Menahsagorning Traditional Cache
Hidden : 1/8/2011
Difficulty:
3 out of 5
Terrain:
3.5 out of 5

Size: Size: regular (regular)

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Geocache Description:

Menahsagorning... an island in Michigan.

Whew... this one has a story alright. A sturdy ammo can with a hefty load of loot to start with. You'll have run across a classic DECON on the way to this one if you did your topo homework. Be sure to replace the camo the way you found it.

The Story: I lived not too far from Orchard Lake, Michigan, for a few years back in the late 70s. It being Detroit, we spent a lot of time driving around. I wondered about the island in the middle of the lake. That was before internet, so I was left in the dark.
I did hike out there one winter evening. It couldn't have been 10 degrees, but the island was so cool I didn't mind.
So 33 years later I go to visit family for a few days. The arctic conditions kept everyone indoors. I get cabin fever pretty quick. I got thinking about the island for the first time in over 30 years.
With the advent of GoogleEarth and Wikipedia I suddenly knew all about the island. It's called Apple Island, and was called Menahsagorning by the natives. (Try saying that three times fast!) As far as my research took me was that some time in the 70's the island had been donated to a school corporation and was at times used for historical seminars.
GoogleEarth showed an unbroken canopy of trees, so no reason to think the island had been developed. There was one large dead tree in the central part of the island bore checking out. A simple dock on the far side could be a trailhead.
It wasn't hard to con Dad into a ride to what turned out to be one of the most awesome surplus stores ever. They were certainly proud of their ammo cans, though. $10 for a .30 cal. But hey, this is going to be the awesome Menahsagorning cache!
Several spiffy cache prizes as well as a couple honest to goodness decon containers and some slick little bison tubes (at 99 cents a throw!) were "must haves".
A stop at WallyWorld for camo paint and more prizes... and a log book! Back to the folks' to paint the can, print out a stash note, and assemble an awesome cache.
(Note: A local cacher up there was willing to be my "gopher" if maintenance issues arose)
Anyway, it was "brisk" to say the least when Sam (the wonder dog) and I set out for the lake. My brother had been frost bit in Croatia when he was there with the U.N., so he wasn't interested. Mom and Dad are cracking 80. They're not going. So Sam and I set out.
MapQuest indicated we were looking at a hike across the frozen lake of a bit under a mile. Bundled up for the conditions, we set out across the ice.
Orchard lake is a natural lake formed during the last ice age. Consequently, it is varied in depth and crystal clear. As a result, in areas without snow, the surface appeared to be thick glass. At points the green water below the ice appeared bottomless. At other times, the bottom rose to within a few feet of the ice and waving grass and fish were plainly visible. Throughout it all: the biting cold and bitter wind.
Sam, usually a cannon ball on a hike, crept from snow patch to snow patch. The eerie pops and pings echoing through the surface of the ice standing his hair on end.
After an eternity of back breaking shuffling across the glassy lake, pausing at times to coax Sam to keep moving, we were within 528 feet of the island. That significant .10 of a mile. The same feeling of accomplishment I'd felt in high school when I'd neared the island gave my feet wings! (...or skates. Whatever...)
But wait. What's this? Some kind of sign? We continue across the protesting ice. Ah! Perfect! Apparently the school corporation so lucky to be gifted this island, is a bit territorial.
NO TRESPASSING! This means YOU!... ....you avid hiker that wants to help people find cool spots and learn cool stuff about the areas where they live or visit; YOU are not welcome.

Postscript: Apparently, almost every square inch of Michigan is privately owned, and the number one thing Michigan residents wish for each other is that they stay the heck away.
Terribly disappointed, I look at the sturdy ammo can I'd carried across the frozen surface of Orchard Lake. "Sorry little buddy", I thought. "I'll take you somewhere that has absolutely nothing in the world to do with your original mission, but where you'll be appreciated".
And with that, me, the ammo can, and a very relieved Sam, turned and set out to re-cross Orchard Lake.

I do encourage you to do some internet work and learn more about Menahsagorning. A really cool place. (Wow... that would have been an AWESOME cache!)

The Cache: You're looking for a nice ammo can full of pretty good stuff. The hiding spot is of a type I like to ferret out in the forests of Southern Indiana.

NOTE: The endless rambling nature of this cache description is in no small part designed to get on the nerves of local cacher and friend, Erwen... He always tells me to cut to the chase!

BWAH HA HA HA! Fat chance!

Here's a link to a Wiki article about the island this cache was supposed to be hidden on. (visit link)

And what is up with...
THE CAMO BOYS!!!!
Great work by the Camo Crew getting out here and busting this thing so quick! This has to be a record for people nailing a cache so soon after its published. (At least on one of mine!)

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

xabpx xabpx

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)


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