Feb 19/2010
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Geocache Activity 582 |
FIND 529 |
IDENTIFICATION
Difficulty 1.5; Terrain 5; size micro. Creator: morningdrifter & Stitch 1 Date First Hidden: 2/11/2010 Date Last Found: 2/13/2010 Description You are looking for a small film canister that has been placed on “Pelican Island” (not original but I had to call it something) in Milk River Ridge Reservoir. Access to this part of the reservoir is by unimproved road which can be challenging after a heavy rain or snowfall. The area is locally used for camping and ice fishermen. You will need a boat/canoe to get out to the island during the spring, summer or fall; or you can walk out to it on the ice after freeze up. If you choose to go by ice make sure it is safe to do so. Stay off unless ice is at least 6 to 8 inches thick. A set of ice cleats will make walking a lot easier, “just ask me”. The film canister contains only a log that also has the second part of the coords to a cache on Goose Island. Please rehide cache carefully. Enjoy the view and the outing. If you are there during the summer you just may see a pelican!
Hint Look Under. Comments
PLANNING
Yesterday provided me with a first try at cross-country skiing across a lake this winter. The conditions seem quite good. The recent snowfalls have put a fresh layer of snow over the ice making for good skiing. Once on the island I will decide whether to keep the skis on or take them off and walk to the cache location. I am concerned that the recent snow may hide the caches too well, but that will wait until I am there and can see how deep the snow is. In any event it will be a good trip with lots of exercise.
OUTCOME
My first search on Gull island was fine, but while on the island I realized that I had forgotten to charge my GPS unit before leaving home. I immediately turned it off and skied over to Pelican island. There was easy access onto the island with my skis still on and I skied to about where I thought the cache area might be.
Here is my posting to the geocaching.com website:
The ski trip from Gull island to Pelican island was easy going and I had no difficulty finding a way onto the island while keeping my skis on. Since my GPS battery was low I waited until I was about where I thought I should be before I turned it on. It indicated that I was within 10 feet of the cache and then turned itself off. There was a bit more snow on the ground here, and the ground cover was less obvious, but I soon found the cache. I signed the log and made a note of the second coordinate for Goose island.
Then I headed back to the truck. Without a functioning GPS unit, and with my iPhone having a very weak signal, there was no point in heading over to Goose island today. I was surprised to find my ski tracks on the lake to already be covered by drifting snow. But it was fun to be outside in the fresh air. The light was too dull for good photos but it was easier on the eyes than when the sun is shining.
Here are a few photos:
GeeCee holding film canister on Pelican island
View of Gull island from Pelican island
View of Goose island from Pelican island
skis and pack near cache site
I am 2/2 for today. There are two lessons to be learned. One: check the status of the battery before leaving home. Two: always carry a spare.
