Geocache Maintenance

17 January, 2010 03:24

Yesterday, January 16th, 2010, I performed maintenance on one of my Geocaching hides.  Here is the maintenance note I posted for GC1GJYH.

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The cache container has been replaced with a more appropriate container, of the same size, that will allow the placement to be permanent without destruction for many of days. Surprisingly the original container was in perfect shape, as was the log book. Here is a short summary of my trek to perform maintenance, after over a year, and why I decided to replace the container no matter what the shape the original was in.

Summer is not winter. A wise brain once said to me once after an Owner Maintenance. I decided to take the long route and found myself trudging through 1 1/2 to 3 foot snow drifts to get to the location. I expect for some occasions, or many occasions, this cache may provide the same effort or more on your part, Winter & Summer.

So, after about 45 minutes of hiking, I arrived at the location. I found the cache in perfect shape, and it was placed appropriately by the last person whom found it.

In order to get to the cache, I took off my shoes, socks, and upped my pants; remind you this was 25F degree weather in the dead of Winter. I knew after crossing I would have to dry myself and re-establish my gear no more than 15 to 20 seconds after crossing some, umm, so called wet forest land - happened to be over the waist deep in the shallowest part.

After such a superior sensation, I made darn sure I was going to replace the container no matter what. I quickly warmed up and retrieved the cache and its contents.

Coming back is a different story. I was not about to go through a polar plunge once again, so I thought hard about what might be stable crossing.

Yes, you may have different views of what is safe and appropriate, but mind you I came VERY prepared, else I would have used the GMRS radio for my buddy in the car to come rescue me (you don't want that embarrassment do you?), and here is why:

Deciding to take another route across the wet land I had originally passed in my first route, I found myself soaked well over my waist line.

I knew something like this might happen, and I hope all Geocachers may be prepared for the same. I knew I didn't have much time until hypothermia, and I did feel it come fast, so I unpacked my spare clothing: pants, socks, and shirt. The shoes were water proof and held very tight, but by the time I started heading back, the top water soaked part of the socks quickly ran into the boots. In such a case you want to wiggle and hike like their is no tomorrow to re-generate warmth in your body.

So the conclusion, this is NOT A WINTER FRIENDLY CACHE, though IT IS POSSIBLE IF YOU DARE! ...the story is a lot longer, but I will leave that to your imagination...

The old log will be scanned in a computer picture format and placed on a website. I will put the URL (link) in the description space when this is done. HAVE A BLAST, I did.. I would do it again any time!

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