someone is in a good position. There appears to be dirt roads within a few miles of the location, but no hint as to whether it is private property or what the condition of the roads are like. Land looks barren.
May 22nd, 39.972874°, -105.238697°
In South Boulder on Bradley Drive just southwest of Broadway. An attempt was made to mark it off, but a lady chased away marker claiming kids would end up playing in the street if they saw it. Marker moved a bit north of the playground. Boulder is ridiculous.
SE
The other half of Denver, the SE (39, -104), contains the Eastern half of Denver as well as Aurora, Englewood, Cherry Creek and Castle Rock. Littleton is split between the SW and SE evenly. The SE graticule contain a portion of Pike National Forest, as well as half of the Air Force Academy. The land in this graticule is significantly less interesting than the previous two, encompassing a lot of farmland.
May 21st, 39.179467°, -104.861537°
The SE hot spot is right off of I-25, south of Castle Rock. Seems like an easy reach if you are in the area. Someone swing by this one and get us some pictures.
NE
The NE corner (40, -104) is the least populated, containing mainly Greeley, but it is very likely that the closest location for a majority of people in Denver will often be in this area. Again, the land here, being east of the Rockies, is a little on the boring side.
May 21st, 40.179467°, -104.861537°
The NE hot spot is 200 meters off a road in someone's crop. Looks like an easy reach, a handful of miles from I-25 a little north of Denver. For most Denver residence, this is today's easiest and closest location. Lets kick off the Geohashish season by getting someone to this location.
Records
Since Denver is split between multiple graticules, records will be kept two ways. One method will treat all four as though they are one graticule, but to keep our numbers fair for comparison, we'll also keep tabs on the individual graticules and list the highest record. A more comprehensive records page will be created when we have some records. Since we have four points, we also get to have fun records and statistics about how many times we reach multiple points in a day, with different people, or if someone really has time on their hands, individually.
Combined Consecutive Arrivals - 1
Combined Consecutive Saturdays - 0
Individual Consecutive Saturdays - 0
Individual Consecutive Arrivals - 1
Most People - 0
Geohasher with most arrivals -
Geohasher with most consecutive arrivals -
Statistics
Starting May 21st, (reached/generated)
Land Locations - (1/7)
Water Locations - (0/1)
National Park Locations - (0/1)
Non-park Locations - (1/7)
Total Locations Reached - 1
Total Persons to Have Arrived - 1
Total All Four Points Reached - 0
Geohashers that have performed a tour de force -
Last updated: May 22nd
