Northern Wisconsin Caching

[shine_like_a_star]

Hm. Let’s talk about what can be done to make northerners feel more involved in caching, why they aren’t, northwoods caches and cachers…..

I guess I’ll start with a little background info. I grew up in Park Falls, which is an itty bitty town in northern Price County. I started caching when I was in Milwaukee for college. When I came back home for the summer, there were five caches in Price County (including one virtual and one that hadn’t been maintained in years). My boyfriend and I quickly made 10 caches (5 micros and 5 regulars) and placed 9 in Price County and 1 in Ashland. These were areas that we have treasured since we were kids. Some were town parks, some were by campgrounds and some were by neat areas of interest (the Smith Rapids Covered Bridge and the Round Lake Logging Dam). Although they don’t get found very often, most of the logs state the cachers really enjoyed our out-of-the-way caches and wouldn’t have seen the areas otherwise. I think that’s pretty cool. 8)

I have also found my share of awesome caches way up north. I’ve discovered abandoned mines, finally visited Timms Hill, found peaceful trails along babbling brooks right next to Highway 27 that you would never know where there, found other waterfalls at Copper Falls that I doubt most people know exist, found war memorials tucked way back in the woods, ETC.

As far as other geocachers, there aren’t many from my neck of the woods. Even thought I now live in Stevens Point, there aren’t even that many around here. Which brings me to the point of all this…..You may remember that three months ago, I posted this thread. I wanted to meet some cachers, so I put the idea out there. One Paddle Short had been thinking the same things and took the initiative to host an absolutely amazing event. People came all the way from Green Bay, Eau Claire, Appleton and Eagle River for this. I think around fifty people showed up in all.

To get the idea of an event off the ground didn’t involve whining of slamming the BOD or complaining that Wisconsin Geocaching is centered in the southeast. It took an idea; it took a suggestion. And it paid off. So let’s have more events up north; let’s get our northern friends and relatives involved. Let’s make the weekend trips to find the great caches up there. Let’s hide our own caches when we find a secret spot. ETC again.

Okay, those are my thoughts. What do you think?

/soapbox.

-Katy- 8)

[Geoffnsara]

Opinion warning

We have cached throughout the stae and found the best caching is in the northwoods, because most every cache takes you somewhere worth going. Not every cache is on a guardrail, or under a light pole base. Caching used to be like that in Milwaukee when we first started. Sadly those days are long gone here. I sincerely hope that does not happen up there. More caches is not always the best thing. Events are always a good time andas the saying goes, If you build it they will come.

[Timberline Echoes]

We found out last week at the Rhinelander Chamber that they put in for a grant and sounds like they got it. She said it will involve 3 counties and geocaching next spring. So keep your ears and eyes open for that one.

We talk with everyone about geocaching all the time… hoping to recruit a few more cachers in our area. We have long run out of caches to find in the the north.. we have even pretty much cached out the UP. We only have 20 some caches out but we are happy to say all have have been fpund in August and Sept. We try to keep them well maintained… (which is why we hiked nearly 5 miles today, checking many of them and doing a little fixing) all of ours take you someplace that we feel will add special memories, historical information, geographical information or just feel closer to nature when finding.
Timberline Echoes

[Team Hemisphere Dancer]

Why not set up some public bookmarks of the caches that are nice hikes, or out of the way places that someone from Southern WI will want to make a trip up there and see all these places. In a way market the high quality of the caches that you have. Separate them from the urban micros.

[GOJeepers]

I just finished a weekend of northwoods caching and I have to agree that there are many many high quality caches to be had. I second the idea of “marketing” the caches by setting up bookmarks or routes for some of the areas. Say “Caches along Hwy 8” or “Caches from Wausau to Minoqua”. Those of us who spend time in the far north infrequently would really benefit from a little push in the right direction.

Use the Delorme challenge to your advantage….there are many people who want to complete the challenge who are going to have to venture farther than they usually do. Maybe create book marks for caches by page, county, etc. Offer some advice on great places to stay, out of the way camping spots or restaurants, too. Everyone loves the gems they find up north and not all of them are found on the geotrail.

Just my $0.02.

[Coastiegirl04]

I’m with GOJeepers on this one, I would love to go up north and find those caches up there! it would be awesome if their were bookmarks of the Must Do for Experience, and on top of it, Interesting and One of a kind places to stay be it hotels, bed and breakfast, Campgrounds (though now that its getting colder i won’t be camping) but its always good to plan for next summer! Now that the new Cache Along a Route is up and running it would be cool to try those out!
like everyone else that’s just my $0.02 😉

[EnergySaver]

I agree with the comments. Our “first choice” of caches is always those that take you out in the woods or other cool rural settings with mid/long hikes. While we don’t head more than an hour away from our house very often, when we do we eagerly seek caches that fit this category … that’s just our preference and what initially got us interested in geocaching.

If you bookmarked “groups”, say with 30 minute/drive circles of northern destinations, we’d be happier than bumps on a pickle. Just make sure you list them on the WGA website’s “Bookmark Lists” section, or they’ll be well kept secrets. It would be nice of some format was used, like:
Northern WI Scenic – Crivitz
Northern WI Scenic – Eagle River
Northern WI Scenic – Park Falls
Northern WI Scenic – Pembine
…. etc, etc.

[greyhounder]

(I’ve fixed the problem with the link now.) Here are the caches closest to my cabin near Phillips. Haven’t had much chance to get up that way in a while. Was hoping to make a tour this summer, but my ailing doggie has put a damper on my plans. I’ve done just a few, and they were great (Cemented in History, Timm’s Hill, Cranberry Cache, one of Otter’s waterfall caches, and attempted Slough Gundy, but the water was a bit high. Great hike though!) One of these days I’ll get back up there. Northern Wisconsin is like a sacred place to me, and when I can’t visit I feel lost.

Cabin Area Caches

Bec

[Team Deejay]

@greyhounder wrote:

I don’t know if I can link to a pocket query, but I’ll try.

Uh, this isn’t going to work. You can do this:

http://www.geocaching.com/seek/nearest.aspx?lat=45.6714&lon=-90.390533

Or you can create a bookmark list, and link that, but not a pocket query.

[Team B Squared]

Not in Wisconsin, but definitely “up north”.

U.P. Can’t Miss Caches

[cheezehead]

I just want to say I’m sorry for what I had posted in the other post. I have deleted it. I was not to read the way it read. They where just basic concerns and question. I am new to this crazy sport and do not know all things from the past. So I am sorry to have caused a ruckus.

As of this time I have not had the chance to do much hunting outside of my area. I have put out 2 caches which I thought where new and unique places. I have been searching for about 2 months looking for new cache spots and am in the position to put out 2 new series. It is not my goal to make COM. I just want folks to be able to get out enjoy this area.

Some of the spots are easy, some of the spots you might have to do a 1/2 mile walk to get. I just enjoy doing this.

In Sawyer County there are to series, “I Caught a Whopper in Hayward & Color My World.” These where the first caches I hit and got me hooked.

In this area,I do not know for sure but there has to be about 25-40 caches. I am trying to add to this and mack them fun. I know once the snow starts flying caching will probably slow down a bit.

A few months ago we had an impromptu meet and greet of local catchers and was surprised to find out who all did this sport.

In the future I would love to hold an even up north. I talk to a teacher at the local school about maybe doing some sort of event. Through a grant, they were able to buy about 24 GPSr.

So we’ll see.

Thanks to all who are working on getting things set up “UP NORTH”.

Please let me know if there is anything I can help add or do.

Cheeze.

[Timberline Echoes]

As far as we can tell there are only 4 or 5 of us cacher/teams in Vilas and Oneida County. Not sure how to make a list of the caches, all of ours are winter friendly… meaning they are far enough off the ground that snow levels will not stop you from finding them. HTH
Eagle River’s Zip code is 54521.
Timberline Echoes

[Mama Fishcacher]

@Timberline Echoes wrote:

As far as we can tell there are only 4 or 5 of us cacher/teams in Vilas and Oneida County. Not sure how to make a list of the caches, all of ours are winter friendly… meaning they are far enough off the ground that snow levels will not stop you from finding them. HTH
Eagle River’s Zip code is 54521.
Timberline Echoes

Our parents live in Vilas County and I keep TRYING to get them to geocache, but alas, they aren’t very interested. Sigh.

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