This is one of several statewide caches designed to connect you
with forests and with history, and to commemorate the centennial
year of the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF), Oregon's biggest
fire department. To appreciate the wider story of Oregon's forest
history and the evolving work of ODF, be sure to check out the
entire series.
Often confused with the U.S. Forest Service, the Oregon Department
of Forestry is Oregon's state agency ("the other guys") responsible
for management of about 1 million acres of state-owned forest;
protection from forest fires on about 16 million acres of public
and private forest; and implementation of standards and rules to
protect natural resources during forest operations on private
lands.
We started out as a fire department in 1911 with two paid
employees. Since then, our mission has grown to include planting
and management of the Tillamook, Santiam, Clatsop, Elliott, Sun
Pass and Gilchrist State Forest, and other scattered forest lands.
Today, we operate offices in 17 Oregon communities statewide,and
have about 800 full-time employees. Much has changed in 100 years:
land ownership, harvest practices, the economy, transportation
systems. What hasn't changed is our commitment to serving people
and protecting Oregon's forests.
As you seek out this cache, we hope you'll appreciate the
history behind the place you're going as you take a moment to see
the forest and the trees.
Safe and happy cachin!
The cache can be solved without entering the
buildings but if they are open you are welcome to come inside to
learn more about the agency’s history and the services we
provide to the citizens of Oregon. There is the State Foresters
Office Building, built by the Civilian Conservation Corps and now
on the National Register of Historic Places. The architect (Linn A.
Forrester) designed this building in the rustic English Cottage
style. Working for the USFS at the time, he also designed the
exterior of Timberline Lodge and worked on a number of Alaska
Native architecture and totem pole restoration projects in the late
1930s.
Across the way is The Administration Building, a modern office
building adorned with some fine art with forestry themes. Opened in
2003, this building was the final project in reconstructing the ODF
campus and the end of an era of drafty offices in former
warehouses. Brochures and maps are available inside. Take a look at
the “Forest of Steel”.
Retired forestry employees volunteer to staff the Forest History
Center where they have collected and displayed many elements of our
past. It’s well worth the visit. The center is open year
round on Fridays from 10-3 and May through September also on
Saturdays 10-3. Check the door on other days since they are often
open other times if the volunteers aren’t off fishing.
Park nearby and Start at posted coordinates.
Walk your way to the first clue, 5 chains (one chain = 66 feet) NW
and note the year of this building’s start_______
Then 2.5 chains west go find the art and count the bracts (three
pronged) on the Douglas fir cone______
Now about 7 rods (one rod = 16.5 feet) away for the last clue of
the day - Three C boys are honored here - what was their final
year?______
The clues above in the formulas below will convert the start
Lat/Long to the final location where the cache is hidden: Final
Lat. = (Start Lat. Dec. – Bracts) + 1 Final Long. Dec. = (Yr
CCC end - Yr Office built) + 497