We began caching a couple years ago (June 2006) and at that time
noticed a cache that appeared to be more than your average urban
park-and-grab.
Powder Keg (GCRVRW) it was called! In our
minds, it epitomized the idea of geocaching ... wild area ...
challenging terrain ... long hike ... potential to see wild
animals ... an element of danger (after a big rain at least) ...
and placed by somebody known as The Badd One! It had to be good!
Going after it would involve
planning and a time commitment. Alas, we made excuses and put
off the adventure.
Later in 2006, the original spawned another. The driver of
barons dropped a cache while 'enroute'
(GCZGKD). Now there were 2!
2007 came and went quietly. We made many excuses ... too hot,
too wet, too many bugs, bound to be too much overgrowth, not enough
time. All were sad and pitiful excuses!
Then in 2008, a flurry of activity...
In March, someone who lost his puppy
undertook the Powder Keg
adventure and 'while he was out', he left a cache behind
(GC19V7V). There were 3!
A week later, the original Badd One returned. Was he here to
stir up trouble?
Or maybe to try to find the lost
puppy?
Nope, he decided to give those
that undertook the adventure a 'bigger bang for their buck'
(GC1A1AE). There were now 4!
The temptation to start our adventure grew stronger, but good
things come to those who wait! A month later (April) someone who
believes in doing good things for America, came for a visit and
left '$80' in the area
(GC19T4K). WOW! There were 5!
TheSquad, once again waited (made excuses). "Go in the
wintertime," they told themselves ... "there is bound to be less
bushwhacking, no oppressive heat to deal with and especially no
bugs!
Before we knew it, holiday season
2008 was upon us and another present arrived! Someone new took
on the adventure, got a little bit 'wet and muddy' along the
way and left something behind
(GC1K012). Now there were 6!
A complete six-pack for the Keg!
It was time for TheSquad to sit
back and reflect...
The original Powder Keg cache has just turned 3 years old ...
Happy Birthday
... and over the past 3 years,
great local caching legends ... Badd Companie, BaronDriver,
LostPuppy, and 4America ... have come and left caches. Now a
new cacher, Nechochwen, has placed their first cache in the
Powder Keg area after only 2 months of caching! TheSquad is
humbled! No more excuses! On this beautiful Sunday afternoon
in January (the 11th), TheSquad began the Powder Keg
adventure.
Like other great adventurers before us, we parked at a church on
25th Street, just on the east side of I-235, and hiked 'over the
pass' and into the wilderness! In the distance we could see a pack
of wild ATV's running and jumping over the sand dunes by the river.
There were chasing each other in
circles, having fun ... but we steered clear of them as we'd heard
they are 'skiddish' creatures. We walked north along the edge of
the ditch and soon found an easy crossing ... no wet feet today!
Future adventurers beware, though, during the rainy season you
might not be so lucky.
Over the next few hours, we enjoyed hiking through the tall
grasses, the woods, and along a nice trail. One by one, we knocked
out the 6 caches in this great area. We also had fun hiding from
small packs of wild ATV's (and even one lone wild MTX) that were
migrating north, then back south, then back north, then back south.
What were they doing?
Maybe the unseasonably warm day
has confused those crazy animals ... they don't seem to know
which way to go!
Half way through our adventure, we pushed further north ... past
the Keg and past the 'wet and muddy' area. We came to an area with
a view of a great 'mountain' still further to the north. We stood
in awe of the scene before us ... soaking in the view ... the river
nearby, the 'mountain' in the distance, and all around the tall
grasses of the savana.
I told the geo-kids that I had
heard tales that, in some circles, the great mountain before
us was known as Mt. Trashé ... one of the highest peaks around
Wichita. I told them of my own adventures last summer, hiking
around the base of that 'mountain' in search of a couple of
other nice caches ... one (even older than the Keg) that is
'between the mount and the river'
(GCQCJM), placed by that skillful driver of
barons ... and another small cache to keep it 'company'
(GC138CX), placed by that poor fellow that
lost his puppy ... oh the 'misery'!
This was the place for us to leave our token of appreciation! We
had with us a small, round, black-taped loc-n-loc container that
the geo-son had put together awhile back. He was very excited that
we were using one of his cache containers and he took great care in
placing and cammo'ing it.
After placing this cache, we headed
back south and finished our Powder Keg adventure.
Special thanks goes out to The Badd One for placing the original
"Powder Keg" cache out here a little over 3 years ago! This area is
a truly great place to cache and enjoy the outdoors, even though it
is not that far from the center of the city. This is what
geocaching is all about!
If you have not already come out here to cache, I HIGHLY
recommend it! We came in the wintertime and it was great ... if you
want to add more challenge to your adventure, come in the
summertime!
Either way, bring good walking
shoes, some drinking water and enjoy a few hours hiking
through the trees, tall grass and along the river, away from
the hustle and bustle. It is a fun and worthwhile
adventure!
Original contents...
Small red carabiner
Yu-Gi-Oh pin
Magic towel (fish)
Mechanic figurine
'Nov64' PathTag (technically not a geocaching
trackable)
Please be careful to re-hide well and in the same location so
others can enjoy! Have fun hunting!