Kiwanis Ravine Surprise Traditional Cache
CaptainKevin: I visited this one to check on it and it is indeed missing. in addition, I found it very difficult to safely access the hide site due to an accumulation of branches and other debris and have decided to archive the cache instead of replacing it and risk having someone get hurt falling into the ravine. The drop off here is not easy to see with all the debris and it would be too easy to fall, especially at night. Thanks to all who visited this one and enjoyed the view and learning about this wonderful spot.
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This is a micro in a normal NW location. Caution is needed due to the sharp drop-off near GZ. This is NOT recommended at night.
Kiwanis
I love this location. So much so that I bought a condo in that building you will see to the right when you stand at GZ. My apartment was around the corner out of sight but it was an incredible location. From my deck it was 40ft to the creek below and I could hear the creek gurgling in the summer when my windows were open. I could not see any neighboring buildings during the summer when the trees were leafed out and it was almost that private in winter. One of my favorite features about this condo was the birds. I had birdfeeders on my deck and a large variety of birds were constant companions. I couldn’t see the heron colony from there but it is close by and I did see them fly by on occasion. I sold the condo in early 2006 but have many fond memories of my time there.
The coordinates will take you near a sign explaining the ravine and the efforts underway to bring it back into a natural condition by removing invasive species of plants and planting native vegetation. Where you are standing is the southern most part of the Kiwanis Ravine Wildlife Corridor. The heron colony is farther north and cannot be seen from here. The creek you see below is Wolfe Creek and even though salmon never could swim all the way up this far, they did spawn at one time in the lower portion of the creek where it drains into the sound west of the locks. Today, Wolfe Creek flows into a culvert that joins a combined storm water/sewer trunk leading to the West Point Treatment Plant. Now lost down a sewer drain under Commodore Way, this creek water could someday be part of an estuary providing refuge to millions of salmon migrating through the Locks and Lake Washington Ship Canal..
A lot of good work has been done by an effective local group, Heron Habitat Helpers. They have made a big impact in the ravine by organizing work parties to remove invasive plants and replant with native vegetation. Their website also has links to other sites with more information on the ravine and the wildlife corridor. . Another HHH long range goal is to daylight Wolfe Creek from where it flows through Commodore Park to its original outflow into Salmon Bay, just west of the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks in the Ballard neighborhood.
Enjoy the view and, if you have time, walk to the pedestrian bridge over the rail tracks and check out the cache at “Kiwanis Ravine”, GCNG9Q. Get there by going east a couple blocks to 32nd Ave W. and go north to the end of the street. There is limited parking there so you may want to walk. It is a nice walk to follow that path and then go all the way around the ravine and take in the other views of the ravine from the west side. You can keep going and end up back at GZ of this cache. It is a nice walk and a good way to see all the various views of the ravine. When the herons are breeding, it is especially interesting. Watch for sightings of bald eagles in the sky overhead. They like to prey on the heron chicks during the season. Life is tough in the wild.
Have fun and enjoy the views.
Congrats to dugfresh and melicious on the co-FTF!!!
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
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