Washington Island has numerous access points to Lake Michigan and two commonly recognized beaches (although there are more). Schoolhouse Beach on the north end of the Island and Sand Dunes on the south.
This cache will bring you to “Sand Dunes”
Lovers of sand beaches may delight; swimmers will be disappointed due to the shallow water. The reason for bringing you here is not for the water, but what occurs in the dead of winter long after the tourists have gone home.
Many children remember where they sledded the first time. This is the spot that becomes that memory they remember for a lifetime. Most of you will travel to this site during the summer months and you won’t have a clue about the rite of passage that occurs here each winter, yet I am going to bring you to the three points of significance in this area. Enjoy the journey, visualize this area in February and return in the winter with your sled and a child in tow.
Stage One: The coordinates given are for stage one, close to where you parked, here you need to find the coordinates for stage two.
Stage Two: I am sure this is where many veteran parents have sat and visited over the years while watching their children burn off hundreds of calories. Parents with small children and kids new to this experience will travel with their child to the final, yet once your kid gets to that certain age of confidence, they want mom and dad to let them do it by themselves. From this vantage point, the hill seems tame enough, although looks can be deceiving. Look for the coordinates for the final here but don’t forget to keep an eye on your children.
The Final: The apex, the summit! Before you head off this tube into the woods to grab the cache, turn around and take a look behind you. Imagine being in grade school and experiencing this for the first time! Thoughts of Shaun White or the U.S. Bobsled Team may pop into your head OR maybe you trudge back down to mom and dad to tell them you're cold and want to go home. What will your choice be?
