Reaching Tools

[+Driddy]

I am looking for suggestions on how to retrieve a hide-a-key from the underside of a bridge. The container is resting on a steel I-beam over a shallow creek and I am several feet too short to reach it. It would not be practical to carry a small ladder to the creek and building up a mound of rocks seems like a lot of work and not very friendly to the environment.

 

I was thinking of attaching a plastic dust pan to the end of a stick with duct tape and then pushing the container onto the pan with a stick. Replacing the cache would be done in a similar manner.

 

I would be quite interested in hearing alternative solutions.

 

Thanks!

[+Panther&Pine]

Is it a good idea to have a cache under this bridge?

How do you think other cachers will retreive the cache?

What keeps the cache from ending up in the water and getting washed away?

[+Castle Mischief]

What you need is a toddler, some duct tape and 25' of rope.

[+kpanko]

I am looking for suggestions on how to retrieve a hide-a-key from the underside of a bridge. The container is resting on a steel I-beam over a shallow creek and I am several feet too short to reach it.

Could you possibly have a friend boost you up there?

 

Is it a good idea to have a cache under this bridge?

I am assuming that this cache is already there, and was not placed there by Geo Peeps.

[+Driddy]

I did not place this cache; it has been in existence for many years. I generally go caching with my 9-yr-old. I think I would kill her if she gave me a boost. I suppose I could try giving her a boost.

[+sbell111]

Is it a good idea to have a cache under this bridge?

How do you think other cachers will retreive the cache?

What keeps the cache from ending up in the water and getting washed away?

You realize that the OP is not the cache owner, right?

[+sbell111]

I did not place this cache; it has been in existence for many years. I generally go caching with my 9-yr-old. I think I would kill her if she gave me a boost. I suppose I could try giving her a boost.

9YO on shoulders is probably a good method for this one, assuming that you don't have access to a trained monkey.

[+kpanko]

One of these things might be good?

 

http://www.acehardware.com/product/index.j...oductId=2829648

[+Panther&Pine]

 

Is it a good idea to have a cache under this bridge?

I am assuming that this cache is already there, and was not placed there by Geo Peeps.

Goodness me. Reading comprehension is not working for me today. More coffee!

[+Brooklyn51]

We've had good luck with one of those extendable magnetic pick up tools.. they reach out a good 3' or so and if the box is magnetic at all, it'll work pretty well. Otherwise your idea should work fine too.

 

 

What you need is a toddler, some duct tape and 25' of rope.

is the rope so you can try again if you miss the first time?

[+Castle Mischief]

I did not place this cache; it has been in existence for many years. I generally go caching with my 9-yr-old. I think I would kill her if she gave me a boost. I suppose I could try giving her a boost.

9YO on shoulders is probably a good method for this one, assuming that you don't have access to a trained monkey.

 

And if you have both, well then you're the luckiest cacher in the world.

[7rxc]

You can make a really good 'grabber' using an old caliper style bicycle brake... the pincer can go on one end of a pole, and the cable led to a hand activator lever on the other end by the grip... easy to mount different 'claws' on the caliper to suit the need. With just a little creativity, you can make the caliper face different ways to be more effective... for example a pivotal anchor point at the claw end... Cheap as well, I have many in my parts box... and it is virtually unlimited in length (actually friction will limit that). The pole can be a mop handle, or it can be one of those fancy extendable poles... I'm working on a mounting fixture for the end of my hiking pole.

I already have a mirror for that as well, sometimes with a light. Darn pole is even useful for WALKING with...

not to mention moving brush aside gently to see in... or distracting critters.

 

Good luck!

 

Doug 7rxc

[+niraD]

I've been known to use an extension pole designed for painters to retrieve elevated caches. For example:

http://www.amazon.com/Wooster-Brush-R056-S...DZO/ref=sr_1_10

[+Driddy]

I've been known to use an extension pole designed for painters to retrieve elevated caches. For example:

http://www.amazon.com/Wooster-Brush-R056-S...DZO/ref=sr_1_10

 

What do you attach to the end of the pole?

[+Chrysalides]

What do you attach to the end of the pole?

I don't know about niraD, but once, in a pinch, I attached a flyswatter to mine, bent at a 90 degree angle, and dragged the cache down. To return it, I stuck the cache to the flyswatter using duct tape, and the magnet pulled it off the tape at the location where I returned it.

Edited November 11, 2010 by Chrysalides

[+niraD]

I've been known to use an extension pole designed for painters to retrieve elevated caches. For example:

http://www.amazon.com/Wooster-Brush-R056-S...DZO/ref=sr_1_10

What do you attach to the end of the pole?

The one I used had a dandelion tool on the end. The ideal tool depends on the cache though. If the cache is held in place magnetically, then anything steel should work for retrieving the cache, if you can get it to stick to the tool.

[+GeePa]

I keep something like this in my vehicle for just such an emergency.

[+Clothahump]

9YO on shoulders is probably a good method for this one, assuming that you don't have access to a trained monkey.

There's a difference?

 

 

[7rxc]

I've been known to use an extension pole designed for painters to retrieve elevated caches. For example:

http://www.amazon.com/Wooster-Brush-R056-S...DZO/ref=sr_1_10

 

What do you attach to the end of the pole?

 

I'd use something like my suggestion in post 12... adaptable on the fly if you have extra claws... and they are very strong... had one on a pole like that for retrieving/ placing bicycles on a wall display... of course a plain old mop handle works too... just like having a x foot long arm and hand.

 

Good luck.

 

Doug 7rxc

[+Chrysalides]

9YO on shoulders is probably a good method for this one, assuming that you don't have access to a trained monkey.

There's a difference?

Speaking as someone with kids, yes. You can train a monkey.

[+Ecylram]

What you need is a toddler, some duct tape and 25' of rope.

Never has you handle been more appropriate.

 

I recommend Trunk Monkey.

Edited November 11, 2010 by Ecylram

[+Trunkmonkey]

I recommend Trunk Monkey.

I, too, recommend a Trunk Monkey!

[jholly]

I recommend Trunk Monkey.

I, too, recommend a Trunk Monkey!

Edited June 20, 2012 by jholly

[+Dan2099]

I would go to a medical supply store they have all kinds of devices that are used by mobility challenged people and those in a wheel chair.....Also a side note I thought caches were not allowed to be placed on bridges.

[+Lady Loki]

I would go to a medical supply store they have all kinds of devices that are used by mobility challenged people and those in a wheel chair.....Also a side note I thought caches were not allowed to be placed on bridges.

The other option is to get your knee replaced and get one that way. (My MIL has one and she's REALLY good with it, but she's in a wheelchair due to a recent knee replacement and a stroke when she was 6.)

 

I do recommend this course of action, though. The medical supply store, I mean, not the knee replacement unless you actually need it. In fact, I've seen reachers at Walgreen's that are really nice; thought about getting one for MIL, actually.

[+scrapcat]

I keep something like this in my vehicle for just such an emergency.

 

I keep one of these in my car. Lately, nearby cachers have been placing them up on power towers - I'm a foot or two too short.

[+Gustav129]

One of these things might be good?

 

http://www.acehardware.com/product/index.j...oductId=2829648

 

I picked one up at a dollar store...... for a dollar! I use it more to pinch my gf's butt from across the room, so she hates it.

[+The VanDucks]

Lots of "good" ideas there - but you have to replace the cache too! Hope the suggested methods or tools will work to do that! If all else fails, find a very tall geocacher to get it down for you, or someone brave enough to crawl out on the bridge if the container can be reached from the top of the bridge?

 

I'm sure you'll be able to write an interesting log when you do get this cache!

[knowschad]

I keep something like this in my vehicle for just such an emergency.

 

I keep one of these in my car. Lately, nearby cachers have been placing them up on power towers - I'm a foot or two too short.

I hope that doesn't mean what I think that means!