How Do You Get To Hydrocaches?

[+Bloencustoms]

After a close call with an alligator on a hydrocache, I returned my inflateable raft and got a sit on top kayak the same day. I haven't yet been back to that cache (water is a little cold for right now) but I used it to log a nearby hydro this past summer. What kind of watercraft do you use to get the hydros, and why?

[+briansnat]

A 30 year old Grumman, aluminum canoe, because it's all I have. It's a piece of junk and hopefully I can upgrade soon to a Mad River Explorer, or a We-No-Nah Spirit II.

[+ShaneN4Girls]

I have a 1979 Coleman 15-foot ramflex canoe, but no hydrocaches nearby to use it on.

[+DustyJacket]

I just walk on the water until I am above the cache........

[TahoeJoe]

I wait till winter and walk on the ice.

[+New England n00b]

After a close call with an alligator on a hydrocache

 

You are a better GC'r than I! I don't have the pleasure of seeing those in New England... thank God!

 

The only hydro cache that I know of in my area requires a canoe & enough time to paddle 2 miles (4 round trip). I'm thinking of renting a simple canoe or kayak as I don't get to boat much... But if I do - I use a canoe.

[Bender]

'85 JS550 Jetski

'90 Dagger Reflection 15 canoe

'03 Dagger Halifax 17 kayak

 

One way or another I will get there

 

Bender

[+Bloencustoms]

Hehe, here in Louisiana, you might see an alligator occasionally. It really isn't too much to worry about, as most of them aren't looking to eat something as big as a human. They usually shy away from people, except in areas with swamp tour boats passing through. The tour boats frequently toss hot dogs into the water to attract the creatures for the tourist's enjoyment. Unfortunately, the alligators then associate people with food. The one I encountered happened to appear between me, and the place where I put in. It was a narrow bayou, and there really was no other way to go, so I just paddled on, and he disappeared only to pop up on the other side of me. I couldn't help but think that there was only a thin layer of rubber separating my butt from the water. So, off to the sporting goods store for a kayak. I thought about geting a canoe, but I liked the fact that the sit on top kayaks are completely sealed, and easy to re-enter in the event of a capsize.

 

As a side note, what do you guys bring with you in the boat besides your normal caching and safety equipment?

[+Lazyboy & Mitey Mite]

Boat? You use boats?

 

Well in aligator country that's probably a good idea. We don't have those in Orygun.

[+adondo]

 

A bit extreme maybe. (At least when compared to kayaks and the like) Her name's Old 'n' Slo. I also have a 7.5' Livingston used with oars or an electric trolling motor for shallow waters.

 

I haven't found or hidden any hydrocaches... yet. I have a hide in mind, and just might do it within the next couple of months. She has a heater in the cabin, so winter's not a problem. The Columbia river is also too big and wide to freeze over.

 

The only real problem with winter is the water stays about 55 degrees. If the air drops below freezing, it generates lots of fog! I had to get back to a dock one time by using only the GPS. Couldn't see 10 feet in the pea soup! (Like any good Geocacher, she comes equipped with a GPS chartplotter )

Edited November 28, 2003 by adondo

[+KBer]

This is my hydrocache transportation.

 

You are now looking at the land version. When I am in the water, I flip it over.

 

[Rabbit and Turtle]

We have used our kayaks, 2 old Wilderness Systems Rascals, as well as a Wellcraft Fisherman 18.

[+skeeter-n-lucy]

Have been wanting to hide one on Toledo Bend for about the last year. I wasn't sure how many cachers would find it, or make the attempt.

 

 

 

This is our baby

[+GeoSharks]

We have three kayaks that have been used to find caches.

A tandem, sit on top, Malibu 2.

A tandem inflatable, and an old one person yak.

 

I have also used scuba to find an underwater cache in Maui.

That was fun.

[+Gorak]

I have a 16' purple plastic sea kayak that has seen a lot of action. Power would be nice, but my yak gets me where no power boat will ever go...

[+Dagg]

ditto. but mine is blue

[+Metaphor]

a Dagger Atlantis Sea Kayak...

[+HartClimbs]

Boat?!?! I knew we forgot SOMETHING!

 

[gorilladf]

NEW England noob: Hey there, my family just started playing. We are in Western Cranston, RI. Where are you from? I'm thinking of placing a a hydrocache this coming summer I'll let you know!

[+haggaeus]

cheap inflatable 2-person kayaks, heavily patched. No alligators here in NJ but the submerged piles of dumped concrete and iron sticks can be nasty too... at least I can pack the kayak into a backpack and take it on a train :-)

[+woodsters]

Am in New England as well. I have a cheap canoe that I bought from Dick's Sporting Goods and a trailer for it that cost more than the canoe. Haven't used it yet to go after a Hydro. Did a Hydro down home (GA/SC) at my in laws (they live on Lake Thurmond/Clarks Hill Lake). Used one of thier Sea-Doo's to go after it. We were thinking of placing a cahce on an island right in front of my in-laws house and having them keep na eye on it. But that was before discussion of long distance caches/vacation caches. Once we go back down there, we may discuss it with the approver there and see what they say.

[+Moe the Sleaze]

In my avatar.

[+Quest Master]

I have a folding kayak ( www.folbot.com ) that comes out of a bag and sets up like a tent. It is much easier to paddle than an inflatable boat and very stable. It easily fits inside of my 1992 Colt Hatchback. The only downside is that it takes about 30 minutes to assemble and disassemble.

[+skeeter-n-lucy]

Is there a place to show that iot is a hydro cache. Im gonna place one tomorrow and want to do it right. I'm assuming that a hydrocache is one which requires crossing water to get to the cache???

[+Bloencustoms]

As of yet there is no way to distinguish hydrocaches (a cache that requires crossing water to reach, by my definition) from other caches besides the five star terrain rating. A boat is considered "special equipment", so the terrain rating becomes five stars. Most caches do a search for five star terrain caches when they are looking for hydros. This usually works, but some people don't rate them a 5, and there are many land based caches with 5 terrain as well.

[+skeeter-n-lucy]

Thanks...I missed that LA geocaching event. Had to drive a bus to Heart of Spain. Ill add anothe LA cache tomorrow!!!

 

I will take the pontoon boat tomorow, easire to work around land on!!!!

Edited November 29, 2003 by skeeter64

[+shawhh]

either a wilderness systems cape horn sea kayak, or an old town discovery 169. which i choose depends on the water conditions, availability of a partner or am i solo, and how i'm feeling on the given day. -harry

[+woodsters]

yes it would be nice to have a signification of hydrocaches and possibly 4x4 caches. Although a 4x4 cache could probably be reached by foot, but may take longer...

 

are there caches that require repelling and/or climbing? If so, that may be another good signification as well...

[+Uplink]

I have a 23 year old power boat that I use for hydrocaches, but I am thinking of trading it in on a kayak because keeping it running takes too much time away from Geocaching!

This photo was taken on Blake Island in the middle of Puget Sound, which has 3 caches and no ferry service.

 

In this photo, you can barely see the bouy which had a geocache tied to the anchor chain (the pelican box didn't work too good at the 10 foot depth).

 

I almost got to rescue the Groundspeak crew once when they ran out of gas on Lake Washington. No lie!

[BeDoggy]

oops

Edited November 29, 2003 by BeDoggy

[BeDoggy]

I just bought a 13 foot kayak to explore the many lakes and rivers around here. I'm planning to start placing hydrocaches in the spring.

Edited November 29, 2003 by BeDoggy

[+Lazyboy & Mitey Mite]

I have also used scuba to find an underwater cache in Maui.

That was fun.

Hey Alan, did you look something like this when you found it???

Have you guys been diving? I have been working as an assistant instructor for a shop up here in Oregon and I start my instructor course the beginning of January.

 

Best way to do a hydro??? Blow bubbles.

[+sept1c_tank]

My little baby: 12ft., 32 lbs. Oldtown Pack.

Buffalo River. 11-25-03

[+Tangles]

Depends where the cache is and how far from the shore. For longer trips we use a Tupperware (plastic) sea kayak for the sorter trips just use an inflatable that fits in a pack.

We just have to watch out for sharks and stingers in the saltwater.

[+GeoSharks]

Hey Alan, did you look something like this when you found it???

[Have you guys been diving?  I have been working as an assistant instructor for a shop up here in Oregon and I start my instructor course the beginning of January.

 

Best way to do a hydro???  Blow bubbles. 

 

Hi Al!

That is what I looked like when I found it! You took a great picture.

 

We have been doing a few dives, but not nearly enough. I always want to do more.

 

When you get your instructors cert., will you give me a good deal on my AOW?

Maybe have class in Maui!

 

Give M.M. a hug for us!

[Jomarac5]

I built my own favourite hydrocaching vessel:

 

 

I placed 4 hydrocaches and 1 event cache with it last year and picked up a few caches left by others. I'll be placing more hydrocaches as soon as sept1c_tank arrives on my doorstep for some BC paddling adventures.

 

*****

Edited November 30, 2003 by Jomarac5

[+Garmen (& Women) Group]

We have used the smallest style "Poke Boats" (http://www.pokeboat.com/) to place and find "hydrocaches" since before that term came in to use. If interested, our Cranberry Osprey Geocache in southwestern Pennsylvania (GCAA3 http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?ID=2723) has been visited by folks with other types of transportation which they describe in their comments. The boats, at 22 pounds and with a 2-inch draft, are easy to haul and go just about anywhere on flat water. Our fiberglass hulls are not much good in white water though. We tried that once and got a small crack in one of the pokeboats.

[+ChrisCindy]

[+docKaos]

Still using an inflatable two-man kayak. Not many hydrocaches in this area, so the ease of transporting it makes a difference.

[+rickrich]

Some cachers wait till the ice comes. Some cachers use a kayak.

 

Some wait for the ice and use a kayak.

 

[+Polgara]

Since Dad steals my GPS to go salt water fishing, he's also automatically recruited for hydrocaches in the 19 foot grady white geoboat.

[dampeoples]

I've got a 14' jon boat, pretty soon, i'll have another 15HP motor for it, the one I had last year pushed that thing 23MPH

[+WaldenRun]

We don't need no stinkin' boats:

 

Swim log #1

 

Swim log #2

 

Swim log #3

 

Swim log #4

 

-WR

[+thestosh]

Here is what I have used for the 2 caches on islands in the Tennessee River near Knoxville.

 

[+rpecot]

A 30 year old Grumman, aluminum canoe, because it's all I have.  It's a piece of junk and hopefully I can upgrade soon to a Mad River Explorer, or a We-No-Nah Spirit II.

Amen brother!

 

I bought my Grumman 2nd (actually 3rd) hand. It was a rental boat in it's former life. I think someone must have wrapped it around a tree because it is asymetrical along the long axis of the boat. Oh yeah, its got lots of JB Weld in strategic places. Who cares, it still floats!

 

Coincidentally, I'm the one who hid the cache Bloencustoms is referring to. After hiding it with my daughter and young niece, we continued our paddle down the peaceful bayou. That is, until a rather large splash scared the @#$% out of us and brought us back to reality. We never saw the alligator, but it sure as hell sounded big. At that point, I decided to go home. I’ve never seen my daughter paddle so fast!

[Hogarth]

 

This get's the job done..

[+Geo Ho]

How do I get to hydro caches.

 

Well, first creat a thread called Geocaching as an online dating service??. Then I start interviewing prospective candidates, exchange a few e-mails, IM the prospect for a week or two and get references from respectable sources.

 

After it has been established that this person is not likely to be a mass murderer or serial killer or psycho, I ask this person if they need someone to paddle with.

 

Once the need is verified; meet up with them, paddle with them, start dating them, have them move in with me and now my issue is resolved.

 

I have complete and total access to a canoe and canoeing partner.

 

That's how I get to hydrocaches . . . with Mopar.

 

 

 

Happy caching and stuff!

Edited February 11, 2004 by Geo Ho

[+Mopar]

Yea, there's the canoe (the one on the far right):

 

But there is also the waverunner:

 

[+Geo Ho]

Yea, there's the canoe (the one on the far right):

 

<Image removed>

 

But there is also the waverunner:

 

<Image removed>

Man! He is SUCH a show off!

[+Tiwica]

I just walk on the water until I am above the cache........

Yeah, you bet...................

 

Five kayaks in this family of two paddlers. 2 Perception 17' Touring boats, 2 Perception Creekboats, 1 Wavesport Playboat. Haven't done any caches with them yet. I started caching in November and I don't like the sinus rushes from cold water. So I'll be waiting til late spring.

Edited February 11, 2004 by Tiwica