sarahbelle Posted February 25, 2009 Share Posted February 25, 2009 I went to find one of my dad's caches today, I was desperate to get out on a geoadventure after a long cold spell. I made it to the site, and suppose maybe I deserve half a smiley for 'finding' the cache, but after trying for about 15 minutes to get it out, and realizing the sun was quickly setting, I finally gave up. It's a lock n lock sandwich container on its side in a hole in a dead tree. The container is surrounded mostly by snow/ice and some wood fragments. I was hoping I could unclip three of the sides and open it that way, but that thing will not budge. Normally, this would not be a big deal, I'd just go back later when it warms up a little, but unfortunately while trying to get it out, I poked a hole in the bottom of the container. I've got a bottom here that I can replace it with, but my problem is how to get the cache out to fix it. It's supposed to get warmer by the weekend and I don't want any melted snow or anything to get in and mess up the cache. The only thing I could think of was to stick a hot water bottle in there for 5-10 minutes and see if that worked. Anybody have any better ideas, or at least something I can use as a backup plan in case the hot water bottle doesn't work? Quote Link to comment
+gof1 Posted February 25, 2009 Share Posted February 25, 2009 A little calcium chloride (ice melt) aught to do it. Quote Link to comment
+Jennifer&Dean Posted February 25, 2009 Share Posted February 25, 2009 Some of those handwarmer thiings they sell at sporting goods stores might work. They get pretty hot and can be placed around it to melt the snow. Quote Link to comment
+Jennifer&Dean Posted February 25, 2009 Share Posted February 25, 2009 (edited) *dang double post* Edited February 25, 2009 by Jennifer&Dean Quote Link to comment
+team moxiepup Posted February 25, 2009 Share Posted February 25, 2009 (edited) You could try using this to heat up a small saw. (The saw only! Not the cache or anything holding it) Pouring hot water around the outside of the cache might work, but if the ice is too thick and it doesn't release, you'll end up worse then when you began. In lieu of that, try duct taping a baggie over the hole to keep out moisture. While not total protection, it can only help until a thaw arrives. Edited February 25, 2009 by team moxiepup Quote Link to comment
jholly Posted February 25, 2009 Share Posted February 25, 2009 Just call 911 and report a suspicious package placed by a suspicious person. The bomb squad will be along shortly to free things up. Jim Quote Link to comment
+WRASTRO Posted February 25, 2009 Share Posted February 25, 2009 From the sounds of it there is likely not much you can do other than the duct tape suggestion unless you want to get into picks and axes and the like. Maybe you could fess up and drag your Dad out to the cache to decide what to do. Quote Link to comment
+flask Posted February 25, 2009 Share Posted February 25, 2009 you could always build a fire under it. Quote Link to comment
+Glenn Posted February 25, 2009 Share Posted February 25, 2009 What you need is a cordless hair dryer. Quote Link to comment
+flask Posted February 25, 2009 Share Posted February 25, 2009 What you need is a cordless hair dryer. 85 pounds???? for a hair dryer? Quote Link to comment
+Glenn Posted February 25, 2009 Share Posted February 25, 2009 What you need is a cordless hair dryer. 85 pounds???? for a hair dryer? It's cordless! It is also ionizing. You can ask Vinny what is cool about ionizing. Quote Link to comment
sarahbelle Posted February 25, 2009 Author Share Posted February 25, 2009 Thanks for all the responses friends. I'm still trying to get hold of my dad, he was at work last night and again this morning, but if he's not free, I'll go without him. I was worried about trying the ice melt, as I thought it could harm the tree... then remembered it's dead anyway. I'll take some as a backup. Would it hurt deer? There's lots of deer tracks going right by the tree, although with myself and the two dogs visiting they might avoid the area for a while. The hair dryer would probably be awesome. Unfortunately it's a little out of my price range... and would not likely arrive by this afternoon I'll take some baggies and duct tape as well, just in case. Since the ice comes pretty much up to the hole in the cache, I'm not sure how well I'll be able to protect it that way, so I'll hope one of the other ideas works. Thanks again Quote Link to comment
+Vinny & Sue Team Posted February 25, 2009 Share Posted February 25, 2009 Just call 911 and report a suspicious package placed by a suspicious person. The bomb squad will be along shortly to free things up. Jim I agree. Or, alternatively, go to the tool rental department at a Home Depot or Lowes contractors/home construction supply store and rent a large blowtorch along with a large tank of propane, drive to the parking area, carry the tank and the blowtorch to the cache hide site, and melt the hell out of the darn stubborn stump, and then you can retrieve the cache, repair it, sign the log, and then return the blowtorch and tank to the rental department of the store! . Quote Link to comment
+bflentje Posted February 25, 2009 Share Posted February 25, 2009 How about just a good, heavy duty, screw driver. You should keep one in the caching bag. Also makes for a good self defense weapon for grizzly bears. Quote Link to comment
+TeamOxford Posted February 25, 2009 Share Posted February 25, 2009 I used a tire iron on this one: GC10XP1 Quote Link to comment
+OReviewer Posted February 25, 2009 Share Posted February 25, 2009 What you need is a cordless hair dryer. 85 pounds????for a hair dryer? I thought you were talking about weight until I clicked the link! I was thinking that must be SOME battery it used! Quote Link to comment
+StarBrand Posted February 25, 2009 Share Posted February 25, 2009 A little more CO2 and possibly Al Gore??? Quote Link to comment
AZcachemeister Posted February 26, 2009 Share Posted February 26, 2009 turbo-torch using MAPP gas Quote Link to comment
+Taoiseach Posted February 26, 2009 Share Posted February 26, 2009 This is exactly why you should always carry a knife... And at the same time, this is exactly why I don't necessarily think that 'You MUST ALWAYS sign the log' mentality is flawed (This is my one exception to that rule). I don't know about you, but I'd much rather have somebody log that they found it, but it was frozen in place, than try to get it out and destroy the container Quote Link to comment
knowschad Posted February 26, 2009 Share Posted February 26, 2009 An air compressor and jack-hammer are normal tools of the trade when winter caching around these parts. Seriously, though, I have to agree with the poster that said he'd rather someone log a find without signing the log than to risk damaging a plastic container by trying to get it out of the ice. Ammo boxes, however, seem to hold up very nicely to a well-placed kick or two. Quote Link to comment
+flask Posted February 26, 2009 Share Posted February 26, 2009 Ammo boxes, however, seem to hold up very nicely to a well-placed kick or two. ...as well as small fires. Quote Link to comment
knowschad Posted February 26, 2009 Share Posted February 26, 2009 Pee on it??? Ahhhh.... so that was YOU, huh? Quote Link to comment
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