2009 MT HOOD TERRITORY GEOCACHING CONTEST
July 15 - October 31, 2009
This Geocache will remain a Regular Geocache after the Contest
is over.
- ONE OF TEN CACHES -
There are ten Geocaches in this series that forms the Mt Hood
Territory Geocache Contest sponsored by the Clackamas County
Tourism and Cultural Affairs (CCTCA).
The 10 caches in the Series are: GC1TDX4, GC1VN2Q, GC1VNP8,
GC1VNP3, GC1VNNZ, GC1VNNQ, GC1VNNJ, GC1VNN7, GC1VNN1, and GC1VNMP.
Finding any 7 of the 10 caches will qualify you to receive the
numbered commemorative Oregon’s Mt. Hood Territory Geocoins.
Finding all 10 caches will qualify you to be entered into a random
drawing to win a $200 prize.
In case a substitute Cache must be set rather than post a NOTE to
each of the other Caches in this series, a NOTE will be placed on
GCZZNK’s Web Page as the last item in the Body of the cache
Information Page (Just above where you find the “HINT”). This will
be the single source of information about the change so …… place
GCZZNK on your “Watch List”. OK? Once again, 10 Caches will
constitute completion of the Mt Hood Territory Series.
Good Luck!
The actual Geocaches are all similar and can be identified by
the
Brushed Bronze-colored AMMO Cans with a Mt Hood Territory
Sticker
Marking it as an "OFFICIAL GEOCACHE".
Each Cache contains a Log Book and written on the inside of the
Lid
of the AMMO Can is a 'CODE WORD' that you record on your Contest
Registration Sheet. The Code Word is also printed on white paper
that has been laminated and placed in the Geocache Container. (The
word "LILAC" is an example.) There are various items in the Cache
that are there for trade. You may leave Travel Bugs, Geocoins and
other Tradeables/Trackables in the Cache for the next finders as
this will remain a Regular Geocache after the Contest is over. (The
Contest is over when the last Geocoin is handed out.) So, carry
Trade Items with you. Please try to keep the quality of the Trades
as being at or above what you take. This will certainly please the
next finder!!
As we anticipate that there will be heavy traffic to find these
Geocaches, please practice the very best of Geocaching Ethics. Each
of the Caches is placed for relatively easy access and discovery.
Therefore it is very important that you be well aware of Muggles
and carefully replace the Geocaches after you have found and Logged
your find (Don't forget to record the Code Word!).
If you discover any problems with a Geocache, a quick e-mail to
ORNITH through my PROFILE on Geocaching.com will be very greatly
appreciated by the Geocachers that will come behind you.
In most cases there are
TIME CONSTRAINTS
on the Caches. That means that there are times when they can be
accessed and times when they are OFF LIMITS. Please abide by the
times posted at the Cache sites as in many cases the Caches are
placed by special permission of the Caretakers of the location
where they are located. Thank you.
!!There is also a $50 Coupon that goes to the person that posts
the Best Photograph to the Logs for a cache in this Series!!
The sites for this year’s Contest were chosen from a number
historic sites in Clackamas County to tie in with Oregon’s
Sesquicentennial Celebration. Take your time to enjoy this tour of
Oregon’s History. This Cache is set at the upper level of the
Oregon City Municipal Elevator. In Oregon City's early years, most
of the city was located on the "first level" along the Willamette
River. As the City grew, it became apparent that an easier way
needed to be found to travel to the upper levels of town. By 1867,
steps were built up the bluff to supplement early Native American
trails used by city residents. More steps were built over the
years, but the climb up 722 stairs was still difficult! Read the
rest of the story on the free card availbale at the elevator, OK?
It is quite interesting - I had never heard of a water-powered
elevator!!
A 'Note' that I entered into the Logs on 21 July 2009 that I
thought might be of interest to Geocachers doing this Cache
follows: If you ride the Elevator say "Hi!" to the Elevator
operator and tell them what you are doing, OK? Yesterday, I was
talking with the sponsor of 2009 Mt Hood Territory Geocoin
Challenge and they asked me if I had heard that the cache at the
Oregon City Elevator had been confiscated by the Oregon City Police
on Saturday. No, I had not and what was peculiar was that the Cache
was being consistently Logged as 'Found' over Saturday and Sunday
and even Monday morning before the phone call! So, I called the
Oregon City Police Department wanting to maintain good
relationshiops with them. They had a Police Officer call me back
shortly and I explained what I had heard and asked if they had any
questions. No, they did not and they were well aware of the level
of activity of Geocaching in Oregon City. I explained the
involvement of Clackamas County Tourism Development and the purpose
for the Cache at the top of the Elevator. The Police Officer
reviewed their Dispatch Reports and there HAD been a response to an
'unknown' near the top of the Elevator that was reported by the
Elevator Operator. According to the Dispatch Report, upon arrival
at the scene they immediately recognized it as a Geocache, checked
the contents, and as the Officer read further in the report, he
told me that the record indicates that the investigating Police
Officer rehid the Cache container "further back in the bush"! My
thanks were given to the Oregon City Police for their knowledge of
Geocaching and the concern for protecting the Cache. So, if the
Police ever contact you when you are out Geocaching, explain your
actions and share the Geocache with them -- it will further good
relations with them. Also, apparently the O.C. Elevator Cache was
Muggled and when 'Devil Hunter' found the Cache it was devoid of
all contents except a rubber ball. He placed a piece of paper in it
to use as a Log and then returned later to restock the Cache. Those
'Geocaching' actions are greatly appreciated by me, and I am sure,
the Cachers that 'Found' it after that Muggling incident. This is
turning out to be a very 'interesting' Cache!! Sorry for the other
problems with Mt Hood Territory Geocoin Challenge Caches -- I do my
best but this year seems particularly 'incident' prone! What will
happen next year, I hate to speculate .......... ! Incident free
would be very nice. Cache On and CITO as you Cache, Bob aka ORNITH
This "Note" is ONLY for those Cachers participating in the 2009
Mt Hood Territory Geocoin Challenge.
########################################################### Very
few, if any, Geocoins remain to be earned -- call the Visitor
Information Center before you attempt to earn the 2009 Mt Hood
Territory Geocoin to verify that a Geocoin is available. When the
last Geocoin is handed out the Challenge will end. The Mt Hood
Territory Staff (Clackamas County Tourism Development Council)
thank you for your participation.
###########################################################
The Cache has been relocated South a few feet as of 1:00PM
8/23/09. HINT: Sit on the Bench and the Cache will be behind you
and slightly off to the right. The Cache can be reached from the
paved walking area.