Northwest Sublime

[voltaire]

Hi Folks

I'm planning a trip across the country this summer, eventually reaching Maine before I return to

California. While this is somewhat a vacation, my real purpose is to explore our notions of the

sublime, using GPS technology and your explorations to assist me.

 

My course across the country will be determined by the GPS coordinates for sublime sites that

fellow geocachers submit. If you have come across such sites yourselves and you have the coordinates for them, I would really appreciate your letting me see what you discovered. If you'll send me the coordinates, I'll attempt to incorporate the sites into my trip.

 

The sublime has a long history with regards to landscape and images of landscape. I am interested in our collective notions of it and how we explore it through using GIS systems. This may present interesting ideas in relationship to 18th and 19th century exploration and ideas about sublime written about by such philosophers as Kant and Burke.

 

I hope you'll find this somewhat interesting yourself and help me out by submitting coordnates of

sublime sites you've visited in your area or in other parts of the country. It'll make my trip that much more fun.

 

Thanks,

voltaire

[+CachinCin]

In your search for the sublime, are you looking for astonishing beauty or are you more interested in being captivated by the horrible? Do you want totally natural sublime, or an intersection of humans and nature?

 

And....how far are you willing to hike to reach the sublime?

 

There are some awesome views and experiences to have out here, but given the Burkian bent of your request I'm thinking that you probably want more than a nice vista.

 

Cin

[Jamethiel]

What Cachincin said. For the man vs nature type horror sublime I'd advise the First in Butte cache in Butte, MT. Located at the largest hole in America. There used to be a mountain there, now there is a acid filled lake.

For beautiful with views and stuff, we've got tons of them. But hike distance is important to know.

For example, Gem Lake cache is supposed to be kick A** for views and beauty. And I really enjoyed our local Snipe Hatch (currently disabled) for a nice walk up a pretty valley. Different levels of Sublime.

I'll recommend my own Bear Creek cache in MT as a very nice little hike if you are going through the Bitterroot. Doesn't end at a lake but a search on nearby caches will get you some really great ones within 50 miles.

-Jennifer

[+EraSeek]

Hold; while we all do our research: Kant, Burke, and the sublime

[+slinger91]

Sublime was that cool band from Long Beach, California right?

[+EraSeek]

Frankly I much prefer the Calvin and Hobbs view of the sublime to the Kant and Burke.

...You know, he one where they are going off the cliff on a sled... Now there is the essence of the sublime!

[+Lazyboy & Mitey Mite]

The Sublime is located on Maui only.

[+EraSeek]

Ok, I'll take the risky philosphical plunge.

 

Listen. Though there are times when the sublime may be experienced in a collective setting, and there are often cultural triggers to experiencing the sublime, the experience itself is wholly an individual one. It is so by its very nature. It is a unique connection. I'll let you ponder for yourself what that connection is, though deep inside I am sure everyone knows. For me absolute solitude in an open landscape can often be such a trigger. Weather as well can play a large part, as well as some personal risk. Though it has been said that the sublime must consist of the large, though often true, it ain't necessarily so. At any rate, I can take you there (the places I have experienced it) but I can't show you where it is found. Following the coordinates to the sublime requires something other than place. It trumps philosophy or theology (mere constructs of man). It is the awe and realization, the connection, to that greater than ourselves. Where I have found it, you may not. I may or may not find it again where I have found it before. It is a gift given with fog one time and on a sun beaten prairie the next. When I started caching I was not sure if I wished to share some places. I have shared a few. I'll share a few here as well.

 

http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_detai...a3-06e2aaffca35

 

http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_detai...fb-7f2645b18c95

 

http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cachelog_de...120341&L=698419

 

http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cachelog_de...=73518&L=460919

 

http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cachelog_de...=92239&L=558504

 

http://www.geocaching.com/seek/log.aspx?II...99e&LID=2123024

 

http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_detai...6d-acb28b75b30a

 

http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_detai...65-4629629818eb

 

http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_detai...16-09264fbc1fc9

 

http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_detai...2c-c257df715fca

[+TotemLake]

Hold; while we all do our research: Kant, Burke, and the sublime

So if I read this right, the return hike I experienced on the Snow Lake Cache Machine was sublime in that it became a matter of self-preservation to make it to the car.

 

Actuallly - on further thought, the whole hike was sublime.

Edited March 19, 2004 by TotemLake

[+evergreenhiker!]

Hold; while we all do our research: Kant, Burke, and the sublime

So if I read this right, the return hike I experienced on the Snow Lake Cache Machine was sublime in that it became a matter of self-preservation to make it to the car.

 

Actuallly - on further thought, the whole hike was sublime.

Thank you for saying that about my cache!

[Moun10Bike]

The Snow and Gem Lake caches are definitely "destination" caches worthy of a roadtrip. For other caches that I feel were "sublime" (for a variety of reasons), check out my list of favorites.

[+TotemLake]

Hold; while we all do our research: Kant, Burke, and the sublime

So if I read this right, the return hike I experienced on the Snow Lake Cache Machine was sublime in that it became a matter of self-preservation to make it to the car.

 

Actuallly - on further thought, the whole hike was sublime.

Thank you for saying that about my cache!

The location was drop dead beautiful but the hike for me was more a tribute of not wanting to give up on a goal of making it out that far and then ultimately making it back. The last 4 miles was what made the whole experience sublime to me by the definition in EraSeek's reference.

 

I'm in better shape today than I was on that hike and someday, I'm going to head back to that cache location for a visit so I can recollect my memories of the previous hike and maybe spend a night out there and enjoy the scenery and the solitude.

[voltaire]

Wow, thanks eraseek.

I appreciate the thoughts and the sites.

voltaire

[voltaire]

Thanks to you too, Mou10bike.

I really appreciate the sharing.

I look forward to checking out these sites.

 

voltaire

[+evergreenhiker!]

I see Jon listed Tie Mill in his favorites. That was my first ever cache find. Took two trips to get right lol

 

Great trail and a classic way to start geocaching...at least for me.

[+DoodleCat & MisterKrrk]

http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_detai...13-e3d87d387fec

 

I nominate this cache at Woodard Bay.

[+EraSeek]

I see Jon listed Tie Mill in his favorites. That was my first ever cache find. Took two trips to get right lol

 

Great trail and a classic way to start geocaching...at least for me.

Tie mill was the one that really locked me into geocaching. I did it with my old 45xl, and in the fog. That hike, in a fog bound forest, by myself, with the difficulty of an old technology GPS, and eventually having found a tough stash was extremely rewarding. Yup, my true addition began at the Tie Mill. Still one of the best.

[+EraSeek]

voltaire, might I suggest one more place. A fairly easy hike, quite impresive. The tip of Cape Flattery, the most northwest point in the continental United States.

 

Ok, one more. A cache called "12 birds on the Dome". A bit more of a hike.

[voltaire]

Thanks Eraseek

I'm assuming these are caches listed on the geocache site?

 

It's been interesting to see the responses I've gotten, and not

gotten. While I'm getting quite a bit of response from the Northwest,

the Great Plains and the Northeast, I'm not getting any response

from the Southwest and South. Interesting. Anyone's thoughts

regarding this?

 

voltaire

[+ironman114]

I was at cape flattery once and saw a bald eagle come down out of a tree and fly up the road I was on, to gain altitude to clear the trees . It had a wingspan larger than my car and I swear it could have grabbed the car and dropped it onto the rocks on the coast! This is truely an awesome place!

[+EraSeek]

Most nw point Here is the cache and coords. I spent a couple of years patroling these waters. Awesome place. It won't disappoint.

[voltaire]

Thanks EraSeek - I'll check that out.

 

If you all are interested, my trip and the photographs made during

it will be part of an art exhibition about landscape and GIS technologies

in San Francisco come spring 2005. If you'd like to see what me and

my collaborative art group is doing, please go to http://www.c5corp.com.

Once there, look for the Landscape Initiatives project - some cool

stuff is going on.

 

voltaire

[+EraSeek]

Looks a bit like Moun10Bikes art of our route up St Helens:

 

[voltaire]

Very Cool!!

voltaire

[Nudecacher]

Here's the only cache found using the word 'sublime' as a keyword, but I don't know if I'd use that criteria.

 

GCA0F8 At a sublime point by GarenKreiz and family

http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_detai...d6-8995de3862c3

[voltaire]

Hey nudecacher

I'd love to check out that site, especially since it's in France!

Okay, who wants to donate to my travel fund? ;-)

 

I'm still looking for more sublime sites, especially in the South

and Southwest - surprisingly, I have gotten very little response

from those regions. Please, if you have geocaching friends in

those areas, encourage their contributions.

 

Thanks,

voltaire

[lucyandrickie]

Lucy and I spent some time caching along the Gulf Coast last summer and the two caches that we enjoyed the most are now archived, but try this nearby cache that we did not get to for a taste of the southern sublime.

[voltaire]

Thanks L&R!

It's great to have a few sites in that area to visit. That one looks tough,

but I'll be it's fun.

 

Being new to this whole thing, I don't know much about archiving. I wasn't

able to find an archive on the site and when I did a search for your contributions,

I didn't find the Gulf Coast sites you mentioned. Can you lead me to 'em?

 

Thanks,

voltaire

[+Byron & Anne]

A few sublime spots my friends have introduced me to:

GC24AF - Walker Hole in the Redwoods of California

GC70A0 -(zero A zero) Strange Waters - Northern Oregon Cascades , looking up

GC6789- Hawk Mountain - Northern Oregon Cascades, looking down

GC98DA- Man That's a Big Rock - Central Oregon Cascades

GC94A6 - Have fun storming the castle - East side, looking west

GCAEDC - Mosier Tunnels - Columbia Gorge.

 

I limited myself to caches currently active on March 31, 2004.

 

Anne

[voltaire]

Thanks a ton, Anne!

 

It's impressive how much response I've gotten from

the Northwest, and surprising how few I've gotten from

the Southeast. Does this say anthing about geocache

demographics?

 

voltaire

[Charles Iverson]

HEY CHECK OUT My Webpage

 

ITS IN A GOOD PLACE NEAR A LOT OF FELLOW CACHES!!!

AS YOU CAN SEE My Webpage

 

Total Records: 1242 - Page: 1 of 63 WOW!!!

 

Chuck

 

We'r Off to see the Country side!! GeoCaching along the Way!!!

 

Check out my Cache!!! ---->

 

( The Sunset Beach Cache) My Webpage

[+EraSeek]

You might check out Bumblingb's (hope I got that right) well put post HERE. Third from the top.

[voltaire]

You Northwest geocachers are impressive - you keep them

comin'. Now, if I could get some response from the South.

I'll keep fishing.

 

Thanks,

voltaire

[voltaire]

Hi Folks

Just an update: I'm on the road now for six days, right now hanging out at Java Joe's in Santa Fe, just before heading into Texas for my first sublime site sighting.

 

I couldn't help stopping in at Zion Nt'l Park and Monument Valley on the way - hope you can check these places out if you haven't.

Mostly the weather has been good, ranging from hot to very hot, but I have run into some thunderstorms here in New Mexico - the accompanying wind is havoc for me on my motorcycle.

 

That's it for now - I can't wait to see the Texas sites.

voltaire

[voltaire]

Just a quick update:

 

I'm still here, in Maine, stuck cause I've been working on my bike. I've had to rebuild the top end(s) due to a bad part installation. I had intended to head out towards Michigan almost two weeks ago, but I ran into mechanical problems. Fortunately I was staying with my sister when the proverbial fan was splattered.

 

I'm hoping to get the bike running today, allowing me to leave tomorrow.

I've visited two sites up here in Maine. I highly recommend One For The

Loafers - strenuous summertime hike, but the view is a payoff.

 

I'm hoping the ride back to the west coast is a smooth, trouble-free one.

 

voltaire