Vegas 2014 - Caching around

The previous times I have been to Las Vegas the temperature was fairly comfortable and there was some wind.   It was not the case this time.  
As we had elected to stay in LV for the duration of our trip we rented a vehicle for day trips.  Twice we went out to Henderson/Boulder City/Hoover Dam area. 
 

This was the actual cache with a TB attached..double score!!

Both times the heat was 30 C or hotter so we tried to limit our caching to P&Gs. One of my goals was a challenge cache in Henderson so we spent some time beforehand solving a nice little geoart series.  This was a fun series of drive ups that had us searching hard for a couple of them while seeing how they do housing developments.    Name That Toon

Also in the area we managed a letterbox in a wetland area that surprised us.  
We also did a nice Wherigo cache in Boulder City.   Bolder City Train Heist was at the Train museum.  Lots of fun and not too much area to cover.  

In Boulder we also picked up some virtuals as well as some traditionals at a park.  Devilish little hides in trees that reminded us of home.

Boulder City was a great stop to explore and shop!!   

Really interesting layering

The one thing on my to-do list this trip was Red Rock Canyon.  Got to use the National Park Pass one more time before it expired.  We did the scenic loop drive, taking pics and finding some traditionals as well as an earthcache.  












 

Since the day was a little overcast the temperature was a lot more comfortable for a 2 mile hike into the 2nd oldest cache in Nevada.  We set off on the trail with water, camera, and GPS in hand. 



We were about 750m in on the rough track when we came upon a pair of burros.  The let us get about 10 feet from them.  Their markings were very interesting. 

The signs on the road stated that feeding of wild horses and burros was a $500 fine...we just took photos....

You really cannot beat an Ammo Can in the desert... This was fun to find this oldie as well as others in the area  Vegas New Year 2K1 Stash

A tad rusty but still going strong..

 

 

Well it wasn't a lot of caches on this trip but definitely some fun ones...

 

We rounded out the trip with some caches around our hotel and the ones required to complete the challenge.

Vegas 2014 - Travel details....

We decided to return to Las Vegas this year for a short stay.  Due to some previous obligations our trip was going to be only a few days long. Because of this the decision was made to fly out of Victoria.  We arrived at the airport in Victoria way to early due to the miscalculation that we would be needing the time to clear customs.  But, because we were laying over in Seattle before boarding Alaska Air we actually cleared Customs & Immigration there. 

Planes lined up behind us in Seattle

So this is what happens when you do not know the routine.  I originally thought that a 2 hour layover in Seattle was a pain..Little did I now that we were going to need every minute of that layover.  When we arrived in Seattle we had to pick up our luggage and then head to C&I.  By the time we disembarked, picked up our luggage, got through C&I, caught the train over to the domestic terminal, and made our way to the our gate, they were loading 1st class..Wow..there is a definite learning curve there for us newbie travelers.

Thinking that is Mt. St Helen

On our return it was so much simpler.  We went through security in LV, arrived in Seattle and had approx 30 minutes to make our connection.. Just reverse the whole thing, except you are not picking up your luggage, or going through C&I.  You do have to catch the train to the International terminal and we arrived at our gate as they were starting to load.  And getting through Canadian C&I in Sidney was a lot easier...
So, a word to the uninitiated....you need all of the time between flights and hope that the flight that you are arriving on is not late....
With that said lets talk about extra charges...We paid $25 each both ways for checked luggage.  This was through Alaska Air.  I was talking to someone in LV who flew in from Michigan on Spirit and they got their flights real cheap.. But, they got dinged on their luggage and carry on to the tune of approx $70 apiece one way. It would be prudent to check before you go just how much extra you are paying for your change of clothes..
And there are now so many pieces of carry on (small luggage w/wheels) that there is no room in the overheads for even your coat...All has to go under the seat.  
This is definitely my learning curve of traveling.  Next time I will be packing just a little different..

2 weeks, 3 Provinces, 6 States, One Mega,3 oldest caches..Part 9 - Going Home

Well we arose from our historical stay at the Waterville Historic Hotel, sat on the balcony,

had coffee and breakfast, watched the town come alive and the sunrise...very peaceful.  We thanked our hosts and set off for the drive home, continuing on Hwy 2.  We headed for the Columbia River and Wenachee, stopping for a couple more caches and buying some fruit to go.  We were detoured at Leavenworth due to a forest fire and directed through Chumstick Hwy before rejoining Hwy 2 just before Stevens Pass. 

I sure wish we had caches loaded for this area as it was beautiful..

GC147QA ▼

White Pine Deception

Back on Hwy 2 we stopped at a couple of rest stops for a walk or two and to stretch our legs.  It didn't take long before we were on I-5 and heading north .  A quick stop at the border and we were heading for the ferry.  A short end to a great trip...

2 weeks, 3 Provinces, 6 States, One Mega,3 oldest caches..Part 8 - Helena and Beyond

After spending a night with a howling wind we woke up to a beautiful sunny morning, packed up our stuff and checked our GPSr.  We were headed into Helena, Montana to do their  Helena Montana Geotour and the first cache was less than a mile away.  Perfect!
We worked our way into the capital city of Montana, exploring the rich history and some amazing architecture. Decided to make use of the generous hotel packages and settle in for the night as well.  The geotour took us to the outskirts and had everything from a micro to a fascinating puzzle, to an earthcache, and a drive into the hills.

The Capital building

The tour trains

We had an opportunity to explore the museum a little and participate in a survey of the historical society's website.  We met a young family at one of the caches overlooking Helena.  They lived in Helena and were great fun to do this fun cache with.

GC3N3NG ▼GeoTour #25: A Lock-N-Lock in a Lock & Lock

Fire Tower

Up in the hills around Helena- It's there somewhere

 

 

I was pleasantly surprised how nice the drive into the hills was.  I could probably have taken a Ferrari back there.  
We finished the requirements and headed back to our hotel around 7 pm to relax, settle in, and  catch up.  The next morning after an awesome breakfast we head to the geotour HQ and checked out the store before choosing our handmade and unique coin.  And then we were off heading west once more with the goal being at least Spokane but hoping for farther.
We stopped along the way to check out Cabellos in Boise and then skirted around Spokane and onto Hwy 2 heading Northwest.  It was getting late in the day but filled the gas tank and kept going.  We were looking for a campsite but they appeared to be few and far between.  More grassland this part of Washington State.  At this point, although we had been caching along the highway into Spokane, we now were just making time.  We made our way into Waterville WA around 8pm.  Stopped at a  quaint historical hotel and procured a room.


 

2 weeks, 3 Provinces, 6 States, One Mega,3 oldest caches..Part 7 - Yellowstone or bust!

We broke down the campsite and had a great breakfast buffet before heading out for Cody, WY the home of Buffalo Bill.  Here we discovered The Buffalo Bill Center of the West,  a large and modern facility located near the center of the city. It contains five museums in one, including the Draper Natural History Museum, the Plains Indian Museum, the Cody Firearms Museum, the Whitney Western Art Museum and the Buffalo Bill Museum.  Wow, there is no way we have time for all that...but we did have a look around.

Although we were extremely tempted we knew we had to get going .  We stopped to do a cache right before the  East Gate and then we were there. 
Our first cache after entering was up a winding road to an overlook of Yellowstone Lake .  Can you see the Grand Tetons in the distance? 

GCGFRQ A Butte-iful Lake View

We followed this up with amazing thermal vents and craters, before heading off to the highlight.

GC15A0V West Thumb Geyser Basin and Crater

    GC10HZW Old Faithful Geyser at Yellowstone National Park

We talked about staying in the park but soon discovered that most sites were booked up to a year in advance.  With no hope of a site we headed out through the West Gate into Montana before turning north. Doing Yellowstone in approx six hours was impossible.  There is no possible way to explore or experience everything about this amazing spot.  

We crossed I-90 again just after dark and settled in for the night at another KOA.  

2 weeks, 3 Provinces, 6 States, One Mega,3 oldest caches..Part 6 - Natural wonders

We bought a National Park Pass last October when we were in Vegas. For $80 you get unlimited access to US National Parks, etc.   If you plan on doing a lot of driving and sightseeing in the US then it is well worth it. It pays for itself really quick when the entry fee per car is $25.

This year's trip had a few bucket list items that we were aiming for.  Today was the day to strike one off the list.  We arose early, packed up, and headed north.  Stopped for a couple of caches and soon had our target location in sight.

Devils Tower

National Monument Wyoming 

"Devils Tower rises above the surrounding grassland and Ponderosa pine forests like a rocky sentinel. Northern Plains tribes have worshipped near this remarkable geologic formation for thousands of years. Fur trappers, explorers, and settlers alike were awed by the tower's majesty."

I just cannot say it any better.  If you are old enough to have watched Close Encounters of the Third Kind in the 1970's then you will remember this monument made with mashed potatoes by Richard Dreyfuss.

We were definitely in awe.  The approach as this huge geological formation rose out of the prairie in front of us was  just short of amazing.  We arrived shortly after the gates opened, parked, checked inside the visitor centre and then headed out for the walk around. 

 

GC22DD ▼

Devils Tower National Monument II

 

Devils Tower was and still is a sacred area for several Plains Tribes. As you walk around the base you will notice prayer offerings in the trees.

By the time we had had returned to the parking lot it was full and the visitor centre was packed.  Glad we managed to see this before the crowds but time to go. 

We rejoined I90 and continued on our way with more stops at interesting places, one of which was a fish hatchery and another relating to the Indian Wars of the late 1800's.  Getting off the beaten path and checking out the side trips and you discover some interesting sites.

GCJ5JH ▼

The Wagon Box Fight

Now a couple of the visitor centers we went to said we should take Hwy 16 at Buffalo but we continued with the original plan and headed north to Sheridan WY and took Hwy 14 west. We will never regret that.  The drive through the Bighorn National Forest is a must do.. Eye popping views, switchbacks, and geological wonders make it a great trip.  Really, really wished for the motorbike for this section.

 

GC17N99 ▼

Dizzying Drops In Granite: Shell Falls

GC1WHHJ ▼

Madison

As we approached the end of the day we headed to Greybull where we set up in the KOA early, had dinner, relaxed, and refueled for the next day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

2 weeks, 3 Provinces, 6 States, One Mega,3 oldest caches..Part 5 - Cowboy History

When traveling and tenting I tend to wake early in the morning and eager to hit the road.  So after rousting my partner out of his toasty sleeping bag we packed up and headed for breakie where we planned our day.  Plans BTW never turn out quite the way you think they will.  Even after breakie we were still to early to take a side trip to Theodore Roosevelt National Park so we took the turn south again and headed for South Dakota...
The landscape was typically grasslands that provided few caches along the route although we did manage some along the highway.   We stopped in Belle Fourche SD for visit to the visitors info.  Grabbed a couple of caches and got directions to a great  coffee/eatery that also had wifi so we could readjust our route and queries.  A stop for gas and food in Spearfish and we were off to Deadwood, SD which was on the bucket list.
A beautiful drive through the canyon and hills into Deadwood.

A very popular and quaint little town that has sadly become very touristy and commercial.  But historically wise it intrigued us so we managed some interesting geocaches. 

GC2CWEY ▼

Homestake Mine-Open Cut

Mount Moriah Cemetery

 Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane rest here.

GC8DF2 ▼

Right, Centaur, and Rear

There was a lot of traffic, including motorbikes gearing up for the upcoming Sturgis week.  It was hard to juggle a parking spot so we didn't stay long.  We had been told by countless people that Mount Rushmore was a must but we made an executive decision and headed back towards Spearfish.  The clouds were already darkening and rain was starting as we headed out and we did want to get west before the next big onslaught of this weather front that we seemed to be in.
We turned west at Spearfish onto I90 and Whoa!! speed limit 80?  Can make pretty good time doing that.. The goal for the night was the Sundance WY area but first we had to outrun the storm.  Heavy rain all the way so we only managed an earthcache

GC2MPGY ▼The Vore Buffalo Jump: Chemistry at Work and a nearby traditional before stepping inside and chatting with the volunteers while trying to outlast the downpour. 

We arrived in Sundance as the sun was popping out of the clouds.  

Sundance after the storm and yes that is hail

Not sure if we should risk a night in the tent with the inclement weather we started looking for a place to stay.  One place actually told us that their basement was flooded and the wifi was down.. Oh No!   that won't work...We had to work fast as everyone had the same idea so we grabbed the last room at a major chain and settled in for the night.  Thinking we probably didn't need the room it was nice to spend some time in the pool and about 11 that night the storm picked back up so it was a lucky escape..

 

2 weeks, 3 Provinces, 6 States, One Mega,3 oldest caches..Part 4 - Heading South

Where did the weekend go?  Got up early this morning and broke camp, loaded the truck, and helped the family pack their stuff up. We decided that we were not going to stay for the pancake breakfast as we had a full day ahead of us.  Grabbed ice and gas and where on our way.  Was great sharing this experience with my daughter and her family.
Today's goal is to get the oldest cache in Saskatchewan....We plotted our route and set forth.  along the way we found some nice caches as well as meeting a couple from Quebec who were also at the Mega.  Awesome opportunity to trade pathtags...!!

Yes it was a Bison on a Bison...lol

We took the detour off of the highway and drove through traditional Saskatchewan.  Due to the previous rainfall and flooding there was lots of water in some places.

Finding the cache access was easy.  We chose to park in the shade at the road access and walk in.  Not to sure of the protocol for driving on private property and with the wet we didn't really know what to expect.  As it was the walk in was hot and dry and punctuated by lots and lot of grasshoppers..
A quick little bushwack and GC14F Sask-cache-one was in hand ...literally... We were the first of many finding this cache today.

GC14F ▼

Sask-cache-one

 We continued on our way south.  I wanted to get the "cache" at Dog River but they were filming there so only managed a couple of caches before moving on.  We spent the night in Estevan and planned for an early start.  The following day one of our goals was a mystery that The Pollywog had solved when he was working in the area last year.   Found the access and the cache with no problem although the hawks were not impressed. There was a nest close by so we didn't stick around too long.

We continued on our way and made the crossing into North Dakota at North Portal.  As soon as we were across we took a side road and some more caches off the beaten path.

The hardest part about traveling and caching is you have to make choices.  Do I cache like crazy and not get anywhere?  or do I drive like crazy and not cache?  Hard decision so we really tried to make it something in between.  Selective about the caches we would stop for.  Old, larger, and earthcache or virtuals were the priority.  Not to say we didn't get any roadside micros but they were more of an opportunity find. Driving in North Dakota was pretty much like driving in Saskatchewan.  Undulating grasslands and long corners.  We stopped in Minot for lunch with the goal of Bismark for the day.
Shortly out of Minot I notice some fork lightning and dark clouds to the west of us.  Didn't think much of it until it got a little closer.  And by close I mean real close.  Soon we were driving real slow, no shelter, wind driving the rain sideways and lightning all around us.  A white knuckle drive for sure.

We learned over the next couple of days that it was quite common for thunderstorms to build in the afternoon and create these nice little supercells that freak out the non residents.  We drove through the worst of it as the storm moved east and arrived in Bismark.    We plotted our course on the GPS and managed the oldest cache in ND

GC551 The Buck Stops Here! in the midst of rain and wind.  Someone commented we were nuts but we don't drive that far out of the way without finding the cache!!

GC551 ▼

The Buck Stops Here!

We quickly vacated Bismark and headed west were we could see the skies clearing. We managed a campsite in Dickinson ND after several stops along the way.