Maple Cotton Candy is Awesome

On May 1st we went to the Maple Festival in St Albans.

They block off a portion of the main strip in the city, right next to a park, and have all sorts of booths and vendors. There are also other activities in nearby buildings such as craft and antique shows. We had a great time exploring St Albans as well as trying various maple inspired foods. As with most activities you can always find some time for caching!

I shouldn't even be here
Our first and only stop of the day was a small size cache between Swanton and Highgate. I used our GPSr, the Magellan eXplorist GC, to filter out anything too small since this would be our only cache and we wanted to trade some swag. The cache was hidden in a spot we had only encountered once before and was well protected from the elements. Zoey really liked the container since it had Elmo on it :) We decided to send out our first geocoin using this cache. My mother also traded some swag that she had picked up at the festival. This ended up being a great choice for our only cache of the day!

There's Something About Swanton

On April 30th we were Vermont bound once again. My mother and brother wanted to go with us and since we were going to St Alban's Maple Festival on the 1st we had to make the most of the 30th.

Moonlight in Vermont

View from the shoreline

We started our day by visiting a cache that had been recently reactivated. It seems that the lake was trying to take back part of the shore and as a result the caches original location wasn't safe anymore. This cache is on private property but the log clearly states that it was places with the owners permission which was great because the location was awesome! It's right next door to a bed and breakfast and looks like it's frequented by the locals. It took us a bit longer than normal because the new coordinates are a bit off, but ultimately Justin found it as we were about to call it a DNF. The area was just plain awesome and I'm glad we were able to do a cache there.

The Treeman celebrates another find!

The Litte Red Caboose

Little Red Caboose and New walking bridge
Just down the road we stopped in Swanton and the Swanton Historical Society R.R. Depot Museum. The museum has lots of really cool stuff if you're interested in trains or local history. There's an old station, switch house, a caboose and what is left of a rail house. Across the street is a train bridge that has been re purposed  as a walking bridge. The caboose hide was fairly crafty and my mother happened upon it after a few minutes of searching.

Zoey getting credit :)

The awesome bridge!

The walking bridge though we were unable to find. We spent way too long searching for it with no luck. You can tell that many people have searched for it without finding it but have yet to log a DNF. Some cachers even admit to this in their found it logs. There have been 2 more DNFs since we logged ours but the CO insists it's still there. I believe the problem is the area is needle in a haystack heavy.

Swan Princess
This was a quick walk in the park. Apparently there are swans that live in the park but they weren't out yet. Did a bit of CITO while we were there which shouldn't have been necessary since there were ample trash bins nearby.

The cache with our lovely models

a walk in the woods and The Desert

Not too far from the park we were at before is what use to be a recreational trail for snow mobiles. It seems that they are no longer allowed to use the area because they were abusing the land owners good nature. This hasn't seemed to have stopped ATV owners since there was plenty of tire tracks on the trails. The first cache was just inside the trails but still well hidden in a common caching spot.

Zoey inspects the treasure

The second is in an area that very much looks like a desert in the middle of the forest. This cache took us a bit longer but I was determined that I knew where and how it was hidden, it was just a matter of finding it. Sure enough I was right and we were soon on our way. There is another cache in the area but unfortunately we ran out of time for the day and will have to return in the future!

A less than flattering shot!

Multi-cache Means Never having to Describe Your GZ

April 21st, the day after the cachtastic cachathon on the 20th, was just as exciting as the day before. Unfortunately both Colette and myself had work so we couldn't stay out as long as we wanted, but the weather was fantastic and we had a good hike! My mother came with us on this outing and I believe this was the straw that has resulted in her getting her own GPS for geocaching!

Hog Island Fun
Our first stop was another cache hidden at a boat launch. Like I said in our last post we all really enjoy these and this one was no exception. As opposed to all the other caches we've found at boat launches this one was magnetic which made finding it tricky. After we picked it up and Co signed it we made our way to the edge of the water and did some skipping.

Pieces of Rail and Goldilocks and the three...oops..TWO Bears
Way back up north in Alburgh we stopped to the Recreational Rail Trail to attempt two multi-caches. This would be the first attempt at these since we stumbled upon them the first time we went caching. The basics of a multi-cache are simple. The coordinates in the GPS do not lead to the cache itself, they lead to step one. Step one is either coordinates to another location or a puzzle piece that, once solved, gives you the coordinates. Multi-caches can be any length but the two we did today were five and three steps. Typically the purpose of a multi-cache is to show the cacher the area or help them explore the terrain. These two caches took us on the majority of the rail trail and we clocked in close to five miles.

It's kind of hard to describe the events that took place because most of it consisted of walking on a very well defined and maintained trail, but we did see some interesting wildlife. We started Pieces of Rail and half way through it started Goldilocks. Pieces of Rail consisted of several puzzles where we had to use the environment to solve them. Goldilocks was more traditional, as it had us go to another coordinate where we found a cache that led us to the next. Both caches were very fun. Pieces of Rail also resulted in us logging our first Benchmark.
Benchmarks are markers or metal discs that surveyors use. Each has it's own serial number and as a result discovering them can be tracked on Geocaching.com. None of us knew much about them, but that didn't matter because Zoey ended up finding it! The final Goldilocks cache was full of goodies, unfortunately Pieces of Rail was not. While the swag is not the reason we go caching it is fun to find interesting stuff. As a result we've decided to start carrying more things with us so that others can have great swag to choose from!

Super Cachetastic 2: The Vermontining

April 20th was a big day of caching for us. No 400+ cache runs for us, but plenty of neat places to visit. After crossing the lake we ended up in Vermont. No time to delay, there's caches on them there islands!

Arguably "The Best Sunset"
We've noticed that a lot of caches are hidden near or in boat launches. There's nothing wrong with that, because there's lots of good things about them being hidden there. There is typically not many muggles around, there is always parking and they're right next to the lake! The cache's name is about a debate between the cache owner and their friends about who's lake sunset is better. Unfortunately we didn't get to see a sunset, but we did get to see a geocache!

Gateway
Before getting to Gateway we stopped by the Grand Isle Rec Park and tried to get a cache there. There was a muggle there the whole time, cleaning his lawn mower right next to the cache. We decided that we would try a nearby area first and then come back.

Gateway is located on the gate to Grand Isle State Park. It's a micro and didn't take us too long to find it. By this time Zaiden was strapped to my back so Co did most of the searching. This also makes two consecutive caches in a row with no picture. Frowny Face :(

Juniper Thicket and Cedar Grove
There's a trail in Grand Isle Park that has a neat name that I do not remember. On this trail is two caches that are hidden but not hidden. They're hidden as in they can't be found without looking, but they're not hidden as in they aren't hard to find once you know where to look. Both of these caches reside in areas based on their names. As such you can not see the actual cache from the path. Colette tried her luck with the first cache and was successful. The trees are so thick that it took her longer to get to and from the cache than it did to sign the log book and swap swag.
The same goes for me when I went after Cedar Grove. My time spent bushwhacking in times past came in handy for this cache. It's just like riding a bike! We saw some really cool things on the trail as well. The peak of the trail is on an exposed rocky region. There was also animal trails from deer and probably coyote. At the end there was a tower with a beautiful view of the nearby mountains. This entire hike was very enjoyable!

Tree Island and High and Dry
There is a road that runs from West to East through Grand Isle State Park. Unfortunately the road was blocked off, which I guess they do during the off season. So we packed the kids onto the stroller and started hoofing it. Both sides of the road are pretty well covered with trees, until the right side opens to a large field. In the open field is a small cluster of trees. An island of trees, if you will. According to the cache's log there is a Letterbox right near it and they warn cachers to not mistake it for the cache. Letterboxing is similar to Geocaching. They consist of logs and a rubber stamp hidden in a box somewhere, but as opposed to geocaching a GPS is not used. Instead hints are given as to the letterbox's location and that's how you find them. Once you've found it you stamp your log with the box's stamp and do to same with your stamp to it's log. Fortunately for us we didn't look hard enough in the wrong spot and only found the cache we were after!

The second cache was just down the road from the first. I tried to find it first but the GPS just didn't want to cooperate. Colette then gave it a shot and was successful. She said that since the GPS wasn't cooperating she decided to read the description again. Based on what was said as well as her geosenses she was able to locate it.

This is Vermont: Grand Isle
Back now to the Grand Isle Rec Park. This time only a mugglette was there, but he was obviously waiting for others to arrive. I knew I didn't have much time so I quickly made my way to where I knew the cache would be. While I was playing in the bushes two more cars pulled up and several more muggles piled out of them. I signed the cache's log and got the information we came for and made my way back toward the car. I decided to tell them what I was doing, rather than look like a pervert hiding in the bushes. They seemed genuinely interested in my story and we were soon off.

A Grand Old Hyde
I really enjoyed our next stop. After gassing up (gas in Vermont is substantially cheaper than in New York) we stopped at the Hyde Log Cabin. According to the plaque the Hyde Log Cabin is possibly the oldest building in the country, as it was built in 1783. It has been restored over the years and is in excellent condition. The cache's log mentions tours being available but they were not running during our visit. The cache wasn't too far from the cabin and Colette signed the log while I took pictures. I love getting to explore history first hand!

Vermont's Only One
Here is another cache where the place is also very cool. This cache is hidden just over the hill from the last remaining active draw bridge. According to the log the bridge raises every half hour during the summer months. Since we visited the area during the spring it was not operating, but I would love to come back when it is and get some pictures. This was the first time that Colette deployed her "take a picture into the hole" cache finding method. Rather than stick her hand into various tree orifices she snapped a photo. The method payed off and we hopped back into the car.

Island Crossing
This cache was a quick boat launch micro. We like to make the most of our stops so we spent some time skipping rocks. Zoey expressed her concern for the environment and did some CITO while we were there and Colette grabbed a hand full of large skipping rocks to decorate and leave in caches in the future. As quick as most boat launch micros are I will probably never get tired of them!

36 Views of Camels Hump XXX
Apparently this one is part of a series, but I haven't looked into it just yet so I'm not sure what the name of it is in reference to. Regardless this cache calls a cemetery in North Hero home. I pulled up right next to its location. While Co was filling out the log I noticed a beautiful view of the mountains across the lake. Unfortunately my current lens could not do the sight justice so I was not able to capture it. I will without a doubt remember this spot for when that changes in the future!

Pelot's Gas Saver, Pelots Find and This is Vermont: North Hero
I decided to put all these caches together because they all reside in the Pelot's Point Nature Area/Trails. Pelot's Point is in Northwest North Hero and is an excellent set of trails. Pelot's Gas Saver is named as such because it is right next to parking area and serves as a quick find as well as a thank you for stopping to such a beautiful place. Farther into the trails (there are three) is Pelots Find. This cache is an ammo box and is well hidden. This is where I decided that going through the forest would be a great idea. Zoey thought it would be fun to follow me and we both regretted it. The trail soon looped back around and we were back on the right path. Colette found this one and Zoey got to trade swag. The last cache was another part of the Grand Isle County series. We have all been really happy with the different shapes and sizes of these caches. Inside was a travel bug attached to an old ford car. His mission is to meet old cars like him and he has been all over Quebec. Aside from the great caches the trails were also fantastic. They were built around a sugar farm operation and a lot of the stuff for it is currently active. There is also information plaques dedicated to the flora and fauna of the area. We all had an awesome time!

Cachetastic: Part One: New York Edition

On April 20th both Colette and myself had the day off. Since we try to work opposite shifts this doesn't happen very often. As a result we planned the day to consist of caching, caching, and more caching. On my way home the night before four caches had been published, so the idea of our first FTF (First to Find) was sitting in our minds. While we're not in the game for the speed of the find, we both liked the idea of getting a FTF.

Take a penny, Leave a penny
Our first cache of the day was a micro just north of Plattsburgh. The description of the cache mentions that it wasn't big enough to hold swag, but the cache owner thought that taking and leaving a penny would be a fun idea. We pulled up to the end of the dead end street and I got out, armed with our camera, a pen and a penny and headed into the woods. After about 10 minutes of searching and looking at the hint I wasn't able to come up with anything. I turned to go back to the car to let Co try and I noticed that she was talking to someone. He left as I returned but Colette told me that he was curious as to what we were doing. She explained, and fortunately for us he knew what geocaching was and had noticed 4+ other groups of people doing the same thing since the night before. Colette then headed back out while I decided to fire up the internet browser on my phone and be disappointed to see that someone had already logged the FTF. Upon loading the page I found that the cache owner had disabled the cache. He thought that it's placement was too difficult and wanted to move it. I got out of the car to go tell Colette that it was disabled and to never mind and I discovered her signing the log on our very first FTF! The prize for FTF was a nice handmade trinket.

Jport's Cumberland Micro
The next stop was on Cumberland Ave. There we searched, and searched and searched. Every nook and cranny we could find but to no avail. We also tried back later and still did not find (DNF) it. Maybe next time!

Jport's Story Cache
This was a very cool cache. Not only is it on a trail that we didn't know existed, it also has a neat concept. Inside the cache is index cards. On the first index card is the beginning of a story. The idea is that each person to find the cache can contribute to the story, then later the cache owner is going to email everyone who donated to the story the completed project. We were the first ones to find it (FTF!) and so we got to add the second page. I'm really looking forward to seeing how the story turns out.

Kentucky Fried Cache
Can you guess where this cache is hidden? That's right, by the KFC in Plattsburgh! Both Co and I tried several times to find this cache but ultimately we were unsuccessful. To be honest I wasn't really sure what I was looking for. Besides, the entire area could be the center of a Cache In, Trash Out (CITO) mega event. There was more garbage nearby than in the dumpster on the hill! We'll give it another try later since it has been found since we searched.

After our second DNF for the day we decided to take the ferry from Cumberland Head to Vermont. I'm sure we'll have more luck there!

its good to be blue and not blue

Colette and I have been soaking up tons of information about geocaching. The community as a whole is stronger than it has ever been and that makes for some good reading, listening and watching.

Blueline Geocachers
Not too long ago there was an organization in our area called Northern New York Geocachers or NNYGeo. Unfortunately they disbanded just before we started caching. I was looking for a group in the area that may host events or we could discuss topics with and I came upon the Blueline Geocachers. Apparently they welcomed the previous members of NNYGeo, even though their original area only consisted of the towns within the blue line (the area on the map that the Adirondack Mountains are marked off as). If anyone in the Adirondack or Northern New York area is interested in or is getting into geocaching please become a part of this community. They have the webpage above as well as a page on Facebook by the same name.

Geocachng Podcast
This is one of my favorite places for geocaching information. They do their show every Tuesday night at 9:30est and I've been listening for several weeks. The shows are about 30 minutes long so they work well during rides to work. They cover a different topic every week and listeners can call in live during the show and share their experience and knowledge. You can also subscribe to the podcast on iTunes and the Zune Marketplace.

Geosnippits
This is a fine place for anyone who is new to geocaching or isn't quite sure what the whole thing is about. Head Hard Hat has done many 5 to 10 minute geocaching snippits to use as tutorials for the uninitiated. He has a ton of experience and is entertaining to watch.

As always I'll have these links on the right side of the blog so they're easily accessible!

kicking it old school

If you check out geocaching.com and look at the caches in our area you will see that there aren't any in Champlain, Chazy and Rouses Point. This is unfortunate because we live in Champlain, Chazy is directly south of  us and Rouses Point is directly east of us. So when a cache popped up in Chazy on the 17th you can imagine how excited we were. One of the benefits of being a premium member on Geocaching.com is notifications. You can have the system automatically notify you of several different things based on specifications that you choose. I decided to have it tell us whenever a new cache is published within 30 miles of our home location. So that Saturday morning I got an email on my phone that a cache had been published in Chazy. Unfortunately I was at work and couldn't go after it.

Miner's Vision
Two days after the cache was published, on the 19th, we finally had the opportunity to stop by and pick this cache up. Our hopes of being First to Find (FTF or F2F) had been long squashed so now it was just for the fun of the game. Also, the cache was posted by mcgillz and it's always nice to do the caches from the same person. After doing laundry this morning and then visiting our grandmother we headed off to Chazy for some caching and a stop at the Chazy Rec Park. This cache is named as such because it resides not far from the Alice T Miner Museum. The cache is a nano and it only took us a few minutes to find it. Unfortunately it's near a busy shop so it was difficult to be discreet.

During our stop at the rec park we scouted out a couple locations for geocaches. We're hoping to hide our first cache soon and get more of the local cachers to stop in our area.