MnGCA

KC0GRN · Past MnGCA Board Joined: 22 Feb 2004 Posts: 1424

Winter caching for me comes naturally. Considering I got into it to practice for my other favorite winter pasttime, only makes sense.

Heh, I rember the first cache I found on my own. -15 outside, I'm looking at a mapquest map of the park as I didn't have a GPSr yet, took me 2 hours to find a simple hide, but I sure had fun with it anyway, and I got to test my cold weather gear.

Funnier was running into JT on my way out, I'm sure he found the cache in 2 minutes considering he had a GPS.

CamoCacher · Geocacher Joined: 05 Dec 2005 Posts: 1391

[quote="RubberToes"]

A.B.E.L. · Posted: Mon Dec 11, 2006 8:49 am Post subject:

I picked up a Garmin Venture this last weekend for SUPER cheap!

let the caching begin! hehe.

jambro · Posted: Thu Dec 28, 2006 3:14 pm Post subject:

From KB's Stupid Rules cache:

Winter caching rocks!
Finding trinkets under snow
Now, shut up and cache!

As long as you're bundled up, winter caching is, IMO, more fun than summer caching for many of the reasons listed above. This from a SoCal native!
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I feel the need! The need for speed!

former hawkeye · Posted: Thu Dec 28, 2006 10:27 pm Post subject:

This "winter" been great! Last December I only got 1 cache and 1 DNF icy bath when attempting another one. This month I have 15 and those last 5 in Fertile, Minnesota were so fun walking/hiking in the woods with a friend and her dog and there wasn't another soul-now that is really fun. Laughing

It might have something to do with I stink at finding micros that are cleverly hidden. Embarassed

Less tough micros and more hikes!!!! This granny needs the exercise.
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Summer is too short

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

tesser · Posted: Sat Jan 13, 2007 3:53 pm Post subject:

I spent two hours digging for the 100th Anniversary cache last winter up in Duluth. It made the find all the sweeter! I have found that many winter caches are not too buried since the locations often have natural wind breaks from drifts or are under trees, etc, that block the snow. This year, snow is not a problem! Caches can be hard to open though, so bring something to help you. If the cache might have a screwtop, it would be helpful to carry something with a rubber grip. I also love that there are fewer people, and perhaps the doggy can have a run.

Summer is too hot and too buggy for me. Spring is very muddy. I love fall the best!

Pear Head · Posted: Sat Jan 13, 2007 4:21 pm Post subject:

jambro · Posted: Tue Jan 23, 2007 1:42 am Post subject:

EskoClimber · Posted: Tue Jan 23, 2007 6:04 pm Post subject:

I've starting carry tools to chip caches out of their icy prisons. I recently broke two containers trying to get them free. One for sure, I think the other was broken by the ice but I certainly didn't do it any good.
After my finding my first cache in the winter, I've tried to make my hides resonably winter friendly. Doesn't always happen but I try. Depends on how evil the puzzle is.
As Pear Head mentioned, decon containers are great in the summer and are easily broken in the winter. Well not easily. They are a bear to open in the winter which results in a broken container. I broke one of those last year. Now I freeze my armpits in an effort to warm the container enough to open them. AND NO, I won't tell you which ones have my armpit juice on them.

loneeagle_24 · Posted: Tue Jan 23, 2007 6:59 pm Post subject:

[/quote]Now I freeze my armpits in an effort to warm the container enough to open them. AND NO, I won't tell you which ones have my armpit juice on them.

tbtroopers · Posted: Thu Feb 15, 2007 9:25 pm Post subject:

I just became a premium member this winter and am starting to go caching more now. My father (epsdoc) has just retired, and I can truly say that we have been having the time of our life caching this winter, right here in the good ol' frozen tundra!

The key to success, i believe, is to dress in layers, bring an energy bar and water (yes, we can work up a good sweat, even in winter), and always remember where you enter a large park or just mark the entry spot, (no one wants to get lost in the woods in the winter).
Happy Caching!

A.B.E.L. · Posted: Thu Feb 22, 2007 1:32 pm Post subject:

Well, my wife and I just completed our 4th cache yesterday! So far we're having an awesome time! This indeed is a great winter activity, gets ya off the couch and outside, just dress appropriately and your good to go. My only qualm with winter caching so far is it gets dark too early :/

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

bflentje · Geocacher Joined: 29 May 2006 Posts: 3673

Can't tell you how many caches I've done that have been:
- nearly midnight on a 40 degree day while it's raining.
- in the winter, at night, when it is 30 degrees below zero.
- in the spring, no jacket, at night, 30 degrees, and sleating.
- at dusk, in the fall or spring, 25 degrees, cache is on the other side of the swamp.
- heart rythm pills in the pocket, cache on the top of the bluff or mountain.

Would I give it up?? Never in a million years. Like they say about fishing.. A bad day caching is better than a good day working.