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I guess I was mostly curious and not really that interested in a tour on the topic. I hate getting trampled when I’m trying to make a find. Perhaps some “higher power” was trying to encourage people to “lighten up” a bit? It is supposed to be fun after all……
I tried to ask one of the “creators” about the event and got no reply at all – not even a disclaimer, so I was even more curious. So, it turns out it was cancelled after all? Too bad, I’m sure that group could have taken us to some places we have never gone before…..
Seldom|seen wrote:
I don’t do much caching lately but I am going to try to keep a closer eye on TB’s and GC’s coming into the area this year.
You mean you are actually going to visit some caches that aren’t lonely? Won’t that mess with your statistics of having over one hide for every five finds? And if you slow down on finding those lonelys your percentage of lonely finds to finds will drop below that 24% you stand at.. lol
Downhill? Yes, outside for me as well, since “sellzup” keeps me inside too much. Close to home has some advantages, too, especially when you are new at it and there are 600 caches within ten miles of home.
I think the early results seem to reflect the advantages of the northeast with great cache density in the Appleton-Green Bay areas combined with the scenic great northwoods and Door Peninsula. There are also a lot of cachers in this quadrant, or maybe they are the just the ones who are still awake and responding to the survey at this hour.
Personally, I really did like “Timberline Echoes Land” when I made three trips up to the northern border areas in June while chasing lonely caches, once with my son, Dan. The cache density isn’t as great there, but we loved the grandeur of the great northwoods and the cache hides there – almost no micros. There are superb cache locations in every quadrant of the state, but our vote, probably with those of some others, goes to the area we have seen the most of. I’m sure the central Wisconsin folks have a hard time deciding on this survey since they live and cache often near the intersection of the given quadrants.
Some of this sharing and the chance to have some dialogue on lonely cache adventures was the only missing element of a great lonely cache event. Perhaps that could be better incorporated next year.
In looking at the specific experiences suggested for sharing here, I noticed that June of last year, our last big month to travel for some actual finds before the pickings got pretty slim within a hundred miles or so, was the month most of these memorable moments took place. Some of our highlights include:
Favorite:
Among many great caches, I would have to agree with seldom|seen on a favorite. SMOKEY-BEAR PINES (GCB00F) was one of those cache finds that will forever remain etched in my memory. My son, Dan, was with me for this find, and he and I marvelled at the majesty of the white pine we saw at the cache site long after we made the find as we drove away through the woods on the winding road savoring the great northwoods air. We saw many wonderful places that day, and made our first out of state find, crossing the border into upper Michigan. That my son also shared this experience made it even sweeter. I have posted a photo to the cache page that shows what we saw there, and my son and I still look at it in awe.
Most Challenging:
A week before my trip with Dan, I found Esker in the Kettle (GC10MGP), and it was a a real work-out in spite of good preparation. I had begun printing topographical maps for some of my great northwoods adventues chasing lonely caches from experiences the week before, and that helped immensely, though this was still one of the most challenging caches I have ever done, in part due to the thundestorm that formed and caught me at ground zero on the esker in the kettle, holding my ground till I made the find. To get there I had taken old logging roads till I reached a point that down trees blocked the way, then walked the remnants of a road that dwindled into an overgrown trail circling around peat bogs from the west to the east to approach the esker from the highest ground, mostly successfully. The terrain had plenty of variety with steep slopes on approach to the esker, along with the spongy bog that had to be crossed at some point to get to ground zero, at least the way I got there. The storm hit as I got to the top of the esker hide location and I had to take what shelter the trees provided to wait out the lightning and resume my search. I was very glad to make the find and was able to chart a slightly easier course back to where I parked as a result of the vantage point I had on high ground near the esker. That one took me over two hours with the delay due to the storm, and it was a very satisfying find.
Nastiest Container:
The container I found at The Last Stop (GCVQ4R) had a log that was totally invested by lice-like ants that had set up home inside. No one had found it for some time and the owner was contemplating archiving it. I checked on it anyway and left a replacement, as the original container was too infested to consider just leaving a new log in, encouraging the owner to keep it active after my visit as the location had a great view of the countryside to the west. I see the cache is still there with yet another upgrade by seldom|seen off the ground location where I found the original and had a visitor just last month.
Dumbest Attempt:
Without a doubt, an impromptu decision to venture across a vast tornado-devastated forest to search for a micro in the woods at Lowland too (GCK7D9). I hadn’t intended to attempt this lonely cache, but found myself so close I had to take a look.
My log: Wow, was my reaction at first glance. Well, I can only try I reasoned as I resisted an impulse to drive away. Gamely picked my way across this devastation for what seemed like an eternity, definitely four terrain or more right now. At ground zero I found plenty of good candidates that fit the hint, but nothing of the elusive micro. Gave it a good half hour on a dozen potential spots within a hundred feet of the stated coordinates with no luck. Reluctantly gave up the search knowing a return trip across that wasteland to search for a micro might not happen without an easier way to get there. Better luck to other searchers.
No one else tried, and I see that the cache location was moved over two miles a little over a month later. Gosh, I was hoping to read some of the other logs after I was there.
Above all, as others have noted, the quests for lonely caches have taken me to many places I would never have gone before, some of them the most remote and scenic that I have ever seen. Many good memories!
I also logged the two virtuals in Maine and at the North Pole, not knowing at the time that it was not an acceptable practice, and thinking it was an interesting idea for discovering some remote locations. There were numerous others that seemed doable that way and I had a list of them about a year ago but lost interest in favor of “real” caching where I could go out on the trail and make the finds. I do agree with some opinions that there may be a good way to have such kinds of caches, as they are interesting and educational, and do serve a purpose for those who are unable to even get out and do wheelchair accessible caches, but not sure where they fit in.
Much like the challenge of a 5 terrain cache, the satisfaction comes in doing it yourself and actually earning the find. I only have a couple high difficulty or terrain caches and appreciate the discretion of those who have solved or found those, and am williing to give some assistance to keep someone who really wants to make a find from just giving up in total frustration. Those caches are meant to be found, not hidden to become time capsules for posterity or lonely on purpose, but the difficulty or terrain does mean they are not park ‘n grabs.
And many spend enormous amounts of time in these forums keeping up on the sport through the adventures, ideas, revelations, and opinions of others who do have or take the time. There is enough digression to keep some of us who do get out into the field a bit and work full time to barely scratch the surface and try to keep up with that dimension. It seems puzzle solving does get a lot of winter attention, along with planning new cache ideas, contemplating personal goals, and one of my favorites, learning about many new and interesting caches and places to visit when there is the opportunity. More than I can possibly get to until I, too, retire. It seems to be a vast smorgasboard of possibilities.
Great to see the number of participants in January so far! It’s a wide open race with two weekends left, and this old horse will be staying close to home.
Congrats, Jim on the choice of a milestone as well. Sorry I didn’t get a chance to meet the supportive “better half’ on Saturday.
We add our congrats, Curt and Barb! But that wasn’t the milestone cache was it?
Our congrats as well, and also for the great student travel bug project!
I cautiously also congratulate JimandLinda on the win. But, there is still a day left to submit reports and labrat had to explain sniping to me earlier in the year. Well, I hope it holds up, enough drama for the past year. I was happy to have a stranglehold on last place for most of the past month until sandlanders jumped in to claim a tie. January looks like it’s getting started, but there are a lot more than 24 points out there to be had. Right, Jim? Congrats again on December!
With the new rules I have had to pull back on my maintenance schedule, opening up some opportunities for cache owners and others. Chasing some local FTFs while I ponder trips of over 60 miles in this weather to log any finds on lonelys, though I will hit the board for the month just to help break the ice so to speak. Still need the replacement with owner permission option on the submit report page. Sandlanders, we’ll go for that tie in December!
Congrats on the new mark, Jim and family!
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