MnGCA

AKjim · Geocacher Joined: 21 Sep 2005 Posts: 5

Near Red Wing. It was placed last spring '04. I think the last time I checked it only 3 cachers have signed the logbook. Most cachers have not found it and have complained enough that Geocaching.com has suggested to me to disable it. The cache is not that hard to find. It is right next to a trail. I don't understand why cachers are having trouble finding it. There is also a USGS monument nearby if you are into finding those.

It needs to get some attention, I don't want to remove it, its a great find, I guarantee it.

Marsha and Silent Bob · Past MnGCA President Joined: 02 Sep 2003 Posts: 6261

Link to the cache page: http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=b1e596f7-c3e6-4234-951b-ec56df9f16c1&log=y&decrypt=
_________________
Sad state of affairs.

Dances With Beehives · Geocacher Joined: 12 Sep 2003 Posts: 671 Location: Chaska

From the cache page:

Dances With Beehives · Geocacher Joined: 12 Sep 2003 Posts: 671 Location: Chaska

From the cache page

AKjim · Geocacher Joined: 21 Sep 2005 Posts: 5

This park is covered with walking trails and this cache is on the easiest one. Certainly it is an uphill hike to the cache but it is not at all difficult if you are in halfway decent shape, which most geocachers are, I hope. My 8 and 10 year old daughters walk to it in 'flip-flop' sandals.
Most of the caches I have found have been so easy that they arn't even a challenge. I placed this one to make it a bit of a challenge, the type of challenge I would like to seeking a cache. Work for it a bit. I'm not into driving within 500' of a cache. I want a challenge and I hope my hides are.

I have given more hints than are needed, and now a map is posted pinpointing exactly where the cache is, which is fine, except it removes the challenge.
Somebody besides me needs to find this cache and give your opinion on it. I don't want trouble with the 'higher ups' at geo.com

RubberToes · Posted: Fri Sep 23, 2005 6:41 pm Post subject:

I took the bait and went to find this one today. It was too beautiful an afternoon to spend inside working. I've always wanted to explore Barn Bluff, and I got my money's worth.

I didn't find the cache that difficult to locate -- once I got to the cache area. That took some doing because we made the wrong choice at a trail fork and ended up climbing up and over the bluff. That was a blast, but is not necessary for finding the cache.

Once we reached the cache site -- after a wonderful tour of much of the bluff -- we were able to locate the cache within a few minutes by following the cache page's advice to stay on the high side of the trail. My receiver wanted me downhill, and looking that way would have been a bear. One could be 100 or 200 feet downhill in no time.

It was a good hide, but not so difficult that it should give people all that much trouble. The 4-star rating for difficulty and terrain may even be a little high, and it may be scaring off some potential visitors.

One problem I found with the park, though, is that many of the directional signs on the trails have been vandalized and are unreadable. This may have contributed to our taking the wrong path in the first place.

Fun cache, great afternoon. Thanks AKjim.

AKjim · Geocacher Joined: 21 Sep 2005 Posts: 5

Thanks for the comment Rubbertoes, glad you found it. I'm also glad to hear that you found it quite easily and that the terrain rating is too high. I think so too but several have indicated otherwise. I think I'll lower it back to where it should be.

I just learned of another cache on Barn Bluff. Don't know why I didn't know of it before, It Barn Bywater. Sounds like a great cache.

I like challenging caches. I'm not interested in caches that can be found 5 minutes from a road. I'm working on a few tougher ones.

Marsha and Silent Bob · Past MnGCA President Joined: 02 Sep 2003 Posts: 6261

RubberToes · Posted: Mon Sep 26, 2005 10:09 am Post subject:

ScubaAl · Posted: Mon Sep 26, 2005 6:03 pm Post subject:

In a few weeks I might be taking a tour along the river to enjoy the colors. I have already downloaded this and other caches into gsak. I like both the easier find and the more difficult.
This past weekend I was on the North Shore, in Silver Bay I went after this cache GCQF3T. The terrian definitely lived up to the rating. Check it out if you get a chance. But I don't believe it would winter friendly, ice.

Cache On, Al

Kidatheart · Posted: Sun Oct 02, 2005 10:28 am Post subject:

I admit it Rolling Eyes

, took 4 times to find this cache. For those that look for a challenge, this is it but after finding it I agree that the difficulty rating can be lower unless it was me trying to find it because I added to the difficulty all on my own. Embarassed

Keep placing caches of this quality and I will keep trying to find them, no matter how long it takes. Laughing

_________________
Acting innocent while obviously looking for something has never been so much fun!

5savages · Geocacher Joined: 13 Feb 2005 Posts: 204

I just found this cache yesterday. Of the 112 finds to my name, this is one of my top 3 favorites, perhaps No. 1.

I agree with you, as hikes go, this is not that difficult. It's a 384 foot gain in elevation, but if you start on the South Trail and come back on the North Trail, which is HIGHLY recommended, total distance is about 1.5 miles. I'm 20 pounds overweight and not in that great shape and I had no problems. My heart was pounding pretty good, but then I took the trail at a fast walk, it was about 80F, and the humidity must have been in the 90's, having rained all day. It took me about 1.5 hours, including searching, some wrong turns, and exploring.

If a cacher is just a statistics junkie, they should pass on this one as there are many easier and quicker caches nearby. If the cacher is interested in a quality cache, this certainly qualifies.

You done good! Don't change a thing.

AKjim · Geocacher Joined: 21 Sep 2005 Posts: 5

I'm sorry to say that I had to disable this post. After checking on it Nov. 19, 2005 I discovered that it has been discovered and stolen by a passerby. The park will close for winter soon anyway, so I will replace it next spring.

I got lots of emails asking that it be made easier, cachers wanting to know exactly where it was located, asking for a picture of the hiding spot, and now it appears that some casual passerby found it and stole it.

Oh well, I can replace it.

ScubaAl · Posted: Mon Nov 21, 2005 6:41 pm Post subject:

Easier, whats the point. I found after a short search, nothing about the way it was hide that made it unfindable(is that a word?).
I'm 56, a few Laughing

pounds over weight. Made the hike with no trouble.
Maybe you will have to meet said people at the cache site next year and just hand it to them.
Cache on, Al
PS you will probably have to also bring them a pencil.

5savages · Geocacher Joined: 13 Feb 2005 Posts: 204

If they were all easy I'd quite geocaching.