The NSPS Geocaching Project was featured in
the March 2007 issue of Point Of Beginning Magazine at
http://tinyurl.com/2wgsfr and also in the online magazine Caching
Now.
THE NSPS GEOCACHE
SAFETY FIRST
Be sure to bring along your
geocaching bag/backpack filled with the usual hiking items, such as
a bottle of drinking water, cell phone, safety whistle and "swag"
items (stuff we all get) for trading. Hiking should always be done
with a hiking buddy or a hiking group; if you trip and break your
leg, who's going to get you back? Make sure you fuel up your
vehicle to get you to the area (and back home).
PARKING
The best place to park to
get to this geocache is at a projection from the posted
coordinates: from the posted coordinates, go on a bearing of 98
degrees-true (surveyors should read this as "astronomic azimuth of
98 degrees"), for a distance of 0.31 mile. The trail crosses a
gravel road at this point and provides for easier access. Once you
get there, punch in the posted geocache coordinates and start
hiking.
YOU ARE LOOKING FOR...
You are looking for a
HUGE container, an ammo box with dimensions of 17
inches long, 14 inches tall, and 7 inches wide. Get a yard stick
and check that out. You have to unhitch both ends of the lid in
order to get to the goodies.
ORIGINAL CONTENTS
Items that should stay in
the geocache forever:
the hardbound logbook (a real surveying field-book); a pen; a
pencil; a pencil sharpener; the "You Found It" note with
magnet-clippies to hold it up near the top.
Swag trade items:
This list of trade items is provided for tracking purposes (and for
your amusement). This geocache was originally stocked with lots of
trade items, some being surveying related items and some being just
typical swag; due to the container's size, some swag is larger than
the usual Stuff We
All Get. Inside are some "Did You Know" laminated fact-cards held near the
top with a magnet-clippie - feel free to take one of these
promo-cards without trading for it; 5 CITO canisters with
vanilla-scented trash bags inside (left overs from a past CITO
event); some NSPS promo 6-inch rulers; some stackable NSPS
mini-magic-markers; a sample Point Of Beginning Magazine,
the November 2006 issue signed on the cover by geocacher
cantuland; a coin-purse with a Lewis-and-Clark Edition
nickel zipped up inside it; a cowgirl hair baret; a clip-on watch;
a little orange hair comb; 5 bracelets, each one hand-crafted by
Mrs. cantuland; a cell phone holder; a big patriotic party hat; a
really bright safety-orange ball cap with gray underside so as not
to blind the wearer; a cool colored floppy frisbie; an umbrella,
never opened; a big toy sea turtle (Now you can find a sea turtle
in Kansas); 2 little toy plastic dinosaurs - a brachiosaurus and a
styracosaurus; a surveyor's "peg book" with lots of trigonometric
formulas on the inside cover; a light-up squishy bouncy thing that
sparkles with dancing lights when you press down on the top and
bottom (press again to stop it so you don't get hypnotized); an
8-inch battery-powered glow stick with several different settings
(also hypnotic); a box of division flash cards; surveying
pamphlets; 2 "hot-hands" hand warmers; 2 recorder musical
instruments; a first-aid kit; a mini A&W mug; a purple silk
hanky; a little U.S. flag; and an altoids tin filled with LUCKY
pennies (they have given me lots of good luck
too).
Some travel bugs and geocoins originally
stocked include the following. Check on their journeys every now
and then to see how their doing.
FIND IT!
When you get to the
coordinates, keep in mind that a hand held GPS receiver will only
get you "close". Ask yourself, "Where would a container that huge
be hidden?," and go look there.
After you find it, be sure
to sign the enclosed logbook; date it; describe what you took and
what you left; and if you like, include a bit of the story of your
adventure. When claiming the find with the online logs, finders are
encouraged to mention a few things:
- If you pursue geocaches placed under the
NSPS Geocaching Project, please state how many of these geocaches
you have found.
- How many different "Did You Know..." cards
have you discovered?
- If you use this geocache as a place to
release your travel bugs or geocoins into the wild, mention in your
log what you have released; be sure to include the REFERENCE number
rather than the TRACKING number on the tag or coin.
Kanza Rail-Trails Conservancy,
Inc.
Permission to place this
geocache was granted by the KRTC. The placement of the container
(*HUGE* container!) was done in cooperation with the hard labor
volunteered by the KRTC President. She's in the middle of the
picture above. The Kanza Rail-Trails Conservancy, Inc. is a
private, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization made up of volunteers
who are committed to recreational trail development.
Trail Access…under
construction.
Designated sections of the
trail are open to the public for non-motorized recreation, sunrise
to sunset. Trails are shared by pedestrians, bicyclists, and
equestrians.
Trail Guidelines…
- Trails are open year-round, sunrise to
sunset.
- Be alert when crossing all
roadways.
- Use public parking (city parks, streets) as
close to the trail as possible. Some trailheads will have a parking
area.
- Cell phones are recommended for
emergencies.
- There is no fee to use the trails. However,
if you would like to become a member or contribute to the continued
development of these trails, our website and contact information is
below.
Trail Rules…
- Pets are allowed on a
lead/leash.
- Motorized vehicles are prohibited except
for maintenance, law enforcement, emergency vehicles, and motorized
wheelchairs.
- Most of the trail is surrounded by private
land. Please stay on the trail and respect the rights of private
landowners. Please – no trespassing and no
littering.
- Carry out more than you carry
in.
- Campfires, overnight camping, fireworks,
fishing, hunting, trapping, swimming, firearms, alcohol, drugs, and
loitering are not permitted.
Geocaching…
There are several geocaches
located in the KRTC trail system including the official NSPS
geocache! Geocaching and rail-trails are a perfect match –
the great outdoors and a beautiful journey to the cache.
If you would like to place a
geocache on the trail, please contact our organization and we will
help you find a good site. KRTC Board member Scott Allen of Council
Grove is an avid geocacher and can be reached at 620-767-5695.
President Gina Poertner would also be happy to assist you in
placing a geocache. Contact her at 620-342-2477.
Remember, adjacent farmlands
are usually burned off each spring and these “prairie
fires” are shared with the trail for weed control. Depending
on the container, you may want to temporarily remove the caches
during the burning season.
BENCH MARKS
Be sure to do your BM research. There are
some to be found along the trail.
"Find all nearby BENCH MARKS."
This page may be referenced with the
following URL:
http://tinyurl.com/yz6r2q
REMEMBER
- Make the fair trade.
- Log your visit.
- Leave the site better than you found
it.
- Protect the environment —
always.
- Educate those around you.
- Find another cache!
Good luck, and may all your cache dreams
come true.
—cantuland