Poudrecacher Favorite

CONGRATULATIONS TO DENALI41 FOR BEING FIRST TO FIND!!!

Poudrecacher , a geocacher who lives in the Poudre Canyon, placed a series of unique and innovative caches in and around the Poudre River Canyon. His “Nature Bats Last” series was a delight featuring varied and challenging hides. They became the favorite of many who geocached the Poudre Canyon. There comes a time when maintaining caches become physically challenging and Mother Nature says it is time to move on. This was the case with Poudrecacher, who with great remorse, had to archive many of his caches. So as to not lose these very special caches, ten of them are being re-born in a new series called “Poudrecacher Favorite”. This will allow these innovative caches to live on for the geocaching community to enjoy. Thanks Poudrecacher for allowing the rebirth of your caches and for the enjoyment you have given to geocachers seeking your caches!

Description from the original cache page:

Head west up Poudre Canyon 5.7 miles from the cattle guard at the mouth of the canyon. At mile marker 115, you'll go into a long curve bending to the right. Once you've passed Smith Bridge Road, pull over and park on the right in the parking area along the Poudre River.

A snag is simply a dead tree left upright to decompose naturally. We affectionately call her 'Hannah the Snag Hag'. She's an old gal descended from the Ponderosa Clan and has undoubtedly seen her share of critters, ever-changing weather patterns, forest fires, birdwatchers, hunters, fishermen, berry-pickers, kayakers, rafters, and canyon traffic.

You'll find her along the waters edge amongst the cottonwoods and ponderosa pines. Water erosion has exposed many of her gray roots. Most of her bark and branches have long since been lost. She's only about twelve feet tall these days perhaps as a result of her top being broken off by the chinooks or snow-loading years ago. Her trunk is severely pitted due to birds, insects and other critters having their way with her. The base of her trunk looks like an extended family of porcupines gobbled up all the sapwood leaving only the heartwood. Hannah deserves our respect, so treat her gently during your visit.

Snags provide habitat for over 1,000 species of wildlife across this beautiful country of ours. These wildlife species use almost all of a dead tree in every stage of its decay: place to live, food source, hiding places, soil re-energizer, and 'nurse logs' for new seedlings. Snags also provide a 'crow's nest'...higher branches used for look-outs by raptors.

It's anybody's guess how long before Hannah gives up the fight and lays down, but she will one day lay down. We get that...Nature bats last.

Have fun!