Getting close to one of life’s big adventures.

Unsure how it will pan out but no doubt it will be recorded amongst these pages.

 

1st September

I’ve a longstanding hope to maintain 150 caches per month for 12 consecutive months. Unsure what the American trip that takes up the latter part of the month will bag numbers wise. There will be long distance walks for perhaps just one cache.

So today is an attempt to get a head start on that total finds goal. As so often is the case of late I didn’t even think what area to cache in until after many people would have been in bed last night.

I wrote down the details of a 9 mile circuit with just a well the 13 mile one is nearby but that’s probably too much for me in one go. That’s the thought I went to bed with and probably it was already today by then.

Just 3 or 4 hours later I was up breakfasted and driving. The appeal of getting a bigger bag today had grown along with the thought that with shortening days better to attempt the 13 mile one now rather than leave it.

So practically unresearched  on anything about the series I arrive at one of the parking places for the Andover Half Marathon. Not at #1 but ~#20.

I’m not the only one up and busy a horse rider is out riding already.

The day progressed with a mixture of path surfaces a longer than hoped road section which heated the feet some on this warm summers day.

At one point I thought I wouldn’t need my lunch as I was consuming so many blackberries.

Tired and at times toasty feet meant a few short breaks to prevent blistering. And certainly well tired by the time I had completed the circuit.

Well what can I expect in America. Day after day of equally tiring walks I expect and far few caches than today but almost guaranteed much bigger containers.

Finished the walk at 7.30pm just ahead of darkness falling. I couldn’t have planned it better but the recap was I didn’t plan at all!

 

6th September

Needed a birthday cache so decided to seek a series of them Grittleton. All went well with the series except with one cache.

Didn’t do so well with the other caches I moved on to. Unsure if that was a result of being unwell. Didn’t realise I was unwell at that stage but felt hungry before arriving home. Once fed fell asleep at the dining table then clothed on the bed then slept 12 hours which is about 3 time my normal.

 

11th September

The American Adventure starts today!

Quite a long day. A cache to find in the UK and then to be at the airport shortly after 6am.

The flight was good and no big issues with security.
It’s good to have someone with me that knows what they are doing. Andy has got Uber transport down to a tee, all very slick.

Off to the hotel not Seattle’s finest to leave cases then on to Geocaching HQ.

The HQ visit was just in the foyer this time not walking around the offices like on the Block Party visit.

A walk around the HQ GeoTour was much slicker than when I did it in 2015 novice that I was did it back and fourth rater than as a circuit.

The Freemont Library was open today certainly better to do the cache in full than the alternative method of logging.

Then it was time for me to find a single cache in the US today. We neither liked or found the chewing gum wall cache and again failed on the next choice.

Revived with a burger my find was imminent. Good job I was once a smallholder as it was time to fish a container out of a gooses entrails.

 

12th September

We were both early and the RV preparation delayed so we busied ourselves with walking an urban circuit of caches.

A stock up with provisions then drive nearer to tomorrows caches.

 

13th September

Our first big walk.

Today we take a walk in to the Ghost mining town of Monte Cristo.

An excellent walk and a good sample of caches along the way. We didn’t find the page coordinates matched our GPSr’s to well so there was a search at each one but we got all on offer.

The paths were reasonable the scenery and mountains fantastic viewing and a cherry greeting from most people we encountered.

Interesting too to see how the landscape has changed over the years. railway lines from the mining era had first been buried by 6ft then exposed by a recent washout.

One major bridge on the route also no longer exists and the river crossing is now across a 100ft long felled tree.

Well words and photo’s just don’t convey all that is here so get organised folks and come visit for yourselves.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

14th September

It’s going to be a light on numbers day for me today as we are in the Snoqualmine area which I visited in 2015.

Up and out on the walk quickly today as we has slept in the car park.
Today we were going to walk in via the scenic route.

The first amazement was the size of The Rocket Cache. A great container but why oh why don’t seekers close the over center toggle clamps they all operate freely yet the container was open on our arrival.

A bunch of useful caches for Andy to grab but just

Mission 9: Tunnel of Light 

for me having done most in the area in 2015.

Very pleased to have found a 2nd Project Ape cache and the social media tell me I’m only the 4th UK seeker to have found two.

 

15th September

Was there a gap in our agenda?

There were certainly two caches with Gap in the title.  These two caches presented quite a challenge in their own right. They were about 50 miles apart were very steep the first an ascent straight from the road the second a long walk in.

At the first one we saw what the wild fires can do the hillside was charred. A very steep ascent but we were soon up there and signing the log.

As my log on this one says; I thought scrambling was about motorbikes. I thought I might scramble my eggs on this one but some rump meat kept them protected.

Yes one distraction and I was down on my ass during the descent. Luckily i soon arrested the slip and didn’t slide down the entirety.

The second Gap was very remote and a long walk i with no route easily discernable.

We got it a bit wrong and it was hell of a climb and the rocks and thorns was viscous.

We were close to it being uncomfortable too as we only got back to the RV just before darkness fell.
In safer terrain (roadside and no discarded bullets) we still topped the day off with a few more caches though.

Still have to ask “what was the car doing at the top of the mountain”?

 

16th September

Today we venture quite a distance for a single cache. It’s a nice walk to Black Hornet Mine but a long walk in due to the contours that prevent a direct route.

We saw bear traps along the way but unfortunately no bear’s.

Sadly the cache container was melted when we found it, likely even had exploded by the position of lid to body. The wild fire wasn’t recent nor was the previous find which was 7 Sept 2015. we are enjoying being the first to venture to caches in a while.

 

17th September

The big cache of the day was Lydle Gulch. Oops my suggestion meant we made a heavier climb than necessary but this is an adventure trip so is all about getting close to nature along the way.

Guess I should have know we were going wrong when Phil’s mate the lone cow turned it’s head and gave a disinterested expression. We could see for miles but only observed that lone cow in the vast wilderness.

Just a few days off being un-found for a year this one. A power trail nearby so guess folk just don’t like wandering out in the bush as much as we do.

Topped the day off by starting on a power trail of challenge caches. Seem to recall it was a long drive to these and today’s quota were sought in the dark before parking up for the night. We are not going to enjoy the power trail as much as the remote caches but there are some good D/T’s to be gleaned.

 

18th September

A day of driving/walking some of the ICS power trail of challenge caches.
I expect it would be rare for many but us English both exited the vehicle and signed the log although many were set at minimal proximity. During the whole trip there were only about four caches where one of us signed the other in due to time or parking restraints.

 

19th September

Another long and perhaps challenging walk today.

We are headed for Diamond Doorway. The gun culture is soon realised with many spent shells in the parking areas and along the trails.

The path is tough in places but equally it’s not too long before we are signing the log and having a picnic lunch.

Then I interject into the well planned itinerary are we going for Almond Green? No planning no paths and lots of undulating contours to traverse.

Well the trip to me is about adventure and with a cache that was published in 2013 and had only had one sole find in 2014 how could we not attempt it?

I rescued a TB from here too. Difficult to understand why folk don’t walk out to these  these spots.

 

20th September

The bulk of today was a continuation of relocating to the next cache on the itinerary. 400 miles between caches was likely the single longest steps between caches of the trip.

We had done about 100 miles late into last night before food and sleep. Can only praise Andy for diving that long stretch without incident, I took a nap or two during this drive.

Andy convinced me it was a cache and dash once we were there. Yeah maybe if we had a 400ft cherrypicker!

The walk to Max’s Cache was about 5 miles and still quite arduous but worhwhile for a nache not visited for nearly 4 years.
We saw the first rain here and Andy had his coat on and off several times, I just toughed it out.

It was a nice walk only marred by some fly tipping, why do folk spoil the nice environment?

Whilst Andy held off placing a TB here I did and hope the locals get off their bums and visit this nice place soon.

21st September

Today was to be our first major disappointment of the trip.
First up today was a cache Andy needed towards filling his Jasmer grid Under the Bitterbrush.

We didn’t take the best route in so the extra mileage presented us at the search site less cool and relaxed.

We did quite a search but didn’t effect a find.

For me  it was the only cache that concerned me a little. Andy took on some high level and difficult scaling and I think if he had found it up there it would have been one I would not have logged as a find as I was unlikely to follow him up there.
Slippery steep rocks and a 70ft drop don’t fit the equation of my comfort.

All sorts of things run through one’s head; how to contact help should things go wrong, it’s a long way to the RV leave alone civilization and cell phone signals are non existent or unreliable.

Reluctantly it was one we had to walk away from, Andy at that time thinking he wouldn’t complete his Jasmer grid this trip.

Expedition time again with “Hi” above east lake as we took a bushwhack and scramble route.

 

Certainly great views when we were up there.

The last cache of the day Lava Cascades Palindrome Cache was a rapid choice cache. Choice options being do we go for it tonight with limited daylight remaining or delay until the morning.

Wanting to press on with the itinerary we set out tonight.

Not too many paths to follow and a very dense mass of fallen trees in the forest.

I’ve never really encountered anything like the lava flow before and if you imagine household fire coke ranging in size from fist sized nodules up to half car sized blocks that will give you an idea of what we were to cross.

Cross we indeed did but we were still almost half a mile from the cache along the edge of the flow.

We were soon opening the box and once again realizing this was another rarely visited cache the last seek being in 2015.

I found a smoother path back across the Lava but then had to hope we could walk along that edge of the Lava to retrace our route through the forest. we couldn’t risk taking a different route as the light was already diminishing.

We delayed donning head torches until the last half mile. Noticing how quiet the forest is in comparison to our English equivalents.

Retired to bed where we had parked earlier a little saddened that we have not yet glimpsed any bears.

 

22nd September

Today we visited the Westside series of challenge caches.

A level and easy walk for a change.

 

23rd Septenber

Today was an important one for me GC12 5/12/2000 as it would complete my placed in year 2000 line.

We arrived in the area well after dark last night and parked in the car park but it wasn’t too level for the RV. Andy had the bright idea of re-positioning the RV this morning before I had finished breakfast or even dress in day clothes. Um somewhat of a RV rally cross.  Still not happy we moved down the road some to a nicer spot.

Eager to hit GC12 we didn’t notice we had passed another cache so there was a later back track.

GC12 was quick and easy. Then it was time to move on to GC17.
Quite a hike between the two and a lot of elevation change too.
The effort needed was rewarded with the splendid views when the canopy allowed.

With these caches in the bag it was time to move on again and once again we arrived later than ideal at the parking for Apron Falls.

We were not too sure of the route but stopped off at the Duncan Creek cache first. Quite a long search in difficult terrain and we didn’t turn up the goods.

The terrain got harder on the way to Apron Falls and it was almost dark when we started crossing the rocks of the riverbed.

Andy called time saying we needed to abort. With only 250ft to go I had different ideas. The find could have been quicker but we got there in the end.
By now it was quite dark and time to don head torches.

We started off on a reasonable path now we were this side of the river. That was good for a mile or so then we either missed a junction or it didn’t exist.
The banks of the river gully were over 50ft deep for much of the walk so no hope of crossing.

It was quite a jungle we pushed through and even the last drop to stream level was 12 to 15ft through the dense undergrowth.

Another true adventure on the trip.

 

24th September

Today we hoped to find 8 icons in a day.

Things didn’t go too well with holdups due to roadworks, a multi we considered missing and a wherigo that was hard and perhaps lacking some props.

We had to settle for 7 icons.

 

25th September

A day spent picking up challenge caches.

 

26th September

Started the day by picking up a cache placed during the current month. My Jasmer grid now complete I could log a challenge I could only append a note to a few days ago.

Picked up a few more challenge caches and then headed for Mt Rainier National Park.

The entrance fee of $25 was a bit extravagant for the short time we could be here but it was nice to have come.

Quite a steep walk up to Carter Falls but fun too.
We were intrigued by the wooden pipeline.
Not until I was back home could I research a little on this Early Hydro electricity the pipe that is remaining has weathered time well.

Doing the earthcache had to be a bit rushed to get the thermometer back to the ranger before closing time.

 

27th September

We started the day with the History of the Flushing Toilet series.
Quite a toughie on terrain with steep slopes and dense vegetation.

A few semi urban caches then it was time to take a longer (5mi) walk up Squak Mountain. This clip refers to it as a wilderness.

 

28th September

With a little rearranging we could research if there was another cache that would allow Andy to complete his Jasmer grid during this trip.

We soon ruled out one option as that was placed at 10000 ft and required traversing an snow cap with ice axes recommended. we were not kitted or capable of that this trip.

One that did seem possible was Bushwhack on Mt Washington.
Listed as taking 4hr and a great elevation climb.
So that is a major element today.

I’m not sure Andy approved of my social media post before we set out.
“Not seen this girl Washington yet but apparently I’m due to mount her shortly.
Not a clean cut shaven girl as we have to Bushwhack.
Reputedly the toughest yet of the trip so wish us well as it’s an important one for Andy.”
Oh well its they way I express myself so form your own opinion!

Although there were paths all the way, the bushwhacking element disappearing some time ago it was the toughest of the trip for me.

I find mountain rocks often destroy boots so was hoping my old boots would cope with the majority of the trip. I hadn’t quite considered how thin the soles had become.
The path substrate was loose varied sized rocks. the whole walk just short of 10 miles. I can only equate  it to being tougher that walking that distance along a railway track bed.
By the end or the walk I was feeling every sharp rock I trod upon.

Apparently this was once a little known or even secret trail but there were a few walkers out here today. One had cried off work, sick and looking for her medicine!

 

29th September

I’d always considered throughout the planning of the trip that I would walk up to GCD for a second time.

With our change of plans and adding in Canada to the tour we need today for Andy to do GCD and some of the challenges, drive 140 miles to a camp site, get WiFi access and download and plan an itinerary for Canada. It’s a lot to push into the day.

After the heavy day at Mt Washington yesterday I considered it speedier that Andy go up to GCD alone.

Just a couple of caches for me today during the drive but we hit the campsite at a reasonable time and started planning for the next few days.

 

30th  September

Andy certainly has a knack of identifying good caches to seek and even in the short time we had last night he has a good setup for today.

We are going to the Mt Sumas area and a major part of the day is the Knob Gobbler series. I think he held back from me what the terrain was going to be. It was another toughie.

The continuation of our route took in some challenge caches and parts of two series. The terrain perhaps was more demanding.

We experienced the first real nuisance rain too. Once again we returned to the RV in the dark and I was well soaked through and needed to change almost every item of clothing, then was continuously mopping the floor where ever we had hung the wet items.

As a precaution against chill I slept in an extra fleece jersey and in socks!