Stupid is as Stupid Does (GC29H1D)

I will just let this story speak for itself

Some of you may have heard, but Vera (Rim Rock Red) and I had an adventure with our Durango after the St. George breakfast. We went out with some friends into the desert NW of Littlefield, AZ. Everything was going great until we got near to the confluence and Utah's lowest spot. We had a steep hill to go down. We made it ok and found the caches. However, when we went to go back up the hill, we only made it about ½ way up before the Durango bogged down. Then it started sliding backwards and slid off the side of the hill. We stopped about 10 feet down from the top sitting at about a 45 degree angle. We couldn't believe it didn't roll over and go down the hill. Since there wasn't anything we could do then since it was getting dark, we headed back to the hotel.

About 8:00am in the morning, I got a call from Billion Johnston. He had heard that we were having problems and wanted to know if we still needed help. I told him we did and he said that he would call some friends and get back to me. In a little while, he called back and said that he and his friends were outside the hotel. We went down and found Ken Ballard, Kenneth Kirkeby, and Michael King along with Billion. After talking it over, we were getting ready to head out when Billion wanted to know if we could handle it without his help. Since he only had a small pickup truck, we said sure and asked him why. It turns out it was his anniversary and he was going to go out and help us. Unbelievable! We told him to go home to his wife because we didn't want to be responsible for a divorce. We already were in enough trouble.

We finally got out there at the top of the hill. After some discussion, it was decided that the best way to do it would be to go down the hill and come about half way back up, right beside the Durango. There was a sort of flat area right there. So we all went down and came back up, with Ken B first, Kenny K second, and Mike third.

They found a rock on the other side of the hill and wrapped a chain around it. Then they hooked a snatch block to it and ran Ken B's cable from his winch through the pulley. Then they ran a tow strap through the front windows of the Durango and hooked that to the cable end. This would keep the Durango from rolling over. They wrapped another tow strap around the hitch and hooked it to Kenny K's cable from his winch. Mike chained his Jeep to the back of Kenny K's Jeep, to keep them from being dragged down the hill with the Durango.

Then Ken B went down and rocked the front wheels back and forth, letting the front end of the Durango slowly swing down the hill. Then he went and dug out some of the dirt from under the front wheels on the downhill side. He kept repeating this procedure until the Durango was aimed straight down the hill. Then Ken B and Kenny K removed the rocks from in front of the Durango. Kenny K climbed in through the front window. Then they removed all of the straps and Kenny K started down the hill. Slowly he went down and when he got to the bottom of the hill, about 100 yards down, a loud cheer went up and there was applause. We had picked up some spectators during the rescue and they were clapping and cheering along with us.

I just wanted to say thanks to our new friends from the Southern Utah Geocachers Association. They wouldn't take any payment and just told us to pay if forward. So, if somebody up north in the Salt Lake valley needs some help, let me know so I can get rid of this debt and put it on somebody else's shoulders. :)

Enjoyable Hunts

Once and a while you just have one of those days.

Most of the time I avoid puzzles, but I still give them a look once and a while.  I always hope that I can find them, and that I will stumble across something.  However I don't have any luck.  I really stopped hunting for them a few years ago.  When I was asked to be a reviewer I had a dozen or so solved. I had someone accuse me of getting the answers and not solving them. So I gave up on them altogether.

Well I rarely look at them anymore.  However at home or at work, I look at those that are nearby and think about them.  Usually skimming them over, seeing if I see the solution.  Normally a quick look lets me know I have no idea what I am doing and I move on. 

However this time I actually saw something.  I was looking at a cache and things clicked in my mind. A few phrases rang out and that made me start to look on my computer and work through the solution. Then I jumped into my truck and took off. 

I tore through ground zero for nearly an hour. I was sure I was at the right place but worried that it was gone.  I emailed some photos and some info to the cache owner and had some words of encouragement that I was on the right track, but hunting just a little off where it actually was. 

More hunting today and I stumbled across it. It made me happy in so many ways.  The cache was listed nearly a year ago, and I was the first to actually find it. Thanks for the nightfox for the cache and dealing with me.  It was fun. I rarely go after puzzles, so this was a double fun cache.

If I had to pick some of my favorites, this would be one of them, because it just worked out, and is memorable to me.

On the cache page he had a rhyme, so I put one together for my log.

Enjoy

Yesterday I did sit at work all alone,
Eating lunch as I waited to answer my phone.
I nibbled my lunch and surfed the wide net,
searching for a cache, in which to go get.
I looked toward those that sat nearby,
Then I stumbled on this and said "oh My!"
A number of times I had looked in passing,
and most puzzles to me just seem quite harassing.
But I suddenly saw some clues to my eyes,
that made me scramble to claim my prize.
To the waiting location I scurried and flew,
In the rusty old truck I went hitherto.
I wandered to the east and then to the west,
Looking so hard and doing my best.
I finally gave up as the hour flew past,
and as the trash about made me gasp.
I did try so hard, but the horror did build,
and my dreams for the find was instantly killed.
For I knew I was there, so close, yet so far,
now here i was, heading to work in my car.
I wandered to work, all lost and confused,
Yet my coworkers just looked as if they were bemused.
I sent all my notes from my near hour search
To see if twas searching near the caches perch.
"Yea" I was told, "you were close, oh so close my friend,
Keep looking you will find it, if you hold to the end."
So with glad heart, I wandered back to the trail,
and quest long and hard for the holy grail.
For lo and behold it stood before me,
How dumb could I possibly be.
For a moment I thought I was as dumb as cold1
Then I laughed as I thought that he weighed a gross ton.
For I opened the cache, and I was first to find,
a rarity for me, and my name twas there signed.
I commend the Nightfox for the hide this great day,
and the adventures and sights that I saw on my way.
Twas a nice spring day to undergo this fine quest,
I claim with a favorite point tis one of the best.
Some may think over-hard, at this puzzling hide,
to those please stay at your home and inside.
Ignore the fun, and the trek that awaits
go find a lamp post or a cache on some gates.
The reward that is had from a this tricky hide,
Will warm you year round with a joy deep inside.

Kokopelli Caches

So we made our way to the kokopelli in southwestern utah.   It was a good day after the event, and fun.  We grabbed our group of 16 to start the day, and the trip and began the walk.  I am guessing 8-9 miles, but I could not be certain. 

The hike was good, and for fun I decided to have some fun with my logs.  Here they are.

The Book of TFTC - Chapter one
1 In the beginning was the search, and the search was good. The hunters did gather forth from the corners of the state to begin the search.
2 The search was began with sixteen souls. Sixteen brave souls did step forth in the the waist land, moving among the trees and cactuses to search for their glory in the desert.
3 On this day the sun was bright did beat down upon the cachers that did venture forth. The heat was light as they moved, the righteousness of their cause did lift them up and give them strength.
4 Verily the sixteen did move amongst the plants of the desert. Before the journey in a land far away commandments for the safety of the hunters were given. Thou shalt not wear shorts, for the plants of the desert shall cause thee great pains. Thou shalt avoid all plants, for the plants in this wasteland will cause you great damage, and harm. Thou shalt carry food and water for your trip. And thus where the commandments given, and shared amongst the travelers.
5 But some did ignore the commandments that were given, yea even as the trek did begin it was regarded that the commandment banning the shorts was broken. Many stood before the group, their white legs did shine forth in the afternoon sun, blinding all that did behold them. Yea, looking directly at the legs did bring great pain and agony to those that stood about.
6 Soon thereafter the second commandment was broken. Yea rootiesart did wander directly into the plants of the desert. Yea, and having ignored the first commandment she did fall amongst the plants, and did cause great damage and blood did gush forth from the legs that were not covered from the plants and sun that existed in the desert.
7 And we did travel forth unto the eye. We moved into the great center, or at least in that direction. For the eye did call us, but after finding the eye, and seeing ourselves within its gaze we did travel forth into the caches that were around us on all sides.
8 After the travails amongst the eye the party did once again travel through the desert waist land, and upon a great search did discover the next cache.
9 And Saint Desart raised the cache up on high, saying, 'Oh, Lord, bless this thy cache that with it thou mayest blow thy enemies to tiny bits,
in thy mercy.'
10 And the Lord did grin, and people did feast upon the lambs, and sloths, and carp, and anchovies, and orangutans, and breakfast cereals, and fruit bats. Yet they did travel forth accross the land in their quests.
11 And it came to pass after time I did cry forth unto my people. Yea the journey had been exceedingly easy, and had brought great delight amongst us. Yea it seemed unto me that it was far too easy of a journey for my people, so I did cry unto them to repent their wicked ways and leave the head and travel unto the flute. For the ways of the righteous are difficult and only through such trials can we know our own strengths.
12 And after a time they came to their point of decision, but there were wicked among them. Yea those that did not believe that did not think they they should continue down the flute. yea, hold to the iron flute and let it give strength. Yet they did look forth, and saw much swimming, eating and feasting in the great houses to the NE. Some did continue on determined to prove their strength and leave the head to the flute, while other did wander into the wilderness to perish in their unbelief.
13 And thus did the lords people travel forth. Depending upon the arm of the lord to give them strength in the desert. They did morn the passing of those that did leave unto the comforts of the wicked one.
14 And thus did nine travel south. Some visibly shaken to be left alone. The number dwindling, and many miles yet to be traveled. Yet those that traveled south were strong, and the song of the desert did give them courage.
15 Thus we did continue, diminished in number but strong in the force. Powerful we were, and who stumbled upon us would fear.
16 Thus we reached the end of the flute. Though we could have done more, our paths did need to leave the flute. For we needed to start the return, and it would be long.
17 And we did travel forth unto the sunny land of Nador we were forced to eat Robin's minstrels. And there was much rejoicing
18 A year passed. Winter changed into Spring. Spring changed into Summer. Summer changed back into Winter. And Winter gave Spring and Summer a miss and went straight on into Autumn. Until one day...
19 We did look for the cache, in many manners of location. We did find a ziplock under a small rock on a larger rock. We were discouraged by the wicked ways of others, thus we did shake our heads at those who had gone before. Thus we did determine to replace this cache with another, and there was again much rejoicing.
20 Though some continued in a silent pain, not sharing with others, we did move forth. It now appeared that we were making progress, and there was happiness amongst the people of the band.
21 And so we moved to the west. Looking towards the distance. Avoiding the dangerous plants, and problem that were in our path
21 The excitement of the band was growing, we were getting happy as we realized the northern trail was almost upon us.
22 And so we did arrive at our south western goals. The faces were brightened as they realized we would be turning north, to the vehicles.
23 We did move forth with a bounce in our step, onward and upward. Even the light uphill did not dampen our spirits and we rejoiced.
24 The lines of the hunters for the caches were stretching. Now a finder got to the cache and started signing it. However the cachers that finally caught up were left as we moved on. No rest for the wicked.
25 Thus we did move upwards, we had a celebratory dance as we approached the half way point today. We celebrated the joy of the day.
26 And the group of nine did travel north. We were working hard at making progress. Yea, but we were slowing, the power of the sun was driving us down.
27 Thus we were traveling to the north. slowly working at the upper part of the arm and body.
28 Thus we come to the end, we did cry forth to the youth that we were half way, bringing cheer to their miserable little lives.
29 We reached the end here, and people rejoiced as they realized we were as far west as we would make this trek. Thus we celebrated, and I enjoyed an apple.
30 And we did become less. We did chase for two more of the unbelievers from among us. Casting them forth into the desert to travel alone.
31 Thus did we become the group of seven. Our number dropped. Sadness fell upon us for those that were lost.
32 There was weeping at this point, the many younger of us were sad that we were returning to the east. They had not realized that we had not gotten those.
33 The weeping and wailing went on behind us as we traveled to the SE. Cries for the pain and sadness that overwhelmed them made it more vocal unto us and our travels.
34 Oh the pain, the sadness we crossed the deep wash in the wastes. but we gained strength as we went forward.
35 We did leave those behind us. The younger ones realized that though their elders moved forward they would need to return, as the caches they sought were now behind them.
36 And we were at the end, well the end of the southeast and the south. No more would we walk south, we were strong and did cheer for ourselves.
37 And we did walk far. Yea we now walked a half mile, the longest single non cache walk of the day. For we were now too far south and needing to head to the north
38 The arguments about the hair did continue and go on. This was getting close to where we had to make a decision. How do we not knowing the wisdom of the hider, determine how to do the hair.
39 We now did travel north to the tip of the hair. We did walk through the bush and heard a voice from the heavens or from behind us mocking us in our quest. We had passed this one, though it was not the goal.
40 Thus begins the end. We did see the pain. The younger ones would complain about the jumping back and forth in the hair.
41We Wept
42 Sobs were heard, some had great pains and bleeding feet, I myself had my knee begining to pain me. Lo the pains of the journey was wearing on us.
43 We know we were tired as people could not walk straight. Even Nickum walked into a Joshua tree. Slapping him and teaching him to break the commandments set forth at the start of the journey.
44 The wandering north and south was getting too much. Knees, feet, legs, of all were bringing sorrows to the crew.
45 Thus we did notice the sun did come forth from behind the clouds. The temperature rose from 70s to high 70's. Curses were muttered and we did murmur in our sufferings.
46 I had a view of the trail ahead. Many cried in their sufferings for the cars, but no sight of them could be seen.
47 The last puzzle on the list. I did not make it there, as I approached the others were completing and moving back towards me. Great cries of joy did spring forth from me as we moved forward.
48Truly we were rejoicing. This was on the way back.
49 We returned to the last few caches. And happy to arrive.

The scramble for cache 2,000,000

Geocaching has seen a surge in caches in the last few years.  In 2010 (if I recall correctly) a few months before the 10 year event we hit cache number 1,000,000.  So it was almost 10 years.   Now we are three years later on the second million.  There will always be arguments of quality.  However if no one found them, people would stop placing them.

About two weeks ago I started to get emails. Asking to try for cache # 2,000,000.  Ok.  I can give it a shot.  What can it hurt.

Well the time got close the counter on the page got closer, and then it started to drop.  Now I hear that a cacher had decided that after putting out a number of power trails, he/she could not maintain them so the archiving of many of them began.  I do not know how many.  Some said about 1300+  However it was enough to slow the date of #2,000,000 for a few days.

The number always goes up and down.  People archive caches, reviewers archive caches.

Well last night came and it looked like we were getting close.  I only had a few, about 15 to list.  If I had a hundred all I would have had to do was wait until the count got within 100.  Then the odds were high.  We got close and the numbers dropped.  It was 11:30, and most of the reviewers in america and Europe were in bed.  So I did as well.

Then I awoke at 2am.  Too far away.  3am  Still no luck.  4am. We were close at 5am. about 150 away.  Then it got close, and fell back.  Then I started listing.  At 6:11 the Magic cache was listed.  I started listing about three minutes too late. 

Crap. 

Time to get kids ready for school and work.

I don't care.  In two days I will be in 70° weather in St. George.  Yes, that will cheer me up.

Stats for sites

I just downloaded 5000 caches from opencaching into my GPS. From the Utah border to Kansas then border to border (almost)

Opencaching.com stats

5000 caches

• 2269 - 45%  have never been found
• 998 - 20%have been found one time
• 556 - 11% found twice
• 1095 - 22% have been found 3-5 times
• 69 -1% found 5-10 times
• 13 - 0.2%found 11+ times

503 -10% not imported from geocaching.com  (I saw a few are hand entered from geocaching.com so the number is likely a % or two below that)

Of those 5000

• 130 placed by BakerGeckos
• 299 placed by Bikephotog
• 488 placed by Calgold
• 113 placed by da438
• 439 placed by Jackofalltrades001
• 248 placed by jstrout
• 140 placed by Mo Pirate2
• 123 placed by rathbun2012
• 147 placed by StealthRT
• 143 placed by Tawner

Total 2270.  So in this area, 45% of the caches are put out by 10 people.

Geocaching.com

I will only use the numbers from Utah, and active.

25989 Caches

• 617 - 2% have never been found
• 502 - 2% have been found one time
• 727 - 3% found twice
• 2010 - 8% have been found 3-5 times
• 2790 - 11% found 5-10 times
• 15322 - 60% found 11-100 times
• 3929 - 15% found 101-499
• 82 - 0.3 found 500-999
• 10 found 1000+

In case anyone was interested