Geocahing at Baitcon

[skreeky]

Putting out feelers for who's interested in a geocaching expidition from Baitcon. (cross-posted to my personal journal, so some folks may answer there)

Please comment:

If you're interested in going, and what terrain difficulty is your max.

If you could drive some people to a trailhead.

If you're willing to lead a group (more than 4 persons or so in a group tends to be too many) and up to what terrain difficulty you can lead.

About what time during the weekend would you be most interested in this activity.

If you're not interested in caching but would join an ordinary hike, let me know that too.

I will not hold you to your answers, but I do want an accurate guage of interest and feasibility before I put in much effort. Thanks!

Comments

[kimberlogic.livejournal.com]

I'm quite interested in both hiking and geocaching. Whether or not I can take and break and go is another matter, so I don't want my time-preference to be a factor. Keep me posted and hopefully I could head off with you!

[skreeky]

*nods*
What's your difficulty level, considering your back and all? "Stroll in the woods" is quite doable and there are two nearby caches rated about 1.5, but one of the closest caches is rated 2.5 and seems to involve a "Skyline Trail" which nearly always means steep inclines.

[keith-m043.livejournal.com]

I would love to geocache. I have two GPS (garmin iQue3600). I probably will have access to a van that weekend (but can't guarantee it). I can handle 5 mile hikes on flat ground or maybe 2 mile hikes with lots of up and down without being too unhappy afterwards. Only problem is that I move a bit slow because I have angina, so I can't do things that bring my heart up to aerobic speed.

Hiking

[blackanvil.livejournal.com]

Not quite into geocaching, though I'm certainly interested in learning more.

I do like hiking, though I haven't done much in the way of mountains recently -- though the last time I was in SF, I did about 15 miles, down, up and and around the city. Suffered for it afterwards, but had a lot of fun. Call it a reliable 2, though I think I could do harder. 2.5 should be doable if I remember to do my daily expedition around the farm.

IIRC, Saturday morning tends to be a bit calm at Baitcon.

It looks like I'll be driving the pickup, so not sure how that would do for trailhead hauling -- only two seats, and riding in the back of a pickup is frowned upon nowadays.

--doug

[kimberlogic.livejournal.com]

I'll know more about this closer to the event (PT will be oh, 7 weeks in by that time) but I'm guessing that it will stay lower than I'm used to, even if I'm feeling better, given all the cautions.

[qwrrty.livejournal.com]

I'd be interested in a caching run. The kids I'm with might be interested too (aged 9, 8 and 5).

I've never understood the terrain difficulty rankings. Based on your description I'd probably be up for the 2.5 but the kids would probably have to stay at 2 or below.

I'm not prepared to lead a group.

[perspicuity.livejournal.com]

If you're interested in going, and what terrain difficulty is your max.
# yes - nearly anything that doesn't kill your or require gear (which there are caches of, and i could bring gear)

If you could drive some people to a trailhead.
# maybe - depending on method of my getting there this year

If you're willing to lead a group (more than 4 persons or so in a group tends to be too many) and up to what terrain difficulty you can lead.
# i could lead, i'm an experienced cacher; i currently have a "very good" geocaching gps, and a second one that is pretty good for people to use as needed perhaps (my backup). i'd be interested in leading on more "interesting" terrain for people who are into that.

About what time during the weekend would you be most interested in this activity.
# probably late morning/afternoon. nite time is a special thing.

If you're not interested in caching but would join an ordinary hike, let me know that too.
# maybe

I will not hold you to your answers, but I do want an accurate guage of interest and feasibility before I put in much effort. Thanks!
# people also indicating if they have a GPS would be useful. if you don't know how to use it, we could have a mini-lesson too, and maybe a practice exercise too.

#

[blackanvil.livejournal.com]

I'm guessing she's referring to the general hiking 5-level scale:

Easy - difficulty 1
These trips offer an easy pace and an average-to-sedentary level of fitness. Activities may be optional. You should be in good health and fit enough for full day of normal sightseeing and walking.

Easy to Moderate - difficulty 2
An average level of fitness or some experience with the featured activity is recommended. While some activities may be optional, you may still have to walk, hike, bike or paddle for two to three hours daily. Includes less demanding sea kayaking and river rafting trips (Class I-II rapids).

Moderate - difficulty 3
These active trips require you to have performed the featured activity regularly, with some periods on challenging terrain. Activities are mandatory and you may be traveling at high elevations. Includes more demanding sea kayaking trips and river rafting trips with Class III-IV rapids. Your lodging and camping accommodations may be primitive and in remote locations. You need to be in good health and physical condition to enjoy these trips, with adequate muscular strength and cardiovascular endurance.

Demanding - difficulty 4
On these trips, you must be extremely physically fit and are expected to hike or ride four to six hours over steep or more rugged terrain or in elevations exceeding 3,000 m (10,000 feet), often in remote locations far from medical facilities. Includes more demanding sea kayaking trips (5-6 hours paddling a day) and river rafting trips with Class IV+ rapids. Porter/vehicle support for difficult terrain, but may involve carrying your own gear.

Strenuous- difficulty 5
Prolonged hiking/riding on moderate to difficult terrain (five to nine hours a day). May include:
- high altitude: elevations exceeding 4,500 m (15,000 feet) that may create discomfort and symptoms of illness that you do not experience while exercising at lower elevations, such as shortness of breath, restlessness or sleeplessness at night, and headaches.
- rugged terrain: up and down mountain trails that are steep and rocky.
- carrying your own gear may be asked in some of the trips.
- sea kayaking (5-7 hours paddling a day) and river rafting trips with Class IV-V rapids, and otherwise challenging conditions.
Previous experience may be required. You should be in excellent health and top physical condition to enjoy such an experience.

[Some people continue this scale until you get to things like climbing Mount Everest (8), crossing the Antartic on snowmobile (9), or dog-sledding across the artic polar cap (10).]

[skreeky]

Actually, the terrain ratings on geocaches seem a lot less specific. The only guideline I've ever seen says that a 1 should be at least somewhat wheelchair accessible, and a 5 may require scuba, climbing harness, or other specialized gear. There's no summary of in between.

For geocaching, though, I would expect any hike of more than an hour, no matter how easy, to rate at least a 2, and anything that would take more than one day to be an automatic 5 since you wouldn't normally be taking camping equipment.