Team Rubicons - Twisted Pine Cache

06/13/2019 By TTO2
First I need to apologize for the long log, but I have had people from all over the world tell me that they would like to have seen more in our logs, not only about their cache specifically but more on the amazing journeys that we take and haven't documented well in the past. Now, if you would like to skip to information that is specific to the cache, please skip to the bottom to see there is anything helpful. Only 25% of the time do we provide something that we either didn't read in another log or something that we felt needed to be added for clarity or a nudge in the right direction.

This geocaching trip was two weeks and designed to make up for the six months that we gave up dreaming, wishing, designing, and building the GPS Adventures Maze Exhibit. TTO1 and I are two of the 4 "Builders" of the GPS Maze Adventures Exhibit, and Kiecker the third. All three of us cache together a lot, and this trip was no different. Kiecker didn't get the entire two weeks in with us but was with us a majority. It was extremely helpful to productivity on several caches that he had already found in some of the areas that we visited.

We started north from Dallas to Oklahoma, and the trip would find us at the end finding caches in nine States. Near the beginning, we had to stop for a daughter's college graduation in Denver. Boy, I despised that stop as I had to abandon my geocaching accoutre for something professional and "suitable," my wife demanded. So, the next day, I got her back taking her on caching excursion to the tree and snow line that started with a 22-mile dirt road trek. Sure glad we had the right vehicle for this portion of the trip. The rest of the trip we could have done fine with just a two-wheel drive.

One of the more memorable stops was again in South Dakota. We stayed up too late and had a great visit with not only the Famous SoDakZak but also with a group of cachers that we had just seen at the Maze. Just a great group of folks.

Several of the days we spent threading the proverbial storm needle. Unlike the other group, we were able to circumnavigate all the inclement weather. Just know, this was not by design. We have all the wet weather gear one could put on thinking that we would have to do most of this trip in torrential downpours. As luck would have it, just the vehicle got the brunt of the pounding rain on a couple of the longer driving leg of our sojourn.

We would be remiss if we didn't thank all the geocachers that in some way added to this game/sport/hobby/obsession with their individual hides and varying levels of effort that they put into their geocaches. We don't award a lot of favorite points but this trip had inordinate amount given compared to previous trips. We also ended up on this trip making two remarkable achievements of our own - even if we do say so our selves. 25k finds and 2nd Original Fizzy Loop. We did have ambitions to beat our old record of counties in a day but the weather and flooding were not going to allow that to happen.

Here below is the aforementioned area where we provide relevant information specific to this cache:

We had this as the primary target cache today. We had the right vehicle, equipment and motivation to get this somewhat lonely cache. Well, the weather wasn't playing well as rain was threatening all the way. Once we finally got to Jenny's Creek crossing we found a traffic jam as the original description suggested there might be, but they were friendly to move across first and then us. They waited while we went to find the cache as the road ahead was now a creek too and washed out. We found the cache using the last logs clues and some digging in the snow and got back to the road. So glad this one is still there and will be there for some time to come.

09/08/2016 By EstesLynne
CURRENT CACHE COORDINATES: N39 55.716 W105 37.483

As Path Pacer, Bug Ranger, and I drove past Tolland on our way to get this one, I looked up across the valley and said, "Do you suppose that's our road way up there?" Yup, it was. While I cowered and tried to read my GPS without getting sick in the back seat, PP steered her trusty Subaru Outback up 6 miles of that road in about 45 minutes...and we were passing other vehicles.

Then, instead of taking the Jenny Creek Trail road branch, we pulled over and parked next to a log fence at N39 55.500 W105 36.717. From there we cut on foot a short distance down the hill to the road easily visible below us (I think that was the Jenny Creek Trail), and walked about 3/4 mile along that into the cache area. Although the JCT was ±OK above the creek, there's a water crossing down there that we would not have taken the Outback through, and on this nice day, the walk was pleasant and easy. No problem on foot with the water crossing, although I wonder what it would be like much earlier in the season.

Ah, and then we were at the cache area...and looked. And looked. Since all three of us needed this D/T for our Fizzy challenges, we were determined, but determination soon turned to desperation and despair. Nothing. An hour of fruitless searching ensued. I checked all the way down to the creek, and then, just to make my ascent back to GZ easier, I circled far away to get back up the hill.

And there it was, suddenly at my feet, well over 100 ft from GZ and out in the open. It was so far away that I had to keep shouting so that PP and BR, who were near GZ, could follow my voice to my location, because they couldn't see me. I've now looked at other pictures of this cache, and it was nowhere near anywhere those pictures were taken. As the others have noted, it had a lot of water in it, although the log could be signed.

PP and BR repaired the cache with some first-aid tape, and then we decided to move the cache a few feet from where we found it, to a (hopefully) less flood-prone and more hint-appropriate spot. My coordinates were taken twice, the second time with 5-minute averaging, so I think they're pretty accurate. It's still over 100 feet from the original GZ, but we didn't see any great places right at GZ for it.

WHEW. It was a great outing in the end, but we came SO close to giving up. PP's Outback was a champ, although as BR noted, she would not have taken her Prius up there. But now we have our 3.5/5! Hooray hooray! TFTC!

09/08/2016 By Path Pacer
Yay! This was the object of our caching today as we all needed it for our Fizzy. After a 6-mile drive up a rough road and an hour of searching, I was afraid we'd have to go home without it as it looked like it might have been muggled by pine beetle loggers, but EstesLynne found it 115' away (by my GPS). The container is in serious need of replacement as critters have chewed holes in the lid, so perhaps the next cacher can bring something regular-sized (and some dry swag, too).

We left it where we found it, just moved it over to a nearby "twisted pine." I have no idea if it's anywhere near its original spot. Use Lynne's coords if you go looking for this one.

Thanks! Just two more caches to go for my Fizzy.

09/08/2016 By BugRanger
Caching with EstesLynne & PathPacer, specifically for this cache, which we all need for Fizzy challenges. The Subaru Outback had no trouble with the main road, and we walked the last .75 mi to the cache. We then spent over an hour searching for the cache. Nothing at GZ, with a lot of downed logs nearby. We were getting ready to give up on this one, when EstesLynne shouted out that she'd found it. Sure thing, it was out in the open, but 148 ft (by my GPS) from GZ. Container was filled with about 1" of water, so we drained it, wiped down the swag, and carefully signed the damp log book. Used some medical tape from my first aid kit to cover the holes in the lid, then placed it in a spot that better fit the title & clue. EstesLynne got better coordinates for the cache, then we made the short hike back to the car. Hike & search took nearly 2 hours, but it's a gorgeous day for the hunt.

06/21/2014 By waawhoo
Loving the trail, the cache looks good after the winter. There is still snow on the top of this trail so we could not make it all the way to the top. Thanks for the hide!

This entry was edited by waawhoo on Monday, 23 June 2014 at 13:55:41 UTC.

08/31/2013 By Goldfinger17
Enjoying a little jeepin' and cachin' today with Jeeperz1&2 and XJ4. TFTC!
-JSMK

08/31/2013 By jeeperz1&2
Out Jeepin' and cachin' with XJ4 and Goldfinger17 today! Stopped to nab this one shortly after starting the Jenny Creek Trail. TN-LN-and left Trax.............Thanx for the hide..........Tony&Bertha.

06/22/2013 By fishyslayer
Fun fun fun. Good to get out of the Ol Bronco and stretch those legs.

08/29/2011 By montananme
Up off-roading w/ a friend. Great Trail!

08/28/2011 By teambebout
TFTC

07/19/2011 By COpackrat
Cache was wet inside - removed the hopelessy spongy items and dried out the rest. Container looks intact, but must have leaked from being snow covered?? I guess it could use a more watertight box. TFTC