Dehcho Cache #2 - Tthenaago (Nahanni Butte) Traditional Geocache
Dehcho Cache #2 - Tthenaago (Nahanni Butte)
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(regular)
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Welcome to the Dehcho Cache #2 - Tthenaago (Nahanni Butte)! This is
the second in a series that will hopefully, one day, include every
community in the Dehcho Region and some other sites of interest to
boot!
About Tthenaago
Tthenaago in South Slavey, the local Dene language means
"strong rock". As it was told to me, a long time ago, when the
animals hunted people, Zhambadehzha (Yamora) went about making
things right. Giant beavers were smacking their tails, creating
large waves that were killing the people. Zhambadehzha destroyed
the beavers' dam and then went to the beavers' lodge and thrust his
spear into it, causing one side to collapse. The beavers fled,
leaving behind their logde which eventually became the mountain,
Nahanni Butte.
It is said that the hole from the Zhambadehzha 's spear could be
seen on top of the mountain. The Dene used to go to the top of the
mountain and drop a rock into the hole. If they heard water, that
was a good sign and the people would have good luck. Sometimes,
when a rock was dropped into the hole, you would never hear it land
and the people would have bad luck. At some point, when the fire
tower was being constructed, the hole was capped with concrete.
The little mountain near the community is knows as the "Small
Butte". When beavers cut down trees, they sometimes take the
branches under water to store for winter food. (Beavers can eat
under water). Local history says that, when the beaver dam was
broken, the food cache became the little butte.
Getting to the Cache
The cache is located (yup, you guessed it) waaaaaay up on the top
the mountain. You will need some sort of watercraft to get from the
settlement of Nahanni Butte to the mountain on the other side. If
you somehow got to the community without your own boat, drop by the
Nahanni Butte Dene Band and arrange for a drop-off and pick-up.
Bring bug protection. Bear spray is recommended, as is leaving a
trip plan with someone in the community. Please use caution at all
times - due to its remoteness, emergency evacuations are extremely
expensive in this part of the world.
You will need lots of water for this hike. There is a
spring near the base of the Butte where you can fill your
containers with delicious water. Ask the locals and they will give
you directions. This is one potential starting point for your trip
up the mountain.
There are two ways up the mountain, a shorter, more direct route
up the ridge, and a longer route up through the saddle. I recommend
taking the ridge because it has better views, a drier trail (there
isn't really a trail), and generally fewer biting insects. I don't
recommend following the cache coordinates until you get to the top
of the mountain. As you get further up the mountain, where the
treeline begins to fade, you may was to drift towards the south
side of the Butte, since this way has less scrambling up loose
rock. Use your eyes and commons sense to pick the best route.
The cache is a small rubbermaid cereal container wrapped in a
black garbage bag. When placed, my GPS was accurate to within
3.0m.
What You Will See on Your Trip
From the top of Tthenaago, you can see views of the Liard and
Nahanni Ranges of the Franklin Mountains, the Liard and South
Nahanni Rivers and the Liard Plateau. If you look closely, or bring
a good pair of binoculars (highly recommended), you will be able to
see the sand blow-outs, the "splits" of the South Nahanni River and
the entrance to the First Canyon of the South Nahanni.
The Settlement of Nahanni Butte is the only community you will be
able to see (low population density in action). The next closest
community is Fort Liard (home of Dehcho Cache #1) at the end of the Liard Range
(look at the mountain range to the south and follow it to "the
left" until it drops towards the ground. That is where Fort
Liard is.)
There are sheep and ground squirrels on top of the mountain and
there have been occasional grizzly and black bear sightings. Please
respect these animals and give them their distance.
There are fossils and countless, beautiful quartzes and calcites.
Even though there are so many, please respect the mountain and
leave these treasures for others to enjoy.
At the top of the mountian is a disused fire tower. Please follow
the rule of the North and only enter the building if you need it
(for an emergency). If you do use the cabin, please leave it in the
same shape (or better) than when you found it.
What's in the Cache?
When placed, the cache contained:
- one log book, a finicky mechanical pencil and extra lead
(please leave with the cache
- 3 parachuting aliens (please do not throw the aliens off the
mountain
- 1 mouse trap (Can be used if you get weathered-in to hunt for
food. Unless it is your traditional aboriginal right, please make
sure you have a current NWT Small Game License.
- 1 pack of 36" shoe laces (In case you destroyed yours on the
walk up. Can also be used for snares if you get weathered in and
need food.)
- 1 deck of cards (Something to do if you get weathered in with a
friend.)
- Dice (1 package of 10 die.)
- IQ Block Game (In case you get weathered-in on your
own).
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
[Put the answers to these two questions together for your hint:]
- Jung qb tneqraref srne va gur fcevat naq snyy?
- Jung qbrf na bnefzna fnl? "______, Ub!"