+Mom-n-Andy Posted January 5, 2010 Share Posted January 5, 2010 Does anyone have any good ideas about freeing a geocache that is solidly frozen in the hollow of a tree? Quote Link to comment
+wimseyguy Posted January 5, 2010 Share Posted January 5, 2010 A small propane torch like pastry chefs use for creme brulee? Quote Link to comment
+Castle Mischief Posted January 5, 2010 Share Posted January 5, 2010 Either a chainsaw or four months of time and a warming trend. A small propane torch like pastry chefs use for creme brulee? Let me guess... you've got access to just such an item? Quote Link to comment
+Castle Mischief Posted January 5, 2010 Share Posted January 5, 2010 Okay, seriously this time. Would salt work? Maybe a little de-icer? I hesitate to mention the de-icer because I'm not a big fan of spraying the great outdoors with chemicals. I'm guessing the slugs are not out this time of year, so maybe salt or a little bit of REALLY salty water. Quote Link to comment
+StarBrand Posted January 5, 2010 Share Posted January 5, 2010 Warmth and time. Quote Link to comment
+kunarion Posted January 5, 2010 Share Posted January 5, 2010 Does anyone have any good ideas about freeing a geocache that is solidly frozen in the hollow of a tree? If you can run a power cord to it, put a low-wattage droplight in there, and warm everything up slowly. If not and if you don't have the stuff to make a creme brulee, go home and make some hot chocolate. Quote Link to comment
+wimseyguy Posted January 5, 2010 Share Posted January 5, 2010 (edited) Either a chainsaw or four months of time and a warming trend. A small propane torch like pastry chefs use for creme brulee? Let me guess... you've got access to just such an item? Sitting on my desk as I type. But the plays well with food title is for real. I'm in a restaurant kitchen. We make cheesecakes (really really good ones) from scratch in 4 cake batches and freeze them. So it's helpful to remove the frozen cake from the pan. And I have crusted a few hundred creme brulees here for catered events in the past 10 years too. Edited January 5, 2010 by wimseyguy Quote Link to comment
GOF and Bacall Posted January 5, 2010 Share Posted January 5, 2010 Drink more beer before you head on over to the cache site. Quote Link to comment
+buttaskotch Posted January 5, 2010 Share Posted January 5, 2010 Wait till Spring Quote Link to comment
+buttaskotch Posted January 5, 2010 Share Posted January 5, 2010 Either a chainsaw or four months of time and a warming trend. A small propane torch like pastry chefs use for creme brulee? Let me guess... you've got access to just such an item? They don't cost too much and can be purchased online or even at a Bed Bath and Beyond [] Quote Link to comment
+wimseyguy Posted January 5, 2010 Share Posted January 5, 2010 You are thinking of susie homemaker butane torches. Propane torches burn a bit hotter. Quote Link to comment
+GeoGeeBee Posted January 5, 2010 Share Posted January 5, 2010 Okay, seriously this time. Would salt work? Maybe a little de-icer? I hesitate to mention the de-icer because I'm not a big fan of spraying the great outdoors with chemicals. I'm guessing the slugs are not out this time of year, so maybe salt or a little bit of REALLY salty water. You think salt isn't a chemical? Salt is much more harmful to plants than commercial de-icer products. Quote Link to comment
+Taoiseach Posted January 5, 2010 Share Posted January 5, 2010 Pocket Knife, and a bit of effort. This is the key to winter caching. Quote Link to comment
+Mom-n-Andy Posted January 5, 2010 Author Share Posted January 5, 2010 My husband suggested using a propane powered torch such as those used for sweating (soldering) copper pipes. Unfortunately the cache is pretty far down in a hollow log and I doubt I could get the torch down there without burning myself. And it's a couple miles out into the woods so the hair dryer/drop light thing won't work. Waiting till spring is not an option. This is a cache that I absolutely positively MUST get. SOON. That's all I will say about that. Best idea I've heard so far is to pack some Nalgene bottles full of very hot water to the cache site and stick them down in the hollow to hopefully thaw things out. With any luck that will work while being environment-neutral. Now, any ideas for keeping a cache like this from getting frozen in the first place? Would wrapping the container (a metal box) in plastic help? Or would it just lead to a plastic-wrapped cache frozen in a hollow tree? Quote Link to comment
+Mom-n-Andy Posted January 5, 2010 Author Share Posted January 5, 2010 Okay, seriously this time. Would salt work? Maybe a little de-icer? I hesitate to mention the de-icer because I'm not a big fan of spraying the great outdoors with chemicals. I'm guessing the slugs are not out this time of year, so maybe salt or a little bit of REALLY salty water. You think salt isn't a chemical? Salt is much more harmful to plants than commercial de-icer products. And every deer in the park would use the cache for a salt lick! Quote Link to comment
+bittsen Posted January 5, 2010 Share Posted January 5, 2010 My husband suggested using a propane powered torch such as those used for sweating (soldering) copper pipes. Unfortunately the cache is pretty far down in a hollow log and I doubt I could get the torch down there without burning myself. And it's a couple miles out into the woods so the hair dryer/drop light thing won't work. Waiting till spring is not an option. This is a cache that I absolutely positively MUST get. SOON. That's all I will say about that. Best idea I've heard so far is to pack some Nalgene bottles full of very hot water to the cache site and stick them down in the hollow to hopefully thaw things out. With any luck that will work while being environment-neutral. Now, any ideas for keeping a cache like this from getting frozen in the first place? Would wrapping the container (a metal box) in plastic help? Or would it just lead to a plastic-wrapped cache frozen in a hollow tree? Get a hand warmer. One of those charcoal jobbies would probably work. Not too much heat to damage the tree but enough to warm that little hole up quite nicely. Quote Link to comment
+Mom-n-Andy Posted January 5, 2010 Author Share Posted January 5, 2010 I stuck 4 handwarmers (that I had intended as cache swag) in there but they were not up to the task of warmng a 15-degree F ammo box. Good thought though. Get a hand warmer. One of those charcoal jobbies would probably work. Not too much heat to damage the tree but enough to warm that little hole up quite nicely. Quote Link to comment
Mr.Yuck Posted January 5, 2010 Share Posted January 5, 2010 Does anyone have any good ideas about freeing a geocache that is solidly frozen in the hollow of a tree? Depends. Ammo box or Tupperware? Ammo boxes are virtually indestructable. Give a swift kick, or try to free it with a limb. Tupperware? Look around for a limb. I'm guessing I have about a 90%+ success rate with these methods. I've never broken anyone's Tupperware, but be mentally prepared to buy a replacement if it should not work out as planned. Oh, and I like the pocket knife idea, never thought of that. Are you talking encased in ice? Just some ice around the edges, or what? Quote Link to comment
+Mom-n-Andy Posted January 5, 2010 Author Share Posted January 5, 2010 Metal ammo box. It's about 2 feet down inside a hollow tree. Not much room around it. My foot wouldn't fit in there and I couldn't apply enough force with my hand. I think what's happened is that water ran in and froze a couple of sides of the box to the wood. It's not actually encased in ice. Does anyone have any good ideas about freeing a geocache that is solidly frozen in the hollow of a tree? Depends. Ammo box or Tupperware? Ammo boxes are virtually indestructable. Give a swift kick, or try to free it with a limb. Tupperware? Look around for a limb. I'm guessing I have about a 90%+ success rate with these methods. I've never broken anyone's Tupperware, but be mentally prepared to buy a replacement if it should not work out as planned. Oh, and I like the pocket knife idea, never thought of that. Are you talking encased in ice? Just some ice around the edges, or what? Quote Link to comment
+Harry Dolphin Posted January 5, 2010 Share Posted January 5, 2010 Warm water from your canteen? Though that would leave more water to freeze for the next finder. Gentle prying? Saying "Oh. Well?" Quote Link to comment
knowschad Posted January 5, 2010 Share Posted January 5, 2010 Given that it is not encased in ice and that it is a metal, not plastic, box, I have some hope for the hot water idea, although I'd make it hot salt water if the tree is a dead one (to keep from refreezing as quickly). Boiling water would probably be best, but unless you brought a campstove out there with you, that might be tough. I'm hoping that the metal box would conduct enough of that heat throughout to release the icy grip. I do not believe the technique would work with a solid (or nearly so) block of ice, though. You'd need a lot more very hot water to deal with something like that. Good luck with it! Quote Link to comment
+Mom-n-Andy Posted January 5, 2010 Author Share Posted January 5, 2010 Thanks. I don't really want to get too specific, but for my own reasons I REALLY want to be FTF on this cache. I found it, and now I desperately want to claim it. Oh, well is not an option. The canteen idea is a good one, except that I intend to backpack in a whole bunch of Nalgene bottles full of very hot water and use the heat to thaw the cavity and loose the cache. Warm water from your canteen? Though that would leave more water to freeze for the next finder. Gentle prying? Saying "Oh. Well?" Quote Link to comment
+ras_oscar Posted January 6, 2010 Share Posted January 6, 2010 the watr will be frozen by the time you get to it. I vote for a propane torch and a wide spreader. Work it around the froven edges and pry gently as you go with a flat metal bar. Quote Link to comment
+Ambrosia Posted January 6, 2010 Share Posted January 6, 2010 Okay, seriously this time. Would salt work? Maybe a little de-icer? I hesitate to mention the de-icer because I'm not a big fan of spraying the great outdoors with chemicals. I'm guessing the slugs are not out this time of year, so maybe salt or a little bit of REALLY salty water. You think salt isn't a chemical? Salt is much more harmful to plants than commercial de-icer products. Yes, salt isn't good to use around plants. Salt is so harmful, that it has been used in wartime to kill the enemy's farmlands to cause food shortages, etc. Quote Link to comment
+bittsen Posted January 6, 2010 Share Posted January 6, 2010 (edited) Thanks. I don't really want to get too specific, but for my own reasons I REALLY want to be FTF on this cache. I found it, and now I desperately want to claim it. Oh, well is not an option. The canteen idea is a good one, except that I intend to backpack in a whole bunch of Nalgene bottles full of very hot water and use the heat to thaw the cavity and loose the cache. Warm water from your canteen? Though that would leave more water to freeze for the next finder. Gentle prying? Saying "Oh. Well?" A good quality thermos will allow you to transport very hot water as opposed to just hot water. Also, if you have a portable propane grill (about $20 at some stores) you could heat water on the spot. Edited January 6, 2010 by bittsen Quote Link to comment
knowschad Posted January 6, 2010 Share Posted January 6, 2010 (edited) Thanks. I don't really want to get too specific, but for my own reasons I REALLY want to be FTF on this cache. I found it, and now I desperately want to claim it. Oh, well is not an option. The canteen idea is a good one, except that I intend to backpack in a whole bunch of Nalgene bottles full of very hot water and use the heat to thaw the cavity and loose the cache. Is that what this is all about? Getting an FTF? Geeze... I just counted, and there are currently SIX (count 'em... 6) threads on the first page alone about first-to-finds, based on the thread subject alone. This makes seven. OK, I will admit that this one at least seems to have an alterior motive, and I'd love to hear what that is, if I'm right. But I'm starting to think that Groundspeak is missing the boat by not creating a new website: www.firstfinders.com! (hey, it's available!) Edited January 6, 2010 by knowschad Quote Link to comment
knowschad Posted January 6, 2010 Share Posted January 6, 2010 Also, if you have a portable propane grill (about $20 at most stores) you could heat water on the spot. Yup... I think that something like this or a Coleman camp stove is gonna be essential to success, if the situation is anything like what I am imagining. Quote Link to comment
+uxorious Posted January 6, 2010 Share Posted January 6, 2010 If this is for a FTF, that raises the bar. You might try some C-4 or maybe a small nuclear hand grenade. Quote Link to comment
knowschad Posted January 6, 2010 Share Posted January 6, 2010 If this is for a FTF, that raises the bar. You might try some C-4 or maybe a small nuclear hand grenade. That's true... if it is for an FTF, then who's worried about the danged tree, anyway? I might suggest something more along these lines Quote Link to comment
+Crow-T-Robot Posted January 6, 2010 Share Posted January 6, 2010 If this is for a FTF, that raises the bar. You might try some C-4 or maybe a small nuclear hand grenade. C-4 would work. You just have to figure out the launch angle so that you know where the ammo can is going to land. I wouldn't suggest the nuclear grenade...that heat would melt all the McToys and leave a gooey mess inside the cache. Plus, you'd probably be vaporized and couldn't claim the FTF anyway Quote Link to comment
+Mom-n-Andy Posted January 6, 2010 Author Share Posted January 6, 2010 That is a really good idea. I have a couple of thermoses and will fill them with boiling water. Then I can transfer the water to Nalgenes and stick them in the holow. Thanks. I have a backpacking stove I can haul in but heating water on the spot will be a last resort. Thanks. I don't really want to get too specific, but for my own reasons I REALLY want to be FTF on this cache. I found it, and now I desperately want to claim it. Oh, well is not an option. The canteen idea is a good one, except that I intend to backpack in a whole bunch of Nalgene bottles full of very hot water and use the heat to thaw the cavity and loose the cache. Warm water from your canteen? Though that would leave more water to freeze for the next finder. Gentle prying? Saying "Oh. Well?" A good quality thermos will allow you to transport very hot water as opposed to just hot water. Also, if you have a portable propane grill (about $20 at some stores) you could heat water on the spot. Quote Link to comment
+Chrysalides Posted January 6, 2010 Share Posted January 6, 2010 Thermite. But you shouldn't listen to a Californian who's never encountered a frozen cache in his life I like GOF's beer suggestion best. But you have to time it right, and you might need several people... and I wouldn't want to be the one to retrieve the cache after the ice has melted. Quote Link to comment
+Mom-n-Andy Posted January 6, 2010 Author Share Posted January 6, 2010 Not only is it an FTF, but the dang thing was placed months ago and I'm the only one so far who has been able to figure out the mystery coordinates. I MUST HAVE THIS CACHE! If this is for a FTF, that raises the bar. You might try some C-4 or maybe a small nuclear hand grenade. C-4 would work. You just have to figure out the launch angle so that you know where the ammo can is going to land. I wouldn't suggest the nuclear grenade...that heat would melt all the McToys and leave a gooey mess inside the cache. Plus, you'd probably be vaporized and couldn't claim the FTF anyway Quote Link to comment
+Mom-n-Andy Posted January 6, 2010 Author Share Posted January 6, 2010 The beer suggestion might work better if my caching name was Dad-n-Andy. Thermite. But you shouldn't listen to a Californian who's never encountered a frozen cache in his life I like GOF's beer suggestion best. But you have to time it right, and you might need several people... and I wouldn't want to be the one to retrieve the cache after the ice has melted. Quote Link to comment
+Chrysalides Posted January 6, 2010 Share Posted January 6, 2010 The beer suggestion might work better if my caching name was Dad-n-Andy. If you supply the beer, I'm sure there will be many volunteers to be the, erm, hot water bottle. But that wouldn't solve the retrieval problem. I think heating water on the spot would be the best solution, since if you don't have enough water, the water there's going to eventually freeze, making your job of retrieval even harder. Couple of questions - any idea of how much of the ammo can is encased in ice? And if the hollow holds water? The only ideas I can come up with are rather impractical for a cache 2 miles in the woods. It involves a heater and a pump to recirculate water. Quote Link to comment
+Mom-n-Andy Posted January 6, 2010 Author Share Posted January 6, 2010 It looks like the bottom and possibly one side of the ammo box are frozen to the wood. I don't think that there is a pool of frozen water in there. I think that in addition to Nalgene bottles of hot water and thermoses of really hot water I'll take a small backpacking stove. There is so much snow now in the area that I can make plenty of hot water that way. The beer suggestion might work better if my caching name was Dad-n-Andy. If you supply the beer, I'm sure there will be many volunteers to be the, erm, hot water bottle. But that wouldn't solve the retrieval problem. I think heating water on the spot would be the best solution, since if you don't have enough water, the water there's going to eventually freeze, making your job of retrieval even harder. Couple of questions - any idea of how much of the ammo can is encased in ice? And if the hollow holds water? The only ideas I can come up with are rather impractical for a cache 2 miles in the woods. It involves a heater and a pump to recirculate water. Quote Link to comment
+Chrysalides Posted January 6, 2010 Share Posted January 6, 2010 It looks like the bottom and possibly one side of the ammo box are frozen to the wood. I don't think that there is a pool of frozen water in there. I think that in addition to Nalgene bottles of hot water and thermoses of really hot water I'll take a small backpacking stove. There is so much snow now in the area that I can make plenty of hot water that way. Sounds like a plan. Good luck with the FTF! Quote Link to comment
+bittsen Posted January 6, 2010 Share Posted January 6, 2010 Or try this http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/disp...temnumber=92590 Quote Link to comment
+bflentje Posted January 6, 2010 Share Posted January 6, 2010 It looks like the bottom and possibly one side of the ammo box are frozen to the wood. I don't think that there is a pool of frozen water in there. I think that in addition to Nalgene bottles of hot water and thermoses of really hot water I'll take a small backpacking stove. There is so much snow now in the area that I can make plenty of hot water that way. Sounds like a plan. Good luck with the FTF! Yes, and be sure to log it immediately. Quote Link to comment
+Mom-n-Andy Posted January 6, 2010 Author Share Posted January 6, 2010 lol. If it doesn't work for the cache I can always go into the jewel thief business (just joking!!!) Or try this http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/disp...temnumber=92590 Quote Link to comment
+Mom-n-Andy Posted January 6, 2010 Author Share Posted January 6, 2010 Yes, but it is a mystery cache that no one else has ever been able to solve. And I actually had my hands on the thing. And I've never yet gotten an FTF. Thanks. I don't really want to get too specific, but for my own reasons I REALLY want to be FTF on this cache. I found it, and now I desperately want to claim it. Oh, well is not an option. The canteen idea is a good one, except that I intend to backpack in a whole bunch of Nalgene bottles full of very hot water and use the heat to thaw the cavity and loose the cache. Is that what this is all about? Getting an FTF? Geeze... I just counted, and there are currently SIX (count 'em... 6) threads on the first page alone about first-to-finds, based on the thread subject alone. This makes seven. OK, I will admit that this one at least seems to have an alterior motive, and I'd love to hear what that is, if I'm right. But I'm starting to think that Groundspeak is missing the boat by not creating a new website: www.firstfinders.com! (hey, it's available!) Quote Link to comment
+debaere Posted January 6, 2010 Share Posted January 6, 2010 Packing in hot water is probably just going to leave you with a bigger block of ice... if not for you than for the next guy. Hot water does freeze faster than cold under some circumstances (so they say). If you use the water method, make sure its very salty or otherwise treated to keep the freezing point below whatever the temp is that day. Personally I'd pack in a package of road salt and cover the exposed parts of the ammo can with it. Things will eventually thaw. Just bring something to push the salt around the crevasses between the cache and the stump and the cache will come out soon enough. Quote Link to comment
+Mom-n-Andy Posted January 6, 2010 Author Share Posted January 6, 2010 That is a good point. My intent is to put the bottles of hot water into the hole, touching the metal box, and let the heat melt the ice. I'm thinking of a way to put the cache back to avoid refreezing. Tomorrow's weather is predicted to be about 15F and salt doesn't do much at that temperature anyway. Packing in hot water is probably just going to leave you with a bigger block of ice... if not for you than for the next guy. Hot water does freeze faster than cold under some circumstances (so they say). If you use the water method, make sure its very salty or otherwise treated to keep the freezing point below whatever the temp is that day. Personally I'd pack in a package of road salt and cover the exposed parts of the ammo can with it. Things will eventually thaw. Just bring something to push the salt around the crevasses between the cache and the stump and the cache will come out soon enough. Quote Link to comment
knowschad Posted January 6, 2010 Share Posted January 6, 2010 Whatever you end up doing, please don't leave us hanging... let us know how it worked, OK? Quote Link to comment
+Chrysalides Posted January 6, 2010 Share Posted January 6, 2010 It looks like the bottom and possibly one side of the ammo box are frozen to the wood. I don't think that there is a pool of frozen water in there. I think that in addition to Nalgene bottles of hot water and thermoses of really hot water I'll take a small backpacking stove. There is so much snow now in the area that I can make plenty of hot water that way. Sounds like a plan. Good luck with the FTF! Yes, and be sure to log it immediately. Perhaps you should follow your own advice and grow up. Quote Link to comment
+flask Posted January 6, 2010 Share Posted January 6, 2010 ice-chopper and fire. voice of experience. build a fire on it and keep chipping the ice until it's free. Quote Link to comment
+flask Posted January 6, 2010 Share Posted January 6, 2010 I wouldn't want to be the one to retrieve the cache after the ice has melted. piker. once it's free of the ice, it can be rinsed off. you'd never know. Quote Link to comment
mtbikernate Posted January 6, 2010 Share Posted January 6, 2010 ice-chopper and fire. voice of experience. build a fire on it and keep chipping the ice until it's free. Not sure if it'd get you in any trouble in this particular park...but I was thinking of the same. Build a fire in that hollow and it'll melt enough to come out real fast. And if the snow is plentiful, you've got a quick way to put the fire out, too. Quote Link to comment
+drain13 Posted January 6, 2010 Share Posted January 6, 2010 oh neo are you really the ONE? better act fast... Quote Link to comment
+NYPaddleCacher Posted January 6, 2010 Share Posted January 6, 2010 ice-chopper and fire. voice of experience. build a fire on it and keep chipping the ice until it's free. 46 responses on how to get something out of a block of ice and finally someone suggests an ice pick. To the OP...good luck on getting this one. Be sure to let us know what cache this is after you've found it. I'm close enough that I could go after it myself and I enjoy a good puzzle cache. Considering the number of good puzzle caches in your area I'm surprised that the FTF has lasted this long. Quote Link to comment
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.