TotemLake

I wonder how much latitude I have at the homestead..... hmmmm Edited to add: Got my permission to camp that weekend as well. The start time to hike will still be reasonable to allow those driving in to not have to start driving at 5AM.

Ok, so we will plan for Sunday the 21st. Time to be determined.

I'm not locked in on the 20th. So if I hear a concensus, moving the hike to the 21st or the following weekend can be a reality.

Thanks to WM for pointing out a nice cache I've had my eye on for a long time. This is a short 1 mile hike which we can add more miles to before we get to it and I'm open to suggestions. This is my 10th year anniversary and number 500 cache I want to find. That leaves me with 4 caches to find before I get to this one. I'm open to suggestions for the first 4 to find and a backup if the Mohican is missing. Tentatively scheduled for 4/20 and subject to change for weather and other circumstances I'm aiming for GC1C8TX - Last of Mohicans.

I sense an HOTM coming up.

I'm in! I'll solve the nearby puzzle for us just in case. Carpool? Sure. I'll PM a time to be at my house.

This target cache has the capability of being a short hike if the right door is picked. Lost In The Wilderness hasn't been found since 2011. I'm aiming to be at N 47° 33.058 W 122° 49.625 by 8AM on Saturday, March 2, to commence the hike at 8:30AM. If this is found quickly enough, there are nearby caches we can freelance till we get bored then its beers and a burger.

I let February escape me as personal issues took over and this weekend is looking no better for me. So, I'm targeting March 2 for the next HOTM. More details to come.

Woohoo! I can't begin to tell you how much value this has put into my game.

If you want to monitor the snow and avalanche weather, great reports can be had from here: http://www.nwac.us/forecast/weather/current/# The below link provides a graphical interface of the risk: http://www.wwu.edu/huxley/spatial/maps/nwac/

That's very cool! It'll be good to see you again!

Last year's debilitating cold has put me back to square one at regaining my hiking wind. Yesterday's warm up hike with LandRover and GreivousAngel has shown me my current limitations. So, I propose a nice easy hike on Lime Kiln Trail outside of Granite falls as a good beginner hike and a good time for you beginners to get out and start enjoying what our great outdoors has to offer. Hike will start at 8:30 AM, Saturday 1/26 Coordinates if the gate is closed to the trailhead are: N 48° 04.603 W 121° 55.911 Theme for this hike at GA's suggestion will be HIKING 101. A NW Forest Pass is required. This is a kid and pet friendly trail. A small part of it does traverse through some private property and is clearly marked to stay on trail. It is 3.25 miles to the end of trail at the bridge washout, making this for a relatively flat follow the river 6.5 miles round trip. Expect cold weather and if last Saturday was any indication, some crunchy snow on the trail. Dress accordingly in layers. Bring hand warmers, energy bars and juice paks for the little ones. They burn a lot more energy and will need the boost. Beginners and those with youngins need not feel bad for turning back early. I make these assesments for myself all the time and have turned back when I know I'm reaching my limits. That's the most important hiking skill you can pick up. IF you have any questions, please feel free to post in this thread. As usual, please post if you're coming so I can have a good headcount. Hope to see some new (as well as the familiar) faces out there this year!

And thus ends the HOTM for 2012. We didn't make the target due to my lungs still being stressed out and everyone turned back with me and had some fun on the way back down. Thanks y'all, and thanks to everyone for making this a fun hiking year. I'll create a new thread for 2013... Stay tuned.

Bumping to remind this is a Snowshoe 101 HOTM It is the last HOTM of the year Meet up N 47° 23.870 W 121° 23.708 on 12/30 0800 Start Hike at 0830 Target Cache: Out with the Old (Snowshoe Cache)

The DeLorme link is updated on my site. http://www.wix.com/totemlake/hotm

Have patience, the day after M10B updated the trailsl my WIX site gave me fits when I attempted to login and I gave up and went to watch TV with my wife. My time was also taken up with researching a good snowshoe hike for beginners so this update landed low on my totempole. I'll try again this weekend.

After a lot of searching for the appropriate cache for a Snowshoe 101, I'm targeting Out with the Old (Snowshoe Cache) on December 30. You'll need a Sno-Park pass. I plan on being there by 8AM December 30. Hiking to commence by 8:30.

I actually started this topic to hopefully find someone to give my collection. Would you be interested? And we still need to meet up to add to your collection.

That was like... 30 years ago for ya right?

Ditto on the great idea! Don't give up on calling this out each month even if response is low to none. It took a while for the HOTM to really take off when I started it 8 years ago. Yes that's a very very rough road. My feet cramped the both times I went down it. I won't do it again.

Would first-timers need to provide their own snowshoes? Yes. Most sport stores will rent them at very reasonable rates. Places like Costco and Cabelas usually have some pretty good deals for a beginner set.

Targeting December 29 30 for the last HOTM of the year and to provide a venue for beginner snowshoers. This will be the annual Snowshoe 101 with location yet to be determined.

Targeting December 29 for the last HOTM of the year and to provide a venue for beginner snowshoers. This will be the annual Snowshoe 101 with location yet to be determined.

My lung capacity is still quite diminished and exertions still send me onto a coughing spate so I've decided to take it easy this weekend. Y'all have a Great Thanksgiving and enjoy the weekend!

Stay tuned, pushing the hike to Sunday. We have a break in the weather.