GeoCaching

GeoCaching is a very geek sport; partially a treasure hunt, partially just good exercise and an inexpensive excuse to visit interesting locations ... and, of course, a degree of competition in seeing how many sites you can log. For more information about GeoCaching, visit the official web site at: http://www.geocaching.com/.

I got into GeoCaching while living in Sonoma County. Since relocating to Washington, eight of the California sites have been adopted by Team Psychopuppy while I have established a number of new sites here along the Toandos Peninsula.

Geocaches are infinitely varied, from very tiny "nano" caches to microcaches (7 of these in the picture below) to medium and larger sizes (some as large as 5 gallons or more). Cache containers may be quite visible or may be concealed, generally depending on the owner's purpose and the location of the "hide". For example, we found two "nano" containers (one the size of two pencil erasers and the other not much bigger than an aspirin) which were magnetically attached in inconspicuous locations ... and were very hard to find. Another, a small "buffalo" tube, was hung by a dark wire inside a storm drain. Twice, caches were simple tupperware containers but they were placed at the bases of parking lot light poles (about 3 foot above the ground) inside apparently immobile square covers concealing the bolts mounting the poles to their pillars.

The four foot tall, plastic phallic covers (yellow or red) covering heavy pipe barriers at the entrances of WalMart, Home Depot and other locations can be easily lifted off to reveal an inviting space inside ... ah, so tempting ... but just not ideal for various reasons (mostly too bloody many muggles around).

I've hidden a number of caches inside hollows in trees/tree stumps, under rocks, behind fallen stumps, in cavities in rock constructions ... and stuck to various surfaces. (BTW: if anyone knows where I can find a surplus fire hydrant ... well, I'd love to modify one of those ...(Ben cackles fiendishly, rubbing his hands together))

In one case, a six-inch long metal box adheres magnetically to the bottom of a propane tank while a square flat metal box resides on the underside of a large piece of bark (isn't hot glue wonderful) and a container with a bark "lid" fits nicely inside a hollow in tall stump. Other recent "hides" include microcontainers hanging overhead ... but looking more like bird's nests than anything else.

At the right, you can see an assortment of camouflaged containers intended as geocaches (most of these will be in place shortly, a few are simply reserves waiting for a location to be deployed).

Beginning with the largest (center rear), an olive curing jar has been camo'd, less for absolute concealment than simply to make it unobtrusive until the searcher reaches the correct location (and to protect it from accidental discovery.)

To the immediate right, the tall container will be used for the Please Leave A Message cache while the low, hairy one just in front of these two (the concealment is a mixture of coconut mat and punk from a dead tree) will be resting on debris in a forest hollow.

Moving to the left, chunks of bark, camo and a small glass bottle provide an easily concealed cache with a small log book and pen inside.

At the front, an assortment of test strip bottles make excellent microcaches. The four at the far right are simply camo'd (but may be altered later). The next one to the left is covered with shredded punk and will be "dropped" into a hole and down a slot in a pier (a large weathered post) where it will neatly match the existing interior

Continuing left, the next two microcaches have magnetic backs ... for fairly obvious reasons even through they may be far from obvious once placed.

Finally, at the far left, the big stick conceals it's own secret (it is hollow), becoming visibly invisible in the proper setting.

And, difficult as these might appear, of two dozen caches, only two have not been found ... yet (as of 9/11/08 ... but there are people out there searching, you bettcha.)

Note: follow the links to the actual cache site listings and read the comments from other geocachers who have (or have not) found each site.

A high point occurred on 8/23/08 when I had 51 hits (in one day) on caches along the Toandos. That's really high traffic for such a remote area and doesn't include the DNFs (Did Not Finds) since some of these are very well camouflaged, concealed or otherwise challenging.

My Washington sites (24 of them as of 9/11/08) are listed (roughly) in the order they were created.

And, of course, the adventures continue as I will continue to create new challenges.

This is not to say that I'm only hiding caches -- I'm definitely seeking caches as time, energy and gasoline permit but, for reasons two and three, I usually do this when I'm going to an area anyway for some other purpose. Not always but often.

GC1C6F	Pool Ridge Trail	This was the first GeoCache I set up. The site was chosen simply because it is a beautiful spot and well worth a visit.
GC9359	Over or Under	This is a virtual cache and is simply an interesting spot that can be approached by land or by water (unless, of course, the river is too high).
GCNCWK	Top O' The Stair O' Roots	Some may find this one a bit of a climb but, in mitigation, I'm in my 60's, I'm rated 70% disabled, I have a pacemaker/defibrillator, I'm diabetic, I use a cane because of my knee ... and I put it here without really stressing. If you're in a wheelchair, you have an excuse; otherwise ... See also: No Excuses, Stop and Think II
	Blind Find	Blind Find is now defunct but this was along a blind trail (guide rope and brass signs in Braille) in Armstrong Redwoods Park. The coordinates were for the start of the trail and the seeker was recommended to use a blindfold, follow the guide rope and discover the actual microcache at one of the trail signs ... by touch.
GCJJAA	Along A Road Less Traveled	As the name suggests, this cache is on a route that most people don't know about or use. But it is a lovely drive and many beautiful views along the way ... or most of the way is a beautiful view.
GCNQVG	In The Sistering	This is a multi-cache which leads you to a "sister ring" of redwoods. This is located on a high ridge and the views are wonderful both there and along the way.
GCN4CR	Chris's Cache	Another lovely location, this is a mystery cache and you'll have to find both Along A Road Less Traveled and Pool Ridge Trail for the coordinates and then follow the Blind Trail in Armstrong Woods for the final key but it's worth the search.
GCN68G	Ethan's Cache	And, once you've found Chris's Cache, you'll have the information needed to find Ethan's Cache. As usual, the views are magnificent.
GCNA20	Larry’s Grüner Petz-Baum Cache	And, last but not least in this mystery cache series, Ethan's Cache will direct you here. As a bonus, this cache also offers the coordinates for a lovely picnic spot not too far away -- bring a lunch basket and relax.

GCWMR3	Seeking Buddha	I had a large olive curing container (seals very nicely) which I camo'ed and tucked in the bushes behind my Seated Buddha sign. This has been a book-exchange, a drop spot for travel bugs and an interesting way to meet some fellow geocachers.
GCWMQH	Silence	Silence is a puzzle cache since 1) the seeker must find Seeking Buddha to complete the coordinates and then 2) find the cache itself in deep forest where the GPS gets a very poor signal (making the coordinates rather "iffy"). Silence also advises: These are the sounds of silence. Allow them to empty your mind, To remove the noise of thought, To fill you with the peace of Zen. If you find satori, I have nothing more to offer.
GC1EV94	Silence II	Fairly close to Silence, this is a well camouflaged container behind a fallen root-clump on the shore of Silent Lake. A nice quiet spot with a bench allowing the seeker to sit and reflect. Like Silence, Silence II is a puzzle since the seeker must first find Seeking Buddha and Silence to have enough information to find this site.
GCX600	MM1 (Mystic Mushroom #1)	Being diabetic, I have an accumulation of test strip containers: 1' diameter by 2.5" long plastic bottles similar to the old 35mm film containers. I took two of these and a split tennis ball and used rock-hard water putty to create mushrooms with the containers as the stems. Add some camo paint and a little artistry and a four inch spike out the bottom and these sit very nicely on a hole drilled in a stump. The container holds the logbook to record visits. You'd be surprised how hard these can be to spot ... even when they're in plain sight on a three-foot diameter tree stump.
GC1EXWJ	MM2 (Mystic Mushroom #2)	Like MM1 except that this one is on a very "tall" tree stump ... and nobody ever looks up. (Yes, I know, I'm mean ... sneaky ... overhanded ... all of that ... geocachers tell me so.)
GC1EZRX	Twice Daily At The Boneyard	Twice Daily is a challenging puzzle cache with a terrain rating of 5 (maximum) and a difficulty rating of 3. The initial directions are to a location on Coyle Road where a sign gives the year that the area was harvested and replanted. The last two digits of the year are needed to complete the coordinates for a waypoint cache where a microcache container (hanging from a tree branch) gives the final coordinates. The trick, however, is that the final cache site is in the mudflats of Dabob Bay and only accessible during low tides (and only then with some difficulty). See photo here. The clues for this site include a hyperlink to the appropriate tide tables.
GC1FB7P	No Excuses, Stop and Think	Some time back, I'd noticed a couple of birds nests in a couple of low hemlocks (evergreens). Built by robins, they'd been there (and abandoned) for several years (including winter, snow and storms) when I decided to do something interesting with them. I started by pouring some polyurethane varnish inside and tilting the nest to distribute it evenly, then let dry. Once that was done, I inserted a shallow round food container (after camouflaging) and anchored it with hot glue and then added a camouflaged velcro strap to the bottom. After all this had time to set up, the NEST geocache was placed on the branch of a tree and anchored with the velcro strap. The result is absolutely NOT easy to see ... even when you know where it is. The title, of course, is a fair clue. 8/28/08: Unfortunately, the original cache did not last long and has since been replaced with a new container ... of a different type and a different concealment. C'est la guerre!
GC1FF7Y	No Excuses, Stop and Think II	The second NEST geocache I made even more of a challenge by making it a bit harder to reach. A couple of miles south, I found a nice pullout along a low traffic road; massive trees on both sides, lots of moss ... and a very steep slope rising to the south. Upslope, I found a very nice, very large stump just right for a rest ... and a very nearby evergreen branch (at eye level) where NEST II vanished nicely into the cover. (Note: NEST II is very mossy ... with live moss.) From the parking location (coordinates given) to the cache site is only about 150-200 feet ... horizontally, that is. Vertically? Well, add another couple of hundred feet -- not a gentle slope. Therefore, I added a note to the listing: This cache was placed by a disabled Veteran (over 65)... with a pace maker ... and diabetes ... and arthritis ... and a bad knee ... who was breathing a bit from the walk up, yes, but it was only a moderate cardio workout. Ergo, short of a wheelchair, no excuses, please. See also: Top O' The Stair O' Roots
GC1EXX2	Yellow Bear with Blue Hat	A plastic cookie jar in the shape of a bear, a blue lid, some yellow paint and a hollow tree stump ... but a bit of a challenge to reach because of the slash from when the area was harvested a few years ago and the underbrush replacing the harvested timber.
GC1F3WH	Stumped Yet?	This puzzle cache begins with the location of a sign where the last two digits of the year of harvest complete the coordinates to the location of a microcache. From there, a series of four microcaches provide the chain of evidence taking the seeker to the final cache. Not simple but not extreme either.
GC1FE77	Down At The End Of Nowhere	This puzzle cache begins with the location of a sign where the last two digits of the year of harvest complete the coordinates to the location of a microcache. The first microcache (waypoint) simply offers a bearing and distance to a second ... which offers a bearing and distance to a third (which is hard to find) and, from there, a final bearing, distance and clue to the actual cache. As intended, a challenging puzzle and one not easily logged. Update: waypoint #3 seems to be a real stumper ... but someone will find it eventually.
GC1FRXM	You Can Bank On It	This small, hairy cache isn't a easy one to find, perhaps simply because it is not in the obvious spot ... not even close, really. Misdirection is such a wonderful thing ... just ask any magician.
GC1FB9M	Left of the Old Stone Stair	I didn't intend this one to be a challenge, just an interesting spot and an easy cache ... But that's not how it turns out, it seems. Granted, the old Coyle township is something of a nest of private roads, locked gates and restricted access signs ... and the marina at Fisherman's Harbor does have a locked gate on the dockway but the parking lot is publicly accessible and quite simple to reach ... if it weren't for the convoluted routes that some geocachers try to use. The cache itself is simply a camouflaged container in a cavity next to a short stair of stone slabs. Really, it's supposed to be easy.
GC1FF6R	Hazel Point	The Hazel Point cache began when I went looking for a GCS Benchmark (SY1120). When I figured out that the benchmark itself was located on private property, I found a nice location for a small cache (on public property) and published it as a bearing and offset from SY1120. Again, the intention was an interesting puzzle without being too difficult ... but, also again, it seems to have been more challenging than I intended. C'est la guerre! (It now has a rating of 4 for difficulty and a 1.5 for terrain.)
GC1FF71	Here's a Tall One	Another easy cache, this one is a small container tucked in a crevasse on the back side of a dead tree, less than 20 feet from a good road. But I've already heard that at least one individual (I won't name any names ... or caching handles) managed to get stuck (in dry weather) and had to be pulled out by a neighbor. C'est la vie!
GC1FF7B	Rock On	This one, at least, has been reported as easy ... thus far. Nothing particularly mysterious or difficult, just a massive rock surrounded by salal berries (similar to blueberries) with the cache tucked in a fracture hollow at one end.
GC1FPY2	Has To Be Somewhere	Everybody has to be somewhere, no? This microcache is well-camouflaged but otherwise not too difficult to find.
GC1F97C	Medic 1	Two well camouflaged microcaches in locations (which may well be familiar to veterans) where heroes work with heroes. These caches are not easy to find, however, simply because they have been camouflaged and concealed in accord with principles well known to the military. A touch of nostalgia, perhaps? But don't worry, these won't explode.
GC1FA06	Medic 2
GC1G59F	A Bridge Too High	This "bridge" is the single brief stretch of pavement on a forest road making a circular climb up Mt. Walker. No particular reason but it just seemed like a good spot for a microcache ... and a link on the way to Mt. Walker View.
CG1G556	Mt. Walker View	There are already two caches on top of Mt. Walker, a third along a trail from the base and a fourth at the base of the trail ... but this spot simply begged for a cache to induce people to stop and to admire the view to the east across Quilcene Bay, Dabob Bay, the Toandos Peninsula, the Hood Canal, the Kitsap Peninsula and Puget Sound ... with Seattle (weather permitting) visible in the distance.
GC1G58Q	History	A small museum in Quilcene (a very small town itself) provided this opportunity for a very well concealed microcache as a challenge to seekers. Hopefully, the museum itself will also be an attraction. Oh, yes, the cache? Well, that's a microcontainer which is in "plain" sight ... but very hard to see ... and maybe hard to retrieve as well.
GC1G590	Please Leave A Message	Initially, I saw this location as an convenient spot for a puzzle cache, giving the seeker an initial location where they could park and then supplying the bearing and distance for two legs leading to the destination. On reflection, however, I decided to make this something different: an audio message cache where the geocachers are invited to leave an audio recording (using a cassette recorder) of their visit. Periodically, the cassette will be retrieved and the recordings transferred to computer audio files which will be available at a special web site. And we'll see how it goes ...
GC1G58B	Harvey's Hideaway	My friend Harvey Caldwell (aka: Tarhill to geocachers) has become addicted to the sport (and the exercise is good for him as well) and selected this quiet location for a cache, suggesting also that this would be a good spot to bring one's significant other for a picnic or a little snuggling (but beware of other geocachers). To add to the challenge, however, the first set of coordinates direct the seeker to the location where a "clue" will provide directions to the actual cache. The catch is: the clue is very well camouflaged and I have every reason to believe will be a real challenge ... perhaps even a frustrating one for some.
GC1GER2	Spheksophobia	Be afraid ... be very afraid ... After all, that's why we go to amusement parks, right? For the thrill and the fear? In this case, spheksophobia refers to "the fear of wasps" and, since I respect them but don't fear them, I've had this handy nest (see photos and notes here) sitting around ever since the inhabitants abandoned it two years ago in the fall. Actually, you can buy fake wasp nests to hang out to deter wasps from building (they are territorial) in an area. In practice, I've no idea how well the fakes work but, come spring, the real wasps built their new nest several hundred feet away from the old. However, to stick to the point, I expect this cache to be one to give a few hardy geocachers a frisson of discovery ...