Guest kbraband Posted March 21, 2001 Share Posted March 21, 2001 I've been having an email dialog with a state forest superintendent regarding permission to place caches in state parks and forests. Bottom line: they are going to discuss it to check on legal liability issues. I'll post here what I find out. Meanwhile, let's make sure we do all we can to ensure a good reputation for the sport, including asking permission before placing a cache, encouraging responsible use of land, and using common sense when it comes to what to place inside a cache and where to place it. Here's some of the email: ------- Good morning Ken. Thanks for the email concerning your activity. I also forwarded your email to the Supt. of the North Kettle Moraine State Forest, Jerry Leitermann, so he would know about your activity there. I do not have a GPS device but from the information you gave and the hints on the web site, I was able to find the cache at Pike Lake. It took me about 1/2 hour with out the assistance of the GPS. As I talked to other Forest Supts. about this new form of recreation, some concerns came up about liability on our part. Most folks felt that it was a very interesting activity but we want to check with our legal staff to see if there needs to be a more formal process to go through when someone wants to place some non natural item (your box) out in the forest. Most of our activities in the forest take place on our designated trails where we maintain and inspect the surface and can give the user some assurance that the area is safe to use. That may be a concern for us with your activitiy. It was quite slippery on the side of the hill the day I went to look for your cache here at Pike Lake. We will be talking about this activity next week at a staff meeting I will be attending with other Property Managers. I am the last person to want to create permits and such if I don't have to but I also know we are living in a "sue happy society" today. I try to get back to you with some answers soon. I left your cache where it was for now. Don't know if you have checked it recently but at least 3 other groups found it before I did. So folks are out there hunting. John E. Wald Forest Superintendent Kettle Moraine State Forest - Pike Lake Unit Kettle Moraine State Forest - Loew Lake Unit Phone # (262) 670-3403 Fax # (262) 670-3411 Email waldj@dnr.state.wi.us Quote Link to comment
Guest kbraband Posted April 1, 2001 Share Posted April 1, 2001 --------- Subj: New Prospect and Pike Lake Caches Date: Sun, 25 Mar 2001 3:44:42 PM Eastern Standard Time From: "The Coblentz's" To: Ken, Both Park Superintendants are a bit concerned about geocaching in state parks and forests after receiving your e-mail notice. The South Eastern Region park managers will be discussing geocaching at their next meeting. The local warden and I (chief ranger of KMSF) were sent to hike in and find it. We needed to note the location and contents. It was a beautiful spring day and we enjoyed the hike. We hit the spot within 5 ft., but it took us about 10 minutes to figure out the hiding spot. We had so much fun in the hunt that we both felt guilty getting paid for the hour it took. We wrote in the logbook, took our picture, and left some Smokey Bear flashcards, a Smokey Bear pencil, Mauthe Lake postcard and Guide Book to WI State Parks. Our concerns were to assess the possibility of damage to the site by visitor traffic in erosion prone areas and the leaving of private property on state owned land. (Off the record, we both agreed that it shouldn't be a problem and liked the idea of geocashing as hiking recreation.) We will share our opinions with the managers and hopfully it will put an end to their fears and concerns about volunteer trails. I did want to share some other thoughts with you and other cachers. It would be best for the cache site areas if they were moved to different locations within the area each time before a permanent volunteer trail developed. Volunteer trails do damage the land and flora. The placement of the New Prospect Cache is within the protected Haskell Noyes State Natural and Scientific Area. The Wisconsin Scientific Areas Preservation Council and the Bureau of Endangered Species have identified this area because of its pre-settlement condition, old-growth forest and it contains unique native plant and animal communties that need protection. It would help protect these plant communities if visitors were reminded to tread lightly and watch where they step while traveling in this area. These spring wildflowers are abundant and very tiny and will be blooming soon. I'm sure a decision about geocaching in WI state parks will be coming soon. My husband and I (The Mad River Paddlers) will be hiding a cache in a spectacular area west of Neillsville this spring. Be sure to watch for it! Deb [This message has been edited by kbraband (edited 04-01-2001).] Quote Link to comment
Guest Quinnow Posted April 1, 2001 Share Posted April 1, 2001 This is way cool if they decide to allow it. This could also give a start to other parks falling in ranks to see that we are not out to hurt the parks, but to help them and enjoy them. ------------------ Quinn Stone Rochester, NY.14616 www.Navicache.com Quote Link to comment
Guest kbraband Posted April 21, 2001 Share Posted April 21, 2001 Well, no further word yet from our state parks officials as of today, but I'm still waiting. ~Ken Quote Link to comment
Guest Deb Posted April 24, 2001 Share Posted April 24, 2001 quote:Originally posted by kbraband:Well, no further word yet from our state parks officials as of today, but I'm still waiting. ~Ken Ken, I believe it's a non-issue in the Kettle Moraine. A cache placed in the forest will be ignored by staff unless it creates a problem or becomes a danger to the resource. Deb Quote Link to comment
Guest kbraband Posted April 25, 2001 Share Posted April 25, 2001 quote:Originally posted by Deb: Ken, I believe it's a non-issue in the Kettle Moraine. A cache placed in the forest will be ignored by staff unless it creates a problem or becomes a danger to the resource. Deb OK, Deb, thanks for the feedback. Because I did not hear back through official channels, I assumed the official position was no official position that would approve or ban geocaching in state parks and forests. And thanks for checking on my cache at New Prospect. ~Ken Quote Link to comment
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