This cache series is the brainchild of "Bo" of the StaBoRoPaSi gang. He's been interested in "exploring" more of the Gordon Hill/Windham Town Forest trails since the Gordon Hill Multi cache (Salem's highest point). He also wanted to leave the geocachers a little present before flying south once again. Before he migrated, we came in to “explore” these trails with a backpack full of containers and left hours later with an empty pack and some well marked trails. These caches were placed with snowshoes in mind, but are obtainable all year round. We hope you enjoy them no matter what season you choose. The StaBoRoPaSi Gang.
PARKING:
Main Parking - Windham Town Forest - N 42 50.484 W 071 15.621, Try parking here first. Four Wherigo's start here that you will not want to miss.
Secondary Parking (Winter friendly) - Aladdin Road - N 42 49.523 W 071 14.674, Use this if the Main parking area isn't plowed. We marked a trail with caches that connects the Gordon Hill area to Windham Town Forest Trails.
NOTE:
Please, DO NOT PARK in the Gordon Mountain road condo development. Windham has temporarily closed this trail head.
Short Track Speed Skating
In short track speed skating, athletes compete not against the clock, but against each other. This introduces the elements of strategy, bravery and skill needed for racing.
North American origin
Short track (or indoor) speed skating began in Canada and the United States of America were they held mass start competitions on an oval track as early as 1905/06. The lack of 400m long tracks led many North American skaters to practice on ice rinks. However, practicing on a smaller track brought new challenges, like tighter turns and shorter straightaways which lead to different techniques in order to win on a shorter track. These countries began competing against each other on an annual basis. The sport’s rise in popularity was partly thanks to the North American racing rules, which introduced a “pack” style of racing. Capitalising on this, the organizers of the 1932 Lake Placid Games, with the consent of the International Skating Union (ISU), agreed to follow these rules for the program’s speed skating events.
International recognition
Countries such as Great Britain, Australia, Belgium, France and Japan deserve a great deal of credit in the development of the sport since they participated in international open competitions before the sport was recognized by the International Skating Union. In 1967 the ISU declares Short Track Speed Skating an official sport but international worldwide competitions are not held until 1976. During this period of time countries kept competing amongst themselves.
Olympic history
After having been a demonstration sport at the 1988 Games in Calgary, short track speed skating became part of the Olympic program in Albertville in 1992, with two individual events and two relays. The discipline comprises men’s and women’s events. Since the 2006 Olympic Games in Turin, the program of this discipline has included eight events.
It quickly became popular with the public, who are thrilled to watch rapid races on tight tracks. The skaters race so closely to each other that collisions and falls are inevitable, which is why the walls of the speed skating oval are padded.
Asian emergence
In recent Games, China and Korea have emerged to challenge North American dominance in this event. Indeed at the 2006 Turin Games, it was South Korea who emerged as the nation to beat, winning an incredible six gold medals, and 10 medals in total.