This week we tried something a little different out on the trails. Instead of using high tech Global Positioning Satellites to tell us where we were going, we used a paper map and a compass. This was our first try at orienteering and a successful one at that. I enjoyed leaving the GPS at home for once and hiking with just a compass in hand.

Topographical 3D Rendered Map of the Trails we Took

This was the other team we were racing against. We tide ….

Along with that I took time to plant my third GeoCache “The Photographer’s GeoCache“.  This Cache has been placed here specially for all the photographers out there. I know there are lots of GeoCachers that have a GPS in one hand and a camera in the other every time they head out exploring the wilderness.

The Lion           &         The Unicorn

This week’s geocache was one of the most exciting yet. We climbed into a small underground cave hidden in the woods near the Mackenzie King ruins. With all the snow around we had to use photos from the web site just to find the location where the cave SHOULD be. With photos in hand we were able to match up 3 big scar lines on the boulders around the entrance. Then facing a rock wall in front of us, once we knew we were at the right place we had to dig out the cave opening before we could crawl in, through 6 feet of snow and under 100 feet of rock.

This trip really took a lot more out of us then we thought it would. There were 2 other caches planned for that day that we couldn’t get to. After trekking through waist high snow with that cold winter chill in the air we were really feeling it by the time found and dug out a path way into the cave. Particularly when you add to that the unsettled feeling of being in a 4 foot high underground cavern for the first time in my life.

Digging Out the Cave Entrance

Wow. That was Totally Worth The Effort. This Place Would make a Sweet Fort.

Before heading underground, the excursion started with a photo shoot at the ruins on the Mackenzie King Estate. This first photo is one that I think really shows some real artistic form. Out of about a dozen similar shots, this was the best one. The slight leaning angle of the columns truly creates scale in this photo.

Even the longest journey starts with a single 5,313Km step.

My travel bug has moved from GeoCache to GeoCache. He has now traveled over 5,000Km from his resting place, buried away in western Quebec across the Atlantic to London England.

I managed to get in touch with GeoCasher “5chipmunks” while he was traveling with the “Dead Man’s Chest”. He dropped him off while on an Expedition to Africa.

“These three Scurvy sailors were good and alive when they were first buried many years ago, Arrrr Harrr Harrr. They sailed the 7 seas in life and now they travel the world as skull and bones looking for their final resting spot.”

Dead Man’s Chest

Mapped out the trip from
Mt. Ste. Marie Quebec to Harmondsworth Moor Park in London England.

This member of the Rebel Alliance was spotted stashing critical Imperial blue prints in a GeoCache in the Orleans forestry area. We found him hiding this morning after a long hike through the woods.

Those were the droids we were looking for!

I have now completed my set of GeoCaches located on top of the Mt Ste Marie, ski hills.

Friends and I hiked up Coat Vanier to see the view from the lookout point. While we were there I took some time to hide “Hill Climber”. This cache matches with “Mountain Climber” which I placed near the top of Cheval Blanc last year.

Hill Climber will be the easier of the 2 caches for hikers to get to. Mountain Climber, which only 5 people have found since last August is an entire days hike through 4 feet high brush with no visible paths. However hiking both of these hills are well worth the effort. The views are fantastic from the peeks.

It was so hot on the way up. The only thing that kept us going was knowing that when we got back down to the bottom there was a cold lake there waiting for us.

When you’re ready to go climbing, take a look at the GeoCache web site for my MSM caches:

• Hill Climber (GC1E6G2)

• Mountain Climber (GC153Z0)

Coat Vanier is a 1000 foot vertical with a peek Altitude of 1600

Anne-Marie

Waad

Me

Last years hike up Cheval Blanc