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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.

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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Two Ancient Roads Until Beauty (GC1GJYH)

03 August, 2009 10:00

One of the most enjoyable Geocaching adventures I have had was placing my first hide, "Two Ancient Roads Until Beauty", GC1GJYH.

A geo buddy of mine, mad_geek and myself visit a lonely traveler's resort in Black River Falls, Wisconsin to do an occasional sleep over.  Camping is not allowed here, though if you are kind to the ranger, so the ranger will be kind onto you! :-)

One morning while the Geek was still sleeping, I rolled him over and notified him I was going on a trek to find our next camp site.  I left with my GMRS radio in hand, and a healthy supply of caffeine and health bars.

I was about an hour into the hike, and I had found the perfect area for us to set up camp.  The early morning mist rolling over the valley and the soft sound of the nearby river did more than tempt me to stay a while longer until I headed back, as I setup my lump on a nice hump and finished my coffee and breakfast enjoying the scenery at the same time.  The stop was well needed indeed.

While dark that night, I thought: This would make a very nice spot to place my first Geocache.  I have had my first cache container created, and I carried it everywhere in the case the location arose where a Cache would be able to sprout.

Those whom wonder deep off the beaten path will notice the ancient roads.  You will also come back wet I must add.  Here are a couple Cache logs for my first hide:

#5 of 5 on a crazy day of geocaching after a stay at Jellystone. If it weren't for this cache, I would have left HATING Jackson County and its confusing roads. This cache made it one to remember.

Fortunately or unfortunately, I turned this into my own little Five for terrain. I always seem to find the WORST possible place to divert from the trail. After winding all the way around the cache, never getting closer than .25 miles, I crossed a bridge, at which point I decided I must be on the correct side of the creek that everyone else had to fjord, so I started bushwacking to GZ. After jumping 2 more narrow creeks and coming to an impassable valley, I gave up and BW back to the trail. I backtracked to the "Jackson County Rec" sign, and headed in through the MUCH easier forest. For any who want a clue on this one, when the path turns away from GZ at about .25 miles from GZ, DON'T FOLLOW IT ANYMORE!

After climbing down into the river valley, I found the creek I had to cross. I switched into sandals and waded across the shallowest point I could find, which turned out to be about thigh deep. At GZ, I searched for about 30 minutes, then checked the clue. I was sure I had been searching the right place, so I figured something must have happed to the cache since the last find. I started rummaging around in needles and found it. I replaced it at what I guessed was its correct locale, and headed back. It took me about 2 hours to get to GZ, and about 30 minutes to get back. On a 90deg day, I hadn't brought enough water, so I was glad to be back to the van.

This type of cache is the reason I go geocaching: heading into strange places I never would have know about otherwise, having great adventures (and doing stupid things). Thanks so much for this great cache! - SR Explorers 2

To bring the Wellies, or not to bring? That was the question as we set off with vtwinspin and the evil twins, agentK1 and gforce1 to seek this one out today. We knew the weather was supposed to take a turn for snowy, but not as soon as it did; just in time for us to drive right into it on the way home after our adventures.

We had the "road" all to ourselves this afternoon, the evil twins toting sleds and joking that they could float themselves across any stream crossings on those. We reached a point where we found a nice passageway off the main trail, then another that turned us in the direction of the cache. We kept looking for that stream, never seeing it, hoping against hope that it was frozen, easing our passage.

Well, some spots were frozen. Kind of. Sort of. Less than 60 feet between us and the cache, and where to cross? We walked up the banks, hoping for a nice natural bridge, but finally settling on testing the waterproofness of our boots. Trekkin' went across first, jumping over the deep hole near the bank. Though the girls had waterproof boots, their dad was a true gentleman and carried them over, keeping their feet dry and toasty and leaving the sleds on the other side. Once we were across, we made our way back toward ground zero, where all descended on the closest spot. I believe it was agentK1 who actually came up with the goods here. We signed in and then followed our path in the snow back to the crossing, which was just a bit tougher going the other way, due to that deep hole right on the banks. The walk out was pleasant with just the hint of the snowstorm to come falling on our heads. This is a very nice area, and as vtwinspin commented, looks like a fun stream to play in when the weather's warmer. He even spotted a little trout in the hole after he'd crossed back over and was waiting for the rest of us.

So, to answer the question? Wellies would have been a nice plus here, but we don't need no stinkin' Wellies! Thanks for a lovely winter hike into the woods and near the stream. SL TFTC

P.S. This one was number 3300 for us! Great one for that milestone. - Trekkin' and birdin'

Yahoo ! ! !

Had the evening off, so the Family and I took the phone off the hook and left the FTF Beacon on...
And what's this a new Cache in our beloved State Forest? A FTF sounds great, so off we went with the flashlights loaded, and a cool evening of stars to guide the way.
I always wondered why there weren't more caches along the State Forest ATV Trails. They sure would be a nice addition to the area.
Any who - TFTC - we signed the log and placed it back in its little nest for the next lucky Geo Cacher.
Oh, just to mention the Glen Creek that runs near is chuck full of native rainbows, for anyone that likes to sneak a fishing pole along on their Geo Journeys...

Thanks again for the venture,

Snyder Bear - Synder Bear


If you are ever in the area, pack a nice lunch and bring the kids!  There is a beautiful cleared area to plop your end down and enjoy the backwoods to this mostly ATV utilized area!

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Geo Journeys & Travel with its Vast Scenic Surroundings