Birds on the River XTC Multi-Cache

Birds on the River XTC is a difficult multi-stage geocache on the beautiful Thames River through Dorchester. It is one of a new series of Extreme Terrain Caching (XTC) that I would like to introduce to Southwestern Ontario. The Terrain ratings of all of these types of caches are at least 4, as they pose a significant challenge to cope with the terrain.

This cache has five stages that are each a challenge to locate, but it will not be too difficult to obtain the required information once you've figured out how to get to each one. The coordinates of the first four stages are given below, as well as a suggested put-in point (if you're canoeing or kayaking the river), and an exit point downstream. Each island stage requires disembarking at the island to find the clue from the stage. At the second island, the far right fork is the safest for watercraft. If you choose to do this cache in the winter and tackle the ice by foot or snowmobile, or by wading in the river (yikes, it'll be cold in November), you can disregard the put-in and exit coordinates. Most of the shoreline of the river, however, is on private property, and No Trespassing signs are posted in several places. The location of the final cache is given by the following coordinates:

N 42^o 59.1      

W 81^o 04.2      

Part of the challenge of XTC geocaching is not knowing exactly what you're in for. You may need specialized equipment in some cases, or a combination of adrenalin, fearlessness, and persistence in order to accomplish your goal, finding and logging the cache.

When you log the cache, please describe the wildlife that you have seen on the river. I saw two herons, three blue jays, at least 20 ducks, and over 100 Canada geese; one heron is in the photo above, guarding the shore. Please also re-apply any camouflage to guard from muggle eyes. If somehow you have difficulty returning it, please notify me immediately, and I can assist in properly re-hiding the cache.

There may be an element of danger in seeking out XTC caches. If you see the cache, and have any misgivings about your capability of retrieving it safely, please just log a note and don't put yourself at risk. Finding the stages and the final of this cache may be especially treacherous during the potential flooding of the spring run-off. Don't go in or on the river at this time.

Congrats to the team of ElectroQTed, geocite, and Treknschmidt for the shared FTF. Glad you enjoyed your jaunt on the Thames! And to masterninja50, the first to accomplish the cache without the benefit of watercraft!!!