[Team Northwoods]

Trekkin and Birdin wrote:

Will you have the time, energy and commitment to accomplish all of these things?

Commitment? Check. Energy? Check. Time? Check.

When I got the nomination and then it was seconded it was time to have a family meeting. I will not do half-a-job. If I cannot perform by the bylaws there is no reason for me to even accept the nomination. Energy and Commitment were not the issue. I have a couple good ideas I am fleshing out and I like to volunteer.  Time was. I communicated with a couple current board members and some members getting all my ducks in a row before I would accept.  The answer is yes. With my family behind me and knowing what it will take I will have the time, energy, and commitment.

***Opinions expressed are mine alone and will change based upon new information. ***

[Team Northwoods]

I was coming out of the woods just before dark one night at Irvin Park in Chippewa Falls and a DNR guy was waiting for me because he wanted to close the gate for the day and he thought I was a naturalist. I called and told this to 400eiger and he busted out laughing and kept laughing and I am like I know more about plants and stuff then you and he say’s I can’t believe you are a nudest.

***Opinions expressed are mine alone and will change based upon new information. ***

[Team Northwoods]

Physical caches are fun but events lead you to more caches, how to hide or make better ones and banter with fellow geocachers. If a cache starts talking to you it is best to stop turn around, maybe call for help but get home as quickly as possible. You have been out there way to long.

A lot of work goes into events. It is nice to see them held near neat locations or see how many caches the event hosts hid just so the attendees get to find some. Maybe have some sort of a caching competition. Socialize to find out where some cool caches are or enjoy some Trash Can Turkeys like at the raslas event Meet Me at the Lake GC511B3 . I have been to a lot of events but they are the only ones that made 3 turkeys.

During the WGA Spring Campout GC43KW0 at Interstate park a group of us trying to find the Eagle Rock cache. It was raining so apparently as I was sliding down the big slippery rocks my hand decided the gps should be used against the rocks. The screen was cracked and broke but hey I found the cache and I traded it in for a new Oregon 600. As I was writing this I almost forgot about the night caching. After we were done and the WGA Members were disbanding to their camps we heard the most horrible noise coming from the woods. A couple of us had to find out what it was. I drove up around to the top side of the hill and you could hear this thing either eating and mutilating something or itself was getting chomped on. I looked up and seen some high nests. You have to remember as all this is going on we are yelling back in forth walking down a hillside in the dark and this thing is just screaming. So I kept moving down and knew it was not a raccoon. Then it came to me and yelled back it is a rookery. So I started back up the hill to see if I could see above the nest. As I was shining the light up on the nest, all of a sudden this branch turned turned its head and there in the light were the 2 beady green eyes of a Blue Heron staring down at me. Blue Herons have never been so freaky. Unless you are minnow or frog.

Getting to help bring these events, except for breaking a gps, to fellow geocachers is what it is all about. Helping to add more to them and make them run smoothly is a smiley for everybody.

 

***Opinions expressed are mine alone and will change based upon new information. ***

[Team Northwoods]

Muggles are timid little creatures that are scared of what they do not understand like someone laying under a bench, sneaking around in the bushes, or a car pulling over a a group of people jumping out rush into the woods and run back out jump in and drive a-away. Now some of this can’t be helped and we don’t want to lay under benches but as long as caches are not placed in sensitive areas geocaching will continue to be allowed in our communities. Sensitive areas can be near schools, train tracks, or government buildings but also in State Parks or State Natural Areas. Call Thomas Meyer down in Madison he’ll tell you about State Natural Areas. Don’t worry I will keep working on him every once in a while. I was planning on adding my First Earth Cache in the Rusk County Felsemmeer for an event I am hosting on April 25th, 2015. Meyer will not give me permission because there has been damage to the area from ATV’s. And it is a lot of damage as people will see in April. I explained everything to him about our plans and how we do it but it was a no go. I did send him picture though of the CITO event I hosted last year just on the other side of the ridge with all the trash we carried out. It may not get an Earth Cache in there but it does portrait geocaching in a positive light.  I can’t imagine what it could take to loose the right to place caches on public lands but caching wisely and having a good geocaching etiquette keeps the sport fun for fellow geocachers and future geocachers.

***Opinions expressed are mine alone and will change based upon new information. ***

[Team Northwoods]

One thing I organized that I can’t believe I accomplished was placing the Blue Hills Series. Like most people I have little time for the things I enjoy with hectic work schedules and family. Against all odds I was able to place 386 caches in one run. I had to find a way to afford getting that many containers. Get the caches ready. Figure out the route. I didn’t want someone to get hit by a vehicle while stopping along the road.  What size of caches? What D/T rating to go with. The list went on and on. My overall goal was to make a run that would have a little bit of everything for everyone.

Here is what I did. About every 10th cache is a small or regular container. Almost all caches have a hint and attribute. I added 3 multicaches, 3 night caches, 3 letterbox hybrid, 3 mystery caches and 6 challenge caches. Three 5 difficult caches and one 5 terrain in which a boat will not help you there. I have some evil sections where there are 10 nanos all down one road and easy sections where you don’t have to leave the ditch. There still is a 5 difficulty out there waiting for a FTF. BH204 Version 2.0 and it is a large with a very small log.

Spoiler alert. This summer I am already planning a powertrail section.

Oh, the time! (and gas) I spent many evenings after work out there for 2 hours stretches and many way after dark all alone with a head lamp. Windier nights were way more creepy than calm nights. I added my time of completion for that nights I stayed after dark on the cache title or description. One night I ran into a skunk about 9:00 and that ended that days hiding. I would do most anything but getting sprayed by a skunk is not it. BH258 – Night Skunk 8:37 pm

I better write about events but I will make it shorter. You can find pictures of all hosted events on my facebook page http://www.facebook.com/teamnorthwoodsgeocaching

First event was a mile 1.5 mile snowshoeing caching potluck event. 2nd Annual Event will be on Valentines Day. GC5FZKD No better way to spend time with other geocachers grabbing smileys and bantering your way a 1/3 mile into a lake in the Chippewa Moraine for lunch.

Second was a moonlit snowshoeing hot chocolate event that was 2 miles and you can ask the attendees, “Snowshoeing is best at night?” Second annual will be in March if we got the snow.

Third was the makers event that had prizes for best cache madeand a potluck.

Fourth was the Grundy Canyon Event that was an 7.5 mile hike. I took the group to the Devils Kettle, Grundy Canyon and a hidden jewel of waterfall where I placed my first cache back in 2010. We ate our lunch overlooking the waterfall.  Second Annual Event will be going into the Rusk County Felsenmmer on April 25th. Information again available on my facebook page under events. Fifth was the CITO that went along with it.

Sixth was the Look at all the Pretty Colors fall event. This was a 2 hour lunch and then I took those who wanted to get the 5 terrain cache BH329 Super Evil White Pine.  You know the one just past the Naughty Spruce and Friendly Balsam. No climbing or boating for that 5 terrain. Need some ingenuity or the right tools.

The success of these evens and caches will keep on getting better and better with feedback from the attendees and finders. Want to learn more about hiding or get some tips check out my facebook group http://www.facebook.com/groups/GeocachingHiders Don’t join if you don’t wants spoilers because sometimes we do get into full details on our caches.

***Opinions expressed are mine alone and will change based upon new information. ***

[Team Northwoods]

I continue to hone my geocaching skills. Geocaching means a whole of different things based upon what it means to you and what you like about it. Geocaching envelops so much(like being part of a large organization or group) and so little (just heading out to grab a cache every once and a while). After hosting 6 events and placing 550 geocaches in 2014  you  get a lot of feedback from geocachers. With my eagerness to adapt and willingness to learn, I continue to modify how I play the game to further the enjoyment others get from the game.

***Opinions expressed are mine alone and will change based upon new information. ***

[Team Northwoods]

Any ideas on lodging nearby?

***Opinions expressed are mine alone and will change based upon new information. ***

[Team Northwoods]

How could I miss an Escarpment?

***Opinions expressed are mine alone and will change based upon new information. ***

[Team Northwoods]

Thanks to everyone that showing up for the great snowshoeing weather and good food. More information available at https://www.facebook.com/teamnorthwoodsgeocaching

***Opinions expressed are mine alone and will change based upon new information. ***

[Team Northwoods]

1st place went to mmswift, 2nd place raslas, and 3rd place 400eiger.

What a great event. Learned a lot and laughed a lot. Can’t get much better than that.
Thank you everyone and see pics of the event at https://www.facebook.com/teamnorthwoodsgeocaching

***Opinions expressed are mine alone and will change based upon new information. ***

[Team Northwoods]

http://coord.info/GC4ZQ51 Click the link to see them all.

Major Event updates. Don’t miss out!!

This cache will qualify for the Maker Madness Souvenir.

The Event will start at 9:00 a.m. at the Cornell High School IMC room. We have access to a Smart Board and open WiFi internet. A custodian will be there to help out in any way.

This could be a great event for the younger cachers too.

Tables will be setup for Pot luck with outlets for hot dishes and crocks. Pot luck will start at noon. Bring your own drink or drinks to share are always appreciated.

Event ends at 3:00 p.m.

***Opinions expressed are mine alone and will change based upon new information. ***

[Team Northwoods]

Ooops! I forgot the moonlit part. Must because I am rushed to get out there again tonight. Now or never got to make the loop.

***Opinions expressed are mine alone and will change based upon new information. ***

[Team Northwoods]

Find # 1,000!!!!! for Team Northwoods. 22 geocachers and snowshoers showed up for this fun and a bit chilly, when you couldn’t hide from the wind, event. What a great turnout for my first event. Thanks to all that showed up making this a very enjoyable event and to help break through the cabin fever. Hope to see you all and more next year. Easily an annual event. Many loops and caches to explore keeping it fresh each year. The loop we took this year was 2.4 miles and more good food than you can eat.

***Opinions expressed are mine alone and will change based upon new information. ***

[Team Northwoods]

We are planning on March 21st. The way this year is going I am sure there will still be ice out there. We were going to go on Feb. 24th but with the winds and low high temps we figured it would be better to wait and enjoy the caves instead of getting frozen off.

***Opinions expressed are mine alone and will change based upon new information. ***

[Team Northwoods]

I really got to find a time to get up there. Hopefully we will get a warmer weekend soon.

***Opinions expressed are mine alone and will change based upon new information. ***

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