chubby forest monkey

In the woods? Do most people expect their instrument to maintain <35 feet accuracy in the woods? I didn't realize it was a micro. If its in the woods-well, why a micro? That's seems cruel.

50 feet is close enough, why quibble?

Cool! What did Olivia think of it? I was "in" an earthquake while camping on my honeymoon in Costa Rica and I clearly remember that tilted washer feeling. We were sitting inside the tent, and the earth rattled for about 30 seconds. We first thought a giant truck had rumbled by. Then the jungle was eerily silent. Slowly all the creatures began to make their noises again. We were in the national park and there weren't any roads, so there couldn't be any trucks. The next day we asked some campesinos and they laughed and said oh yea that was just another terremoto! I guess they have them all the time down there. The next day, we came across a deadly fer-du-lance, later we both got Montezuma's revenge and then I almost drowned in a riptide. Now that's romance!

SF short stories were my main pleasure reading in college. Fun-without a long term commitment. It would be a delight to come across one of those gems in a cache.

Well, not in Washington, but the first lookout tower to be placed on the national historic register is the Pechuck Lookout in Oregon. It is fully restored with a unique stone cupola. It has had a geocache there for over 3 years! Rarely visited by cachers, but it is well maintained by volunteers. It's a 2 hour drive SE from Portland, and a hearty 3+ mile hike or bike to get there, but it's worth it!

Well I work in Corvallis, and have visited most of the regular caches there, so I can respond, but I am very opinionated, so take don't take me for a general spokesperson from the area.... but let me make some suggestions and do what you will: 1) Walnut park is not very big and already has two caches- that's enough! There are also already about 5 caches at Camp Adair, so that's enough there too! 2) The Mac forest is huge, and if you are a some sort of scouting person, you should put one out there, on the trail... however you have to get permission from the forest managers first- you can find all the details of how to do that by looking at the pages for "Dan's memorial", and "When Good caches go bad". There are now two caches in the Peavy area, one at Dimple hill, one near sulfur springs, and a multi which is reached from Lewisberg saddle. The two big areas that do not have any caches are Mcculogh peak and Oak creek. How about one near the top of the extendo trail??? 3) Marys peak is the premier hiking area for Corvallis-a huge chunk of national forest with multiple trails and yet it only had three caches! How about one up there? 4) Chip ross park has two "cache and dashes" nest to the parking lot and most people who go to get these never find out what a wonderful place it is. Thispark deserves a good real cache to get people up on the trail to that gorgeous hilltop. There used to be one up there called Chipper Conundrum, but it disappeared over a year ago. 5) Thanks for not placing micros! Come visit one of mine when you get a chance and bring the troop for a hearty workout!!!! Cornvallelly yours, the cfm

Hey for a moment I thought I was on ebay, this is geocaching isn't it? Aren't you supposed to get geocoins from caches? Nolenator, Leap frog etc.... why don't you plan a geocaching trip to Oregon to get one! Doesn't seem right to have one unless you've earned it . But then again, I'm not a collector. However I have kept some silly things I've found in very special caches, and they do have significance to me-but only as a symbol of my caching experience or the cacher who placed the item.

I always thought of glass as a noun. I was wondering why you were using it as a verb. I thought the meaning was clear, and I was intending to start using it myself too..... then after reading about logscalers creepy experience I realized aha.....it must mean you are looking through glass-the scope. Is that right? and Nisikibum, once you've sauteed your first bacth of chanterelles in garlic and butter, you'll be hooked!

Seems likemost hunters around here just drive around looking for something to shoot from their window. I'm right on the edge of logging land, and it's really creepy when they drive slowly looking into my yard. I rarely see them more than 100 feet from their rigs. I've gotten used to this, but the huge increase in trash on my road this time of year really irks me. My rule is to do my woodsy wanderings behind locked gates where there is no vehicular access. If there is no truck at the gate, there are probabaly no hunters around. When I have encountered hunters out in the bush, I have not been concerned. If they are on foot for from their rig, they are probably experienced outdoorsmen/women and not likely to shoot at a bright orange human. These are the hunters I respect, and I don't think they would be looking in my yard for an easy target. Although I don't hunt, I do collect mushrooms and other food from the forest, and I understand the satisfaction of getting your food from mother nature and the pleasure of bushwacking in general. I also feel that I am much more likely to get in a car accident on my way to the trailhead.

Here is the explanation given when the bug reappeared in texas

I had my bug "exterminated" temporarily. It was picked up in June '03 in Florida, and someone reported that it had been replaced by a geocache pest control card on the cache. It then reappeared 6 months later in Texas. I received a personal email from the cacher who revived it in Texas. They told me that they were given a whole pile of exterminated bugs from this exterminator "friend" to circulate back into the geoworld. See logs for 6/03-12/03 here

My favorite long weekend caching area is the high desert of Central Oregon. You're sure to have sunshine, and see some really cool rocks and caves. Look for caches by Navdog/Moondog 3, Zooey/IlldriveUNav, Chief Paulina and Logscaler.

In reponse to Criminal: When I was in the area last fall, I wanted to try the Manganese Mines cache. The weather and family obligations kept me from getting there, but it is still on my list. It seemed like a real adventure, althought the cache may no longer be there. I think it is in the Sol-Duc area. I did get to do some caching at another place that looks like your photo- Quinault lake, there were 4 caches on the NF trail system south of the lake that you could do in one day. One of them was called Loop de Quinault, there was also a longish hike to a heritage cedar tree,but I can't recall the name.

Try posting your request at gotcache.com- a local forum for the Eugene area cachers. I'm sure they will be helpful.

I always enjoy reading about your adventure hiking caches. Wish I lived closer, so I could join you in those alpine treks. I did get to join in the Mt St Helens hike and got to know Nolenator mostly and the rest a bit. Can I suggest three southern WA hikes that I have done that are on my top 10 list I know the outdoor enthusiast will enjoy these: 1) The Coyote Cabin/Coyote Wall combo ( the combined loop route was discovered by your own Evergreenhiker!) This is in the Columbia Gorge across from Mosier, OR 2) The Headwall- a trail-less journey up a remote canyon- right across from Oregon's most visited scene- Multnomah falls. 3) The GP Crater of Insanity and Waypoint to Insanity- an epic trail-less adventure to a truly unique location in the Big Lava Bed near Mt Adams.

I agree with Bigeddy that the Bend area is the best place in Oregon to find regular caches is you are microphobic. Here in the Willamette valley, it seems all the newest cachers think micros are the standard. One was just placed near my town in an extremely remote logging area that is nothing but a maze of dirt roads and variously aged forest patches, about 12 miles from the nearest town! No need for a film canister out there, how did that get approved?

Here's my undenominated cents: I am one of the Oregon cachers Nolenator referred to who held the m10bike coin last weekon Mt St Helens. While it was an interesting idea, I was not star struck by the presence of the coin in my palm for 5 seconds. I really don't care that the record of having the coin is now on my stats page. In fact, I didn't find that one, I just happened to be able to keep up with Nolenator that day when he reached the cache. I did play along with the game in order to please my new friend- smitten with his special trophy. He already knows that I am a geocaching snob. I do like the general idea of the coin thing and the presence of one would increase my interest in a cache, but I am not a collector (I am a misplacer or some would say loser!) and I have always moved the coins on when I have found them. I do make it a point not to put coins or TBs in cache and dashes, so that the next finder has to make some effort to find the prize. - the cfm

I will try to get there by 7am. I will sign in at Jack's on the way in. If I'm not there in time, I will pick up the permit from your windshield and catch up with you. Look for a small lone woman dressed like a yellow checker cab. Cheers!

Is anyone considering starting later than 7am? If everyone is starting at that time, I can get there by leaving my house at 4am. But if there is a later group, I would prefer to join that one, I am a fairly speedy hiker.

HI, I've been incommunicado for several days (including a trip to the GP Crater of Insanity!!!and a swim across the Columbia river) . I am still planning on joining you on Saturday morning. -the cfm

Me!

I have become so familiar with poison oak that I have a subconsious poison oak alarm, and I am able to avoid most if it in my travels. However, I still get low level rashes all summer long- why? Because I pet my dogs! They are constantly rummaging through the brush while I stay on trail, so usually have some residual urushiols on their coats. I try to wash my hands as much as possible after petting them, but sometimes forget. In the spring we really try to utilize "socked foot petting" to show our affection, so much so that our dogs start nosing our feet for a pet instead of our hands. So if you have a dog that you don't bathe after every hike in PO land, beware! Bowser can carry it around for weeks.

Thank you Nolenator, Tolmaus, Bullmoose and friends!

Well that's a bummer for me. I have really been looking forward to this trip. But I don't blame you, Bull Moose- you don't even know me, and i was a bit late on the response. Unfortunately I can't go the night before to do the lottery. Hey, If anyone else is planning on doing the lottery, could you can include me on your permit? Since I have been planning this, I think I 'm going to come anyhow and perhpas I'll help send you off at the trailhead on the possible chance that someone bails at the last minute. If everyone does show,then I will just go do my own adventure on the other trails.

I am looking forward to this trip, and I hope I can be included with the permits somehow. One of my students just came back from a trip to the summit ( on 8/14) via the same route.They got to the lottery just in time on Friday night and got the last permit. She did the hike in sneakers, shorts and a T-shirt! She does run a bit in town, but is not used to elevation gain at all. Ah, carefree youth! She said it was very challenging, but was doable. She regretted not having goggles, pants, a jacket, gaiters, hiking boots, a hat, and more food and water. She and her group of OSU dormitory RAs completed the trip in 5 hours.