ever had any cache adventures that make you feel like a real indiana jones?

[theseeker999]

well lets here those stories, ever had a cache adventure where you feel like a real indiana jones?

[+Hockeyhick]

ANYONE who has done either of the Tube Torcher caches can tell you plenty!

 

Here's my account from TT-II (GCWA47):

 

The time: 0930

 

The date: March 17-18, 2007

 

The place: Asheville, NC

 

The players: HawaiianNinja, RedwingGreg, Rasj, Cache-n-Kerry, and

Hockeyhick, hereafter known as the “Upstate South Carolina Tube

Inspection Team.”

 

The mission: Tube Torcher Two (GCWA47)

 

After what seemed like an eternity in covert planning, the time had

come to face our most daunting geocache yet. After driving up and

meeting at our hotel, it was time to tackle the treasure hunt that we

had all been talking about.

 

We had reserved rooms at a local hotel, as we knew, that though our

confidence level of completing this in one day was high,

unpredictability lies beneath the comforts of the streets. The

original Tube Torcher was legendary, and based on all we have read and

heard, this one was more complicated and dangerous than the first.

When the first day was done, and darkness had settled in, we were at

best three-forths from completion, but excited and exhausted, all at

once. After a fine steak supper, and some well-needed sleep, our weary

bodies awoke on Sunday morning. We headed downstairs for breakfast,

and then to packing for our departure. Suited up, we headed out

again, this time with a “Do-or-Die” attitude, and a renewed

anticipation for what lied ahead.

 

From the beginning to the end, at every turn along the way, we never

knew what to expect. What may lurk around the next corner, the next

hole, or the next tube?

It’s very difficult to write of this cache without giving hints and

clues, as we are now a part of an elite group, and with that

distinction also comes the responsibility of keeping that which

happens in the tubes, within the tubes, no matter the cost.

 

So, with that in mind, and without giving any secrets away, let me

just tell you what we learned on this trip.

 

We learned that there is no graceful or inconspicuous way for four

men dressed in

helmets, head-lamps, knee-pads and rubber waders to emerge from a

storm-drain in the midst of a shopping center parking lot.

 

We learned that Kerry has a knack for driving and an unbelievable

ability of finding her way around the city to find us without benefit

of neither map *or* GPS.

 

We learned that bodies were not meant to be bent sideways for extended

periods without serious back-aches.

 

We learned that $20.00 was well-worth the price for waders, knee-pads

and helmets.

 

We learned that crawling for miles makes for very sore wrists and knees.

 

We learned that HawaiianNinja gets to travel….a lot!

 

We learned that we ALL snore.

 

We learned that Roy has more geocoins that he knows what to do with.

 

We learned that stray cats scare easily.

 

We learned that Greg isn’t fond of spiders.

 

We learned that ducks can scare the be-jee-zees out of even the manliest of men.

 

We learned that a hockey stick makes for a grand bushwhacking tool.

 

We learned that muck is…well…*mucky!*

 

Most of all, we learned that we all share a sense of teamwork and

satisfaction that few outside the USCGA experience, and it was the

same feelings that we had after completing Bradley’s Bottom. Each

person was an integral part of the fingers of the hand, the hand that

grabbed and seized the cache container at the end, and held it

triumphantly above the heads, coveted it, as if it were as important

to us as winning the Stanley Cup trophy is to a hockey player.

 

We were the first group entirely from the Upstate that made the trip, and made

the commitment. Rest assured, I am positive that we won’t be the last.

 

Should you choose to embark on this journey, keep your eyes and ears

open and keen at all times. Heed every warning and instruction well.

Do not take anything for granted, and whatever you do, be prepared,

for this cache is like nothing that you have ever experienced.

 

The Flame burns on.

 

Long live the Flame.

[+piscatore]

Had a rock chase me down a hill on this cache.

[+Touchstone]

Saw some big harry spiders on THIS cache.

 

 

Coincidentally, we did the hike to the cache on the same day the Park was celebrating the Tarantula Festival

 

 

And NO! That is not me

[+wimseyguy]

Hickeyhick beat me to it. Anyone who has found either Tube Torcher can post to this thread.

But there are a few brave foolhardy cachers who successfully logged both WNC 5/5's on the same day-completing the Nuwati Challenge. That would be combining TT1 and High Water.

I think I'll plan on just doing TT2 the next time I'm in the area.

[+Monkeybrad]

I'll jump on the band wagon with WimseyGuy as one of the other teams that completed the Nuwati Challenge, and add that as tough as doing TT1 and High Water in one day was, TT2 is significantly tougher. Tube Torcher II is bigger and badder in every way. We were well prepared and made no mistakes that required serious backtracking and it still took us over 11.5 hours of straight caching time, not counting transit between stages, meals or breaks spread over two days. Many times during TT1 and TT2 I felt a lot like Indiana Jones, although oddly, I looked a lot more like Salah.

 

You be the judge:

 

 

Edited October 26, 2007 by Monkeybrad

[+simpjkee]

Not quite Indiana Jones, but all my best cache adventures are linked in my sig