LEAP DAY GEO-FIND

The confluence of the Snake and Clearwater Rivers at Lewiston, Idaho

 A registered geocacher gets a medallion if he finds a cache on Leap Day. “Do they mail it to you?” I asked. No, it’s a digital award – a medallion on your profile page.

The plan was to find the Leap Day cache at the Grange Hall in our neighborhood, but we couldn’t find it, so that meant a move to “Plan B” or lose out on the medallion. Mike said he knew of one on the Lewiston Hill. So, we went back to the house where I picked up my coat (good thinking!) and the camera. We also packed our recycling.

The mill on the Clearwater River

A view up the Snake River with Clarkston on right

After leaving the recycling at the transfer station, we then crossed the road and went on up the Old Spiral Highway. Mike had thought the cache was located mid-way, but it quickly became clear that it was up top. Things got a little garbled and we ended up heading back to town on the present highway. Mike initially thought the cache was behind us, but no – I saw that we were getting closer to it. We pulled off onto the scenic overlook where Mike readily found the cache, I took pictures, and Bess explored. I was glad I had my coat because it was very windy.

A view into the Clearwater Country

This February Leap Day looked a lot like March. Except for the wind, I would have to say that March is coming in like a lamb. KW

MORE GEOCACHING

Evans Road at Hwy 12 on the Snake River (Port of Clarkston)

Does Bess see me?

Too steep for me

We’ve had some beautiful, sunny days. Friday afternoon (Feb. 21), Mike found two geocaches along the Snake River where Evans Road comes into Hwy 12. Mike and Bess climbed the steep hillside from the path while I backtracked to find an easier route.

We had planned another geocaching outing for Sunday (Feb. 23). “I’d prefer to go later in the day,” Mike said, “but we should get out early because it’s supposed to start raining at 10:00.” It appeared to be a lovely day, and it was hard to believe it could rain, but it’s wise not to second guess the weatherman. After breakfast, we gathered up the GPS, the maps, the geo bag, the camera, a little water – and Bess, of course – and headed out.

The first cache was one we had overlooked at Hells Gate State Park last weekend. Mike didn’t find it Saturday and thought maybe I’d have better luck, but no, I didn’t. We probably spent 10 minutes poking around in the dusty, pollen-laden bushes before deciding to let it go – for now anyway.

Then we headed into town where we found two caches at Sunset Park. A group of eight from Coeur d’Alene were playing Frisbee golf. They marveled about the beautiful day because it’s still winter "up north." They had come to Lewiston to play in a tournament yesterday, and they so enjoyed the weather that they decided to play another game before heading home. We still saw no sign of the pending storm, and sometimes they don’t materialize. We patiently waited for the “golfers” to “play through” before looking for our caches.

Our next cache was at a ballpark in North Lewiston. That’s when we noticed ominous gray clouds gathering in the west, about an hour later than predicted They became thicker and darker as we drove home, and by 1:00, the wind and rain were upon us. We were glad we had gotten out early. It’s no fun to geocache in the wind and the rain. Don’t ask me how I know.

And then Mike went on to say that he’s glad we aren’t homeless and glad that we don’t live in a culvert. Yes, me too! But where did that random thought come from? KW

WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH, THE TOUGH GO GEOCACHING

"Swallows' Nest" from the Idaho side of the Snake River

I’m perfectly content with my household activities, but for Mike, an active outdoorsman, the winter is hard – and now all the harder since his left arm is in a cast. So, he decided that Saturday (Feb. 15), would be a perfect time to pick up some geocaches at Hells Gate State Park.

It took two hands to replace this cache

After lunch I gathered the camera, a $5.00 bill (the day-use “on your honor” entry fee), Bess’ leash with attached pick-up bags, and the car fob. Mike had his GPS and handed me a map. We were off for the adventure of finding the treasure that a fellow geocacher had hidden inside the park.

A cache in the crook of a tree

It was a good day to geocache. The temperature was moderate, it wasn’t wet and muddy, and there weren’t many other people or dogs. With Bess on a leash, we began just north of the beach and worked our way back toward the information center. In the wide-open spaces, we soon let Bess off the leash, and she had a blast, exploring here, there, and everywhere.

Our route took us to the other side of the park road where we walked trails in a southerly direction and then back into the park proper to walk through the campgrounds along the Snake River. Bess was on leash again until we reached the far campground, Loop C, which is closed to camping for the winter.

Looks like rain

It was a two-hour hike, and I think we walked at least two miles and found all eleven caches. I admit that by the time we were halfway through the list, I would happily have left the rest for another time, but Mike was determined to get our money’s worth, our concept of $5.00 being stuck in the last century, as a fellow blogger puts it.

Critchfield Road -- so near and yet so far

I function to keep untoward things from happening, and all went well except that it fell outside my control to prevent Bess from rolling in something repulsive that she thought was lovely. Immediately as we arrived back at the house, Mike managed to bathe her, and I toweled her off with a vigorous rubdown, which she loves. After a hearty supper of kibble and buttermilk, she curled up on her pillow and drifted into doggie slumberland.

A light rain commenced as we were leaving the park, and it rained more in the evening, so we congratulated ourselves that we had had our adventure at the right time. KW