Chamna
– Welcome Mat
(CNP #3)
Chamna
Natural Preserve
This is third cache in
a series of six for the Chamna Natural Preserve. These caches were
all inspired by the first cache to be place in this park - the
Oasis Sages cache. This cache (and the
Western High Point cache) is relatively easy and can be
used to introduce non-caching friends or children to the fun of
GeoCaching. Let them
try using a GPSr and see how well they can do. When they find the cache show them
how to uncover, log in, re-hide a cache and keep from being muggled
in the process.
The
cache
container for this hunt is a 2” x 4” cylinder
containing a roll-up log and pencil. Since this cache is located SO
close to the east entrance to the preserve you will have to be
especially careful not to alert Muggles of the cache
location. Please
carefully re-camouflage and cover the
cache to the condition that you found it and try to
leave the area around the cache appearing undisturbed.
The
preserve is part of the Richland Park system and is great for
hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding:
“muscle-powered” recreation. When
there is enough snow you can even cross-country ski and snow shoe. The trails in the preserve have been rated as one of
the top 50 desert hikes in the State of Washington by the
Mountaineers Club of Seattle. The Tapteal Greenway
Association is largely responsible for maintaining and improving
this wonderful park. You can visit the Tapteal Greenway Association
web site for more information about this park and the many other
TGA activities.
If you park at the
East end parking area you will enter the preserve at the location
of a group seating area. This space provides rustic benches near a
few shady trees where you can prepare for your hike or indoctrinate
visitors to the features of the park.
If you
decide to head off onto the trails remember that even though you
may feel like you’re out in the wilderness, this IS a city
park. When hiking in
the preserve STAY ON THE TRAILS - there are a lot of them! The
trails will get you to where you need to go to fully enjoy the
area. As you move about the park you’ll also find that some
of the wildlife in the area is briefly described on the guidepost
maps that are located throughout the preserve. Keep in mind that a
few of the trails provide single-track side paths that access the
rivers edge and children should not be allowed to head out to these
areas unattended. Also,
don’t forget that the trails within the preserve are shared
between hikers, mountain bikers, and horses. Always be on the alert for
“on-coming traffic” because there are many points in
the trail where you can see only a short distance ahead.
Take a
trash bag with you when hiking in the preserve and practice
Cache-In-Trash-Out to
help keep the area clean. The success of these caches will
depend on our conduct at the cache sites and treatment of the
area. Keep in mind that
the preserve is closed from 11pm until dawn.
NOTE:
When you
open the cache and log your visit you will notice a 3-digit number
written on the container and log. Write down this number and
keep record of its association with this cache…
you will need it at a later time to determine the location of the
final cache of this series.
Other
currently active Chamna Natural Preserve caches:
Chamna – Farthest Reaches
(CNP #1)
Chamna – Middle Earth
(CNP #2)
Chamna – Southern Exposure
(CNP #4)
Chamna – Western High Point
(CNP #5)
Chamna – Final Cache Reward
(CNP-F)
Oasis Sages
You can
learn more about GeoCaching on the GeoCaching.com web site in the
“Resources”
section. Another good
web site to get started is GeoCacher
University.