2 weeks, 3 Provinces, 6 States, One Mega,3 oldest caches..Part 1 - the journey begins

July 12, 2014...I got off work at 11 pm the night before and finished loading the truck when I got home.. I think I managed to fall asleep sometime around midnight but was wide awake at 3 am.  Knowing I would either not sleep til my alarm went off at 5 or sleep right through it I just got up and hit the road.  Managed the first ferry out of Duke Point and managed a snooze before the sun came up over the coast mountains. 

I was supposed to meet a couple of cache hiders in the Hope area so I skedaddled there first.  After that I managed my first cache of the day and the trip with "Welcome to Hope"  Quite fitting I thought.  I headed up the Coquihalla in the 38+degree heat managing to find a few roadside or short off road trip caches.  I must say the 120 km speed limit was quite liberating.  However, I had lots of time so enjoyed the drive.

Made it through Kamloops with my next target being a puzzle cache I had solved near McClure.  Found the cache easily and then continued to have a look at the McClure Ferry. 

I was hoping to find a cache at Little Hell's Gate so drove approx 3 km down a dirt road.  Although the cache was missing the location was worth it.  Beautiful little spot.

I spent the night in Valemount and hit the road real early.  Made Robson in time to snag the requisite picture before moving on to Jasper.  This time I had a National Park Pass so was finally able to enjoy Jasper itself.  Lots of interesting sites to see once you get off the highway.  History I never knew about.

After spending about 3  hours in the Jasper area it was time to move on.  Stopped and picked up more caches along the Yellowhead. I was unable to find a cache in a series but when I looked at the cache page I discovered that it was an earthcache.  It is really easy to get distracted when you have lots of time and no immediate deadline.

Proud to be a Cache Cop

So I have been called Geocache Police, Geocache Cop, and, a few unmentionable names.  Do I care? Nope!!
Society has rules and laws.  Without them then society would fall apart.  Mass chaos and confusion.  Everyone would just do as they want with no regard to anyone else or their surroundings. 
Oh wait some geocachers already do that!..
Groundspeak has a set of guidelines that every geocaching member who wants to use their website must follow.  It is simple and basic.  Their guidelines have evolved through trial and error.  The guidelines cover the whole world not just our little section of it.  Within these guidelines are local guidelines that must be followed.  Just like a flowchart.
The guidelines were created to minimize environmental damage, minimize impact on their surroundings, minimize the mass hysteria regarding bombs, etc...
Now there are always someone who feels that these guidelines were not made for them, that they are above all that.  BUT!! and that's a big BUT.. If you choose to use Groundspeaks website to partake in this little hobby then you must follow their guidelines!  Right?  Well for some....nope!! 
So when someone like me who sees blatant disregard for the guidelines, safety issues, environmental damage, etc and happens to mention it in passing, then the phrase "geocache police" or something similar gets used.
My question is why?  What makes you so special that you can just do whatever you want?  Why do you not see that we all play this game and it only takes one issue by you to destroy it?
I should just turn a blind eye and keep my mouth shut?  Like you do?  Writing nasties on cache pages, spreading lies to anyone who will listen?
So while you are reading all this, and I know you do.  See the counter at the top left of the page? Why don't you take the time to reflect on what impact you are having?  What you are teaching other geocachers?  What legacy you are leaving?
I will leave you with this.. For every lie, for every nasty, for every broken rule, for every blatant disregard for safety, for every bad environmental impact, I will speak up.  It is compounding...and I will not go away..

Cut and Paste - why we do it...

Ah the "Cut and paste" logs..
We love to hate these type of logs.   Why? Because they are monotonous?  They are boring? They don't tell us anything about your find?  Because they are lazy?  Because you think you earned it?

There is an ongoing discussion in the Groundspeak forums about Cut and Paste Logs and what cachers should put in their found it logs. As far as Groundspeak is concerned, it is not necessary to write anything in the online found it log. Some cache owners feel "entitled" to some detailed comments in logs since they went to the trouble and expense of creating the cache. 

So really none of us have the right to expect anything in the online log.  We seem to have a sense of entitlement that if we went to the trouble of hiding it then the finder should go to the trouble of gushing all over it. 

But really, some caches are not very "gushable" now are they?  Powertrails and cache saturation's of areas with bison tubes, film canisters, logging slashes, highways, parking lots, no redeeming features?  Yes, I went for a drive, got out of the house, interacted with my friend, got away from the internet, the household chores, my daily routine.  I suppose I could mention all that..Oh right, I do mention it, but I choose to "cut and paste" it into every online log...

When there is a view or another redeeming feature one sure wishes for a nice big cache like an ammocan so that the kids can trade, so we can take our time digging through it, gushing online about our adventure and how we got there. When you take me to an unique spot, a view, a long hike, a mountain top, a historical site, etc, then YES, I will personalize the cache log.  It made an impact on me and therefore rates something other than a C&P or a TFTH comment on the cache page.  Was it particularly tough?  Was it a hide that I can leave a clue for the next finder however discreet? There are lots of reasons for personalizing a cache log.  

If I like the cache I will tell them, I will give it a favorite point if I feel it deserves it.  If it just another C&P cache then it will get a C&P log.

With the increased used of programs such as GSAK to log caches, series like the ET Hwy get just these type of logs.  I am sure that no-one who logs 100-1000+ caches over a few days goes back and personalizes each and every cache.  

Everyone has an opinion about C&P's. I personally feel that a C&P is somewhat better than a Smiley, a TFTH, Thnx a SL.  At least a C&P creates some sort of detail. The thing is not to take it personally. I don't and welcome C&P's.

 

Another day another adventure

Did some caches yesterday that I truly enjoyed so decided that today once I  had done my chores, to head out. 
Arranged to meet another cacher at the parking coordinates at noon.  A little late because I had to turn around and get my GPSr.  Have you ever done that?  Gone caching and forgot stuff you really really needed?
Arrived at the parking area and we promptly headed out.  The caches just happened to be a circular fashion (some anyway)so that would work just fine.  Most of the caches happened to have been hidden for a recent event and all had the same alphabet animal theme. 
Thought we were doing pretty good with the first couple but then we had to really look for a few more.  Keeps it interesting.  We do not want all of them to be easy although, the walk was delightful.  The sun was warming us on this early March day.  The snow was gone in most places, and the JR was frolicking...yes, frolicking with delight.
My friend decided to grab a multi along the way and found  the stages to be different..and one a little soggy.  We will stop and grab the stages along the way.
We took a little side trip shaped like a hook.  This side trip took us about a kilometer or more out of the way so when we got to the last cache at the tip we noticed that we were fairly close to the second stage of the multi.
However, the 200 m trip bushwack was a little more than we bargained for.  We went up a slope and from there we could see the powerline and the required road a mere 100 m away.  So down the other side and smack into a swamp blocking our way.  Oh, that is why there is a road around it.  But wait!  Look, a beaver dam...lets check it out.  I stepped on the dam and found it to be quite solid.  Another however.......there was water flowing over the dam and we were a tad to far to walk back to the vehicles with wet feet if we could avoid it.  So Off with the socks and shoes, roll up the pants and away we go.. 

A little muddy but safe on the other side.  A few minutes to recover, shoes back on and then up the bank through broom and wild rose bushes.  There was a car at the bottom.  Parts anyone?

The road was a treat to see and only 35 m from the second stage.
We finished up the series of caches and congratulated ourselves on the adventure of the day!!

A New Year, A Busy Life

It's been some time since I posted.  Life got busy, holidays, family, geocaching.  You know, the regular stuff.

One of the things that I am working on is my Pathtag collection and designs.  I don't profess to be terribly artistic but I do enjoy creating these little pieces of metal.  Whenever I think of an idea I try to get a pathtag design out of it and save it.  I have even been designing and helping other geocachers with their pathtags. 

Spring cleaning, yard work, regular work, it never stops.  Will I have time to geocache?  You bet!  Getting out and just enjoying the outdoors and the hunt is a great stress reliever.  Being with the great friends I have made makes it all the better.

Got my vacation time so a trip east to Westcan 4 is being planned, as well as some well deserved visits with friends and family.Will be traveling the western provinces and hoping to hit some border states as well. 

It will be a toss up to see if this summer will be riding weather.  Right now the BC coast is experiencing a very dry, mild winter.  So while everyone rejoices in this weather  I wonder if it will be a very dry, hot, summer with forest fires and water shortage or a wet, wet, summer.  Hopefully the bike can hit the road for a couple of long weekends....caching on two wheels.  Always fun.

So, for this, my first blog of the year, here's to everyone having a good year caching, enjoying friends and family, and staying safe!!  And I hope to see you on the trails...

50th Parallel View

After caching every day in August completing the 31/31 challenge, one would think that it was time to take a break.  But, it is really hard and I was getting antsy sitting at home.  It was Sept 1st and at least one JR and I needed a walk.  Finally after lunch I looked to see what cache would meet these requirements.  I happened to notice that a cache west of me had not yet been found since it's publication 2 weeks ago.  Being a Sunday I figured someone would go out and get it in the morning but the objective was to get out of the house anyway.
I set off around 1 pm knowing that I could only get so far with my car.  I did manage to get as far as I thought I would so parked it off to the side so not to impede anyone else on the road. 
Charlie, the "wee dog" was soooo excited to be going for a walk.. He charged up the hill with occasional stops to check back on me. I managed to huff and puff my way up at my speed, not his...

There was one spot on the road up that had a big mud puddle on it.  I managed to find a way around it but Charlie had to go part way through it before he could get off to the side.  Good thing he is not afraid of water!  On the way back he followed my way around..

Once at the top I took the time to look around.  I never tire of the views.  Headed into the bush via a quad track and soon popped out onto the bluffs.  I wasn't in any hurry to find the cache so sat for a bit and just relaxed.  
 
Off to the cache!  Found it pretty quick thanks to some great coordinates and clue.

I made sure I got some great pictures and then headed back down.  The trip back was a tad faster of course.
Had a bit of a chuckle when after I got the car turned around I pulled over for a minute and this vehicle pulled up beside me and asked if I was ok.  Guess he wasn't used to seeing a female out in the bush on a backroad to often. Nice of him to stop though.

Day Hike in Strathcona Park

Strathcona Provincial Park is the oldest provincial park in the province.  It was created in 1911.  There are multiple access points, camping, and day use sites along the lower elevations.  Trail access to the sub-alpine and alpine areas are through various trail systems  from the lower elevation sites.  One of the most accessible for the sub-alpine and alpine areas though is via Paradise Meadows Trailhead at the Strathcona Provincial Park Wilderness Centre.   The trail around Paradise Meadows itself is designated the Barrier Free Centennial Trail.  It is a meandering trail consisting of hard packed gravel and boardwalk that is fully accessible to everyone.

On the start of the Battleship Lake section as we climb up, looking down at Paradise Meadows and the boardwalk

 
With several geocaches in mind including a multi we set off from the Parking lot at approximately 1030.  As we traipsed along the boardwalk we stopped at each waypoint and recorded the numbers we would need for the multi final calculations as well as two other geocaches.  We only went halfway before heading off towards Battleship Lake on another trail that was somewhat more rustic although wide and well traveled.  We would gather the rest of the clues on our return when we rejoined the boardwalk.

Battleship Lake

The others found a geocache that I had found previously so I chatted with a few hiking groups that were on their way in/out of the alpine.  Lots of day hikers but also a fair amount of campers taking advantage of the opportunity to get in some backcountry experience.

Lake Helen Mckenzie

We then headed over to Lake Helen McKenzie where we stopped and had lunch and enjoyed the break and the views.  No whiskey jacks (Grey Jays) at the lake today to mooch lunch but did have some farther down the trail and I pulled out some seed for some other hikers so that they too could enjoy the jays eating right out of their hands...


The trail down from Lake Helen McKenzie followed a stream for awhile as it traversed the hillside and boggie areas.  Here too was boardwalk and stairs to alleviate the stress and wear and tear on some of these high traffic areas.

Leafy Aster

We rejoined the boardwalk and proceeded back towards the parking lot.  The round trip with a couple of side trips for geocaches and a lunch stop took us 4 1/2 hours but we had a steady but slow pace.  

On the Battleship Lake Section looking towards Mt Washington Resort