Friday, July 17, 2009
Geocache Rescue at Coquille River Falls
While planning geocache hunts for this weekend’s camping trip to Powers I discovered that the Coquille River Falls cache may need replacing. Some folks were reporting that they couldn’t find it or that they found it and it was full of water. Either way, a new cache container was in order so I contacted the cache owner knowing I would be looking for this cache to see if I could help by bringing along a replacement container if that were necessary. They were glad for my help and gave the okay.
Once we got the trailer set up at camp, Patricia and I set out for the falls. I told her the falls would be a good photo op. We were joined by another local cacher (emeljay) who was in the area hunting other caches. Thirty minute drive to the trail head. The trail was a bit steep in places but thankfully it was only a short half-mile into the falls. After several minutes of taking pictures and hopping around on the rocks at the base of the falls we began searching for the geocache in earnest. I was getting really frustrated with my four-year old GPSr not locking on the satellites while emeljay’s new Garmin Oregon GPSr was doing just fine! I gotta get me one o’ those! With emeljay’s GPRr settling down to 10 foot accuracy we finally spotted it! Hidden pretty well but was indeed full of water and all contents were soaked, slimey or rusting! Yuck! We replaced it with a container I brought along then headed back up to the car. Nice little hike to work up an appetite for dinner.
The next day a large contingent from the campout group drove up into the forest to make the traditional hike to Hanging Rock. I showed people the geocache that was located up there - I think interest was piqued! On the way back to camp we took a side trip to find a new cache near “The World’s Largest Port Orford Cedar”.
Only two caches for the weekend but there aren’t many to choose from out in the very rural part of the county.
Next time - Mt. Bolivar cache!!