[One Paddle Short]

Highlights of 2009

– Starting out the year with a group snowshoe to Marsh to the Philippines.
– A FTF on a great kayak cache with my wife- The Beast of Big Island. The cache was fantastic but so was the long paddle back to the boat landing in the rain. All the motor boats had run for cover and we had the whole lake to ourselves with the rain and the sound of the paddles.
– Various outings with the Mathman, including a crazy FTF run that included a 3/4 mile hike in actual -10 with serious wind- Gilligan’s Island.
– A couple of camping trips in the U.P. with my daughter and seeking out waterfalls. Including Agate Falls,Bond Falls, and BLACKJACK.
– Another great camping trip with both my wife and daughter in the U.P. More waterfalls- Scott Falls, Wagner Falls and others. Also on that trip would be my favorite cache of the year- Norwich View.
– Then in September one final waterfall trip- this time with the whole family (my son back from working at scout camp) we hike back to discover my favorite waterfall of the year (and this in a year where we hunted waterfalls) Lost Falls.
– Finally the snowshoe hike with a great group to Eagle Source. This was special because: my whole family came along, my wife and I had failed to make it to the cache last January, the group of folks that showed up were a joy to spend the day with, and it seemed like winter decided to paint the woods for us. The whole trip, hiking in, hiking out, sipping cider on the almost abandoned road in Northern Wisconsin…I just kept thinking that nothing could have made this more enjoyable. A day to remember.

Very few numbers for us. No number runs. But, for us, a good year of caching.

[One Paddle Short]

@Team Honeybunnies wrote:

Tim, this is one I’ve been thinking on for a while: GC1G4QP. About 3 miles on snowshoes, and the prerequisite terrain and scenic beauty. All we need are a few more victims, ah, er… volunteers ;). I know Benny wouldn’t mind a rematch. Takers?

Hmmmm,

For our anniversary last summer my wife and I signed on for a sea kayak tour of the caves and I’d planned to log this one. But the 20-30 mph winds had the big lake stirred up and the kayak tour place canceled the trip to the caves and took us to Bark Bay near Cornucopia. They need to make money, and I understood when I signed up they could plan an alternate trip if conditions made the sea caves unsafe- but Bark Bay couldn’t compare to a lot of fine kayak paddles right here in central Wisconsin! So, it was a let-down for sure.

This is something we would would be interested in. Though, from pictures I’ve seen of folks walking on the ice we really wouldn’t need snowshoes. I assume you’d plan to hike along the lake on the ice rather than the top?

[One Paddle Short]

Thanks for the replies. It looks like there is a long way road leading directly to Saddle Mound? Thought that may provide a reasonable route on snowshoes?

I like the looks of Wet Maze particularly. Great location, and it looks like it’s a great winter cache.

There are some in the Mead. This one is a good hike and the area is interesting. The Battle of Smoky Hill. The first waypoint is winter unfriendly, but as I’ve already done this cache myself I could act as guide. I don’t mind that. I’d already found Marsh to the Philippines before we did that one as a group. However, TBC would probably not participate if we went for that one. 😯

Cheezehead- I think a series of 15 caches in one day on snowshoes would leave some folks wounded and dying along the trail (probably myself included)!

[One Paddle Short]

@sandlanders wrote:

@One Paddle Short wrote:

We will have about 20 High School Juniors and Seniors at our home for the evening. I’m sure that it will be fine. 🙄

It will be fine, right? Nothing could go wrong.

Could it? 😯 ❓ 🙂

You will be chaperoning the event, won’t you?
You’ve survived 16-18 years of your kids and their friends… What’s a few more hours?

Yeah,

I’m not really worried. We’ll be home. Now though, after several parents were worried about the kids being on the roads going home at 1AM with all the drunks- and after realizing I’d rather not have my kids on the road if the situation were reversed- everyone’s staying over! So, I’m thinking there will be very little sleep for Mrs. OPS and myself. 😕

Ah well, we’ve set up my workshop as a video game “cave”. We have an original Nintendo, a N64, a Gamecube, a PS2, a PS3, and a working RCA Studio 2 (you’ll all have to google that one I’ll bet 😀 ). There’s plenty of other stuff to do downstairs too.

I’ll just have to see if I still have what it takes to play Space War on the Studio II.

[One Paddle Short]

We will have about 20 High School Juniors and Seniors at our home for the evening. I’m sure that it will be fine. 🙄

It will be fine, right? Nothing could go wrong.

Could it? 😯 ❓ 🙂

[One Paddle Short]

@Timberline Echoes wrote:

It sounds like everyone had an awesome time. We did that one for New Years Eve 2006 and it was lovely. A real memory maker. Glad so many of you made it close to our little corner of the world. Sorry we could not get over to the meeting place and say hi.
TE

We were already on the road when you posted that you folks would be home yesterday. But, we didn’t have time anyway- had to get back as one of the kids had a party to go to. It was a fantastic day- temps were great, and the snow on the trees was really special.

[One Paddle Short]

We have survived. It was farther and harder to get to you than I thought it would be. The snow is DEEP! It took us about an hour and a half to reach the cache and that was with taking turns breaking trail. Great day, great hike, great group of folks to spend time with. You can check out the logs from today as they come in. My “found it” is already happily logged.

Eagle Source

[One Paddle Short]

It’s a go. Road conditions web site lists hwy 45 as snow covered again from late yesterday’s listing of “slippery spots”. However, we got nothing more than a dusting of snow last night here in Wausau. Check it out for yourself and decide here: Wisconsin Road Conditions

I would like better news on the road condition report but I’m tired of hanging around the house so we’re going. If we see you there we do, if not- maybe another time.

PS- Last night Mrs. OPS cooked up the mulled apple cider and I had to, of course for the safety of you folks, test it out. It’s good stuff!

[One Paddle Short]

It comes out as less than 2 hours if you go over to Hwy 45 and then Hwy 8 east- then north to Hiles. Probably a 15-20 minute “ish” with the roads having snow on them? We will have a full car but maybe some folks can get together on rides.

Note that if you continue on 45 north of 8 there are only county forest roads going east (may be just snowmobile trails in the winter). There may be another way but we ended up going all the way to 32 and then back south on 32 last year. I think going east on 8 to Co Rd S probably is the best route.

[One Paddle Short]

Forecast for Hiles as of this morning:

Day: Snow showers will become more widely scattered in the afternoon. High around 25F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 40%.
Night: Snow showers early becoming more scattered later. Low 22F. Winds WNW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of snow 40%.

The barbecue is going in the crock as I type- Mrs. OPS says not everyone likes venison so she bought beef (Sheesh, a guy goes out and arrows a 10 pointer and I’m buying beef? 😯 ). This is a go for tomorrow. If there is any change in that (can’t imagine why) we’ll post it by 5:30 AM on this thread. A little snow in the forecast but it sounds like a great Wisconsin winter day. Temps look fantastic.

Looking forward to tomorrow.

PS- Mathman hasn’t replied at all to this adventure. He may be trying to avoid me until it’s all over. One more day buddy. 😆

[One Paddle Short]

Congratulations! I only wore the ring for few weeks and it bugged me so much I just stopped wearing it (Over 20 years now) but if Honeybunnies think it improves reception… ❓

[One Paddle Short]

40 percent chance of light snow showers possible. Lows around 19 with temps reaching 25. Doesn’t sound like it will be any real accumulation or storm. Doesn’t sound bad to me. For us to cancel it would have to be below zero with serious windchill or accumulating snow that made travel treacherous.

Because it’s a few pages back now:

Snowshoe to Eagle Source
Sunday, December 27th 2009

Meet at service gate off Atkins Road
N45 40.906
W089 00.654

Time:
With some folks contemplating four hour drives let’s say-
Meet and Greet 9:45-10:20
OPS will provide hot chocolate, hot apple cider, and cookies.
10:30 Start Time

Afterward we will have barbecue (probably venison), chips, soda- a quick lunch for folks needing to get back on the road.

If anyone wants a copy of my track log from our failed attempt (the out tracks will be useful for our in), or would like a cell number for contact- email or pm me.

OPS WILL be attempting this cache at that time. The only thing that would call it off would be extreme cold or bad roads. We will make a confirmation post some time around 5:30 AM if there’s any question regarding weather.

[One Paddle Short]

@Team Black-Cat wrote:

OPS, You’ve seen bailey on snowshoes. Nobody would be albe to keep up…
🙂

I don’t need to keep up, I just have to be able to follow the trail! (& yes, you’re right, I’ve watched her running- yes running- off into the county forest on snowshoes. This wasn’t a race, or a FTF, just off to find a cache)

( I would still do it even if its bad weather )

I would do the hike in pretty much anything, it’s the drive that would be the question.

[One Paddle Short]

@cheezehead wrote:

Ya ready for another 6-12 inches?

That is no problem at all. In fact it will make it better! The temps look very reasonable in the long-range forecast. But the “flurries” may or may not make for driving problems. Too far out to know, hopefully it dumps a pile of fresh snow to make the trip in even more beautiful, and then stops so we can all make the drive easily.

Now, if I was breaking trail I’d be a little worried but Bailey has already volunteered! 😀 😯 😉

[One Paddle Short]

Wow Rsplash,

For someone who isn’t sure they’re even participating you’re putting in some serious planning miles!

Anyway, here’s the thing. I know at least three caching groups that have accessed the cache from Atikins Road service gate (and some claim that route turned the cache into one of their all-time favorites)- so I know it’s possible and has been done. I spent some time sitting last spring unable to go back and I have a personal reason to finish what I started- as I stood in that spot last winter and made the decision to turn around I knew I would (have to) come back. We cache for the hiking and the experience and not the numbers- walking a little farther doesn’t really bother us in the least. I talked to the family and we are going to go in at the Atkins road service gate.

So, that’s where the hot chocolate, cider, (hey maybe even a little coffee?), and cookies will be from 9:45-10:30AM and the barbecue afterward. If some folks want to plan a trip via an alternate route that’s fine with us. In fact, if they want to stop for some cookies and hot chocolate before 10:30 and then head off to an alternate route that’s fine too.

We enjoyed the group hike last winter and thought we’d invite folks to hike with us again this winter. I really don’t expect it to be miserable at all and I think anyone coming will have an enjoyable trip. Oh, it will be a challenge in places, but not miserable.

But, everyone should enjoy the day in the way that suits them. If it’s hiking with us, that’s great. If it’s having some snacks with us and hiking in from another route, that’s great too. And, if they want to plan an entirely different day/ route/ trip, we hope they enjoy their trip as much as we hope to enjoy ours.

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