Akasu Traditional Cache
Cache Effect: I have received no response from the cache owner, so I must regretfully archive this. If it turns up or is replaced in the future, email me and I will review it for unarchival.
Thanks!
Cache Effect
Volunteer Reviewer
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
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Gravel roads, high elevation.
This is Akasu Hill. A lookout area was developed by some local boys a couple of years ago and then destroyed. The County of Minburn has now taken it over and it is quite lovely so we decided to place a cache at the lookout. The elevation showing on my gps is 2401 ft and the view is spectacular! I wanted to include a brochure of the area, but we ended up putting a magnetic nano which doesn't allow for it. We will head up after the snow melts and change the cache to a larger size and include the brochure (which is an interesting read). Please bring your own pencil.
A little insight into the spot: 'The area of Akasu is located 10 km east of Vegreville, near the hamlet of Lavoy. At 736.4 meters, Akasu Hill is the highest geodetic elevation between the Obed Summit and the Canadian Sheild, within the boreal plains terrestrial ecozone.
An age-old hisjtorical site, it encompasses both Akasu Lake and Akasu Hill, a gradiose geological phenomenon within a vast prairie landscape. The area, which was once a hub of activity, is flanked by legends and enmeshed in mystery and enchantment.'
'The name Akasu (prounounced Ahk'su), which is not duplicated anywhere in Alberta, is Cree and means 'Sick'. The origin of the name itself is not know. Though the real story has been slowly swept away by the fingers of time, early explorers have referred to theories regarding how the name came into being. Some say old Natives trekked to the hill to die upon it, while others speak about the water in the adjacent lake containing a large amount of alkali. This alkalie contaminated the water and made the Natives ill when they used it for drinking and cooking. Still others attribute the name to the smallpox epidemic of the 1870's, when many Natives lost their lives.
The historical diary of Charles Napier Bell makes reference to the area. His writings refer to the hill as Sickman Mountain, but say nothing of the lake, which was known as Lac de l'homme Malade by early French explorers and the Metis. Similarly, the Cree likely termed the body of water the Lake of Sickness or may have used the words akasu, napew, and sakahikan (meaning sick, man, and lake, respectively) to refer to the lake.'
Now, from my perspective: We have always referred to the hill as Akasu Hill and the lake as Sickman Lake. Sometimes you hear the hill being called Sickman Hill. There isn't much left of the lake anymore, but I remember from my childhood that there were many great gatherings on the lake in the winter as they held snowmobile races on the ice annually and it was a huge event attended by many. There are now several towers on top of the hill, but the lookout looks to the west and offers an unspoiled and unmatched view of the area. I hope you enjoy it as much as we do.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Cyrnfr qvfcbfr bs yvggre cebcreyl.
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