I love hunting Ruffed Grouse. Over the years of bird hunting I have
found some great roads near Merrill that I usually see the these
birds. My goal is to place caches near these road that will bring
you to the beauty that I get to see while hunting these areas. This
one of the series and I hope to have more placed soon - especially
since it is Ruffed Grouse season!
Since this is the first one of this series, I wanted to share
one of my more embarrassing hunting moments. 5 years ago - almost
to the day I placed this cache, I was driving down a logging road
doing a little bit of road hunting. I drove over 1/2 mile back into
the woods when I encountered the following mud hole:
I just came from a client and I was still in dress clothes and
shoes. Yeah, I know - that is not what you wear in
the woods hunting birds - but I could not pass up a hunting
opportunity. Regardless, I just bought my TrailBlazer 3 months
prior and wasn't sure of the 4x4 limitations. I pause for a few
seconds and then try to cross the mud hole. I think by trying to
cross the mud hole on the left side (right side in the photo) that
I can keep at least 2 tires on solid ground and that will give me
enough traction to get across. All was going well until I was half
way. At that point the bottom of the hole gave away to very thick
mud and my right rear tire sunk about 2.5 feet down. My muffler and
right rear door bottom were all under water. I try all the tricks
to get unstuck - but nothing worked. At the time I did not have a
"Get Stuck Box" with a hand wench and a good length of logging
chains. I pressed my On Star button and asked for assistance. It
was very comical listening to them trying to figure out what road I
was on! They finally called a tow-truck for me. The tow-truck works
his was to my location. He was not very happy about the situation.
He tried to turn around and got stuck. In attempt to get himself
unstuck he broke one of his two tow cables. He also ripped off a
rear quarter panel while towing himself out of the turn around.
Once he was free he easily pulled me out. I followed him back out
to the main road - but half way back he slid off the trail and got
stuck again. He was able to pull himself out fairly easily.
When I went to place the cache, I knew the limitations of my truck
and didn't even attempt to cross the mud hole. Be advised that the
logging road to the cache is full of deep ruts that will keep out
most cars and SUVs. If you have a low clearance car you should walk
to the cache and park on the main road.
During the winter months the logging road is not plowed so you will
either have to take a snowmobile (this is part of the trail system)
or hike in.
If you are a hunter, you'll love this area. If you are not, then
you love the beauty of the forest and wild life. I have seen wild
turkey, Grouse, Whitetail deer, Racoon's, and one Black bear on the
roads around this area. I hope you enjoy this forest as much as I
do.
The Geocache Notification Form has been submitted to of the
Wisconsin DNR. Geocaches placed on Wisconsin Department of Natural
Resource managed lands require permission by means of a
notification form. Please print out a paper copy of the
notification form, fill in all required information, then submit it
to the land manager. The DNR Notification form and land manager
information can be obtained at:
www.wi-geocaching.com/hiding