My new project is to stop the dumping on our logging roads. I have started a group in Facebook to expose the dumping. Please join and add your photos, comments, etc.
Monday, 21 November 2011
SNOW!!
Snow has arrived in Campbell River. Was out working the other night and got caught in it and never even made it home!! Good things I have other options.
As for geocaching, it definitely puts a crimp in the whole thing. However, we did manage to make it out yesterday for a few and a great walk in the snow with the JR's. They thought that it was the cat's meow. something about snow really makes them happy and full of energy. Not like they never had that before but there is a noticeable change that I cannot quite put my finger on.
Caching in the snow was great. The finds were easy enough but I fear we gave away the hidey hole with our footprints alone. Never fear!! There was a small overnight snowfall that would cover them right up!!
Friday, 4 November 2011
November caching
Well the days are getting shorter and the weather is no longer reliable. Any caching to be done is opportunistic. And with that note it was a fine day when cacher_lou and I set off to bike the Snowden Demonstrations Forest on November 1. We spent about 4 - 5 hours doing the Lost Lake/Upper and Lower Lost Frog Loop while he amassed 41caches for the day 30 of them on the trail alone. The days was perfect for riding. Cool enough not to overheat but not so cool that stopping gave us chills.
The next day we were on a hunt for the FTF on a earthcache. We noted that it had not yet been logged before we started out. There were several caches along the way and beyond for cacher_lou to find and I did not mind the drive and it is always nice to share the Strathcona Park/Buttle Lake area. The earthcache in question was Karst Creek Earthcache GC36VNQ
I have been to this area several times and always enjoy returning. There is another cache close by that is a 2002 hide and has just recently been adopted by another cacher .
When we first walked up to the cache site Buttle Lake had only small ripples on the surface but during our walk we noticed that in the trees the wind was picking up so we did not tarry as branches were starting to fall. When we returned to the parking area there were white caps on the lake. So off we went to Myra Falls to grab the remainer of the caches out there. On the way back we stopped at Ralph River Campground and because the gate was locked we managed to wear the dogs out a little bit more. After leaving there the rain had started so we called it a day and noticed on the drive back to Campbell River that there was wet snow in the rain.
Yes opportunistic is right. And timing can be everything.
The next day we were on a hunt for the FTF on a earthcache. We noted that it had not yet been logged before we started out. There were several caches along the way and beyond for cacher_lou to find and I did not mind the drive and it is always nice to share the Strathcona Park/Buttle Lake area. The earthcache in question was Karst Creek Earthcache GC36VNQ
I have been to this area several times and always enjoy returning. There is another cache close by that is a 2002 hide and has just recently been adopted by another cacher .
When we first walked up to the cache site Buttle Lake had only small ripples on the surface but during our walk we noticed that in the trees the wind was picking up so we did not tarry as branches were starting to fall. When we returned to the parking area there were white caps on the lake. So off we went to Myra Falls to grab the remainer of the caches out there. On the way back we stopped at Ralph River Campground and because the gate was locked we managed to wear the dogs out a little bit more. After leaving there the rain had started so we called it a day and noticed on the drive back to Campbell River that there was wet snow in the rain.
Yes opportunistic is right. And timing can be everything.
Wednesday, 5 October 2011
A couple of FTF's make the drive worthwhile
Was just heading out the door to take the JR's for a short walk when I get notification that there were some new caches. I quickly hook up the Garmin and download two caches up in the Buttle Lake area of Strathcona Park in my old hiding grounds. Turns out both of them are more or less right were I shut down a couple of park caches this spring. One of them is hidden in exactly the same spot. Oh yeah, a drive, two FTF's and a lovely but short walk with the JR's. I get home and go to log them and discover two more out in Ralph River. Well, not going back out today but a general excuse for another rainy day drive and a walk under the trees. So glad that another cacher has picked up the ball and started hiding in the Buttle Lake area Great trails and scenery.
Monday, 3 October 2011
October, fall weather, and geocaches
Well October has arrived and so has the fall weather. Looks like any chance of a mild fall or winter is out the window. I finally gave in a turned on the heat. The pets were starting to shiver. Now that's not good.
Went for a walk yesterday and retreived/archived a couple more caches. They were down an old road through a slash. Happened by them the other day and lo and behold the road had been reopened so I thought I better check on them. One of them was about 6 inches from being buried. How did I miss that?
Well with all this cache maintenance and archival I have turned my eye towards another area and the awesome trails on them. I will have a partner in crime and have some interesting thoughts. One of them may require a change of clothes after doing the cache. mwahahahahaha
Went for a walk yesterday and retreived/archived a couple more caches. They were down an old road through a slash. Happened by them the other day and lo and behold the road had been reopened so I thought I better check on them. One of them was about 6 inches from being buried. How did I miss that?
Well with all this cache maintenance and archival I have turned my eye towards another area and the awesome trails on them. I will have a partner in crime and have some interesting thoughts. One of them may require a change of clothes after doing the cache. mwahahahahaha
Friday, 30 September 2011
Thoughts & opinions (rant) for Sept 30 2011
There is a lot of debate regarding the recent roadside cache ban that is in effect until
Groundspeak & the MOT here in BC can get some sort of agreement in place. Everyone is getting really antsy over it and I can see in the forums that the reviewers are doing what they can.
I think that most of us forget that we must use common sense when hiding a geocache and that some areas are perceived to be dangerous to ourselves as well as others. Highways are not always the best spot. I personally think that if you are hiding on a highway a good pullout is required. Not a 4 foot shoulder but an actual pullout, rest area, road, etc.
Now these new temporary measures might spawn some caches illegally placed just because. That is not going to do any of us any good. All it will do is show that geocachers have no regard for the guidelines, the law, etc. It makes all of us look bad.
Here on Vancouver Island I have seen so many illegal placements and not just ones on the highways. For the most part I ignore them unless they are on a structure that will cause a problem such as a dam or a BC Park cache that does not follow the BC Parks Policy on geocaching.
These policies have been painstakingly discussed and fought for and designed to cause as little environmental impact as possible but still allow us to hide and find caches. The geocacher who ignores and thinks that it does not apply to him/her puts us all in the hotseat and has the potential to ruin it for all of us.
I am not saying that we should get out there and become cache police. For the most part this hobby is self-policed and I still have hope that everyone thinks first and hides second.
Groundspeak & the MOT here in BC can get some sort of agreement in place. Everyone is getting really antsy over it and I can see in the forums that the reviewers are doing what they can.
I think that most of us forget that we must use common sense when hiding a geocache and that some areas are perceived to be dangerous to ourselves as well as others. Highways are not always the best spot. I personally think that if you are hiding on a highway a good pullout is required. Not a 4 foot shoulder but an actual pullout, rest area, road, etc.
Now these new temporary measures might spawn some caches illegally placed just because. That is not going to do any of us any good. All it will do is show that geocachers have no regard for the guidelines, the law, etc. It makes all of us look bad.
Here on Vancouver Island I have seen so many illegal placements and not just ones on the highways. For the most part I ignore them unless they are on a structure that will cause a problem such as a dam or a BC Park cache that does not follow the BC Parks Policy on geocaching.
These policies have been painstakingly discussed and fought for and designed to cause as little environmental impact as possible but still allow us to hide and find caches. The geocacher who ignores and thinks that it does not apply to him/her puts us all in the hotseat and has the potential to ruin it for all of us.
I am not saying that we should get out there and become cache police. For the most part this hobby is self-policed and I still have hope that everyone thinks first and hides second.
Thursday, 29 September 2011
Archiving a cache is sad
Well this cache has not been found for over a year so I decided that maybe it needs to be freshened up or removed..hopefully someone else will get out there and place one. (Not on the highway guys!!)
I decided to head out to http://coord.info/GC176AY this morning to take the JR`s for a walk. I knew that the logging company had closed the trestle and put a gate at each end. Even let T-Bone off the leash because I knew she couldn't go very far on this road/walk.
Was a great morning for the walk. Was still warm out, and no wind. Nice quiet day now that most of the campers have departed from the lakeside.
It didn't take long to walk across and remove the stages and final. The second stage was not hanging up but almost buried in the debris below the hook. Had to dig it out. Well I guess after a year anything is possible. The last cacher DNF'ed this cache and I still don't know why. It was a pretty straightforward multi with a magnetic key case on the railing, a bison tube in a post and the final in between them both in a post as well.
I decided to head out to http://coord.info/GC176AY this morning to take the JR`s for a walk. I knew that the logging company had closed the trestle and put a gate at each end. Even let T-Bone off the leash because I knew she couldn't go very far on this road/walk.
Was a great morning for the walk. Was still warm out, and no wind. Nice quiet day now that most of the campers have departed from the lakeside.
It didn't take long to walk across and remove the stages and final. The second stage was not hanging up but almost buried in the debris below the hook. Had to dig it out. Well I guess after a year anything is possible. The last cacher DNF'ed this cache and I still don't know why. It was a pretty straightforward multi with a magnetic key case on the railing, a bison tube in a post and the final in between them both in a post as well.
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