This cache is NOT located at the posted coordinates. It’s a simple offset – 101 feet at 213 degrees true.
There is a checker provided so you will know whether you qualify at the time you log. If you qualify on the date you sign the log, then that is the date of your find. If you sign the log sheet before meeting the requirements, just post a note stating that you signed the log and don't meet the requirements, then log your find on the day the requirements have been met.
The difficulty rating is based on having to do considerable traveling in order to find the required caches; the terrain rating of 1.5 is based solely on this cache location.
The hide is 1.5/1.5.
The Challenge
Find at least one cache in a contiguous (adjacent) set of US counties connecting Mexico to Canada. The terminus counties may be anywhere along the respective borders.
In 1994 the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) became law, providing for free trade from Canada to Mexico. It was negotiated by President George Bush and signed by President Bill Clinton.
The Canadian Border includes all of the northern tier counties along: Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota and Minnesota (to Cook County MN), also the Canadian border counties of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont and New York (to Jefferson Co NY). Along the Great Lakes only the counties at the crossing points may be counted, which include ONLY: Chippewa Co MI, St Clair Co MI, Wayne Co MI, Erie Co NY and Niagara Co NY.
The Mexican Border includes all the southern tier counties along: California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas (to Cameron County TX). Also the following Port counties on the Gulf of Mexico may be used: Galveston Co TX, Harris Co TX, Jefferson Co TX, Plaquemines Co LA, Harrison Co MS, Mobile Co AL, Escambia Co FL, Bay Co FL, and Hillsborough Co FL.
The route may meander along any route, as long as the counties along the route are all connected (adjacent). You do not have to find the counties in any specific order (i.e. north to south, south to north, or even consecutively with each other.), but you must not have a gap between counties along the route.
All past cache finds count (except locationless). You can document this in a variety of ways such as by capturing your US County Map statistics using GSAK, posting a bookmark, or any other way we can confirm your accomplishment. By far the easiest way for you and I is to use the Challenge Checker.
Some clarification points:
- Adjacent counties are those, which share a land border with the next county in your string.
- Counties, which meet solely corner to corner, are NOT adjacent for the purposes of this challenge. (However if there is some stretch of common border they are adjacent even if there is not a road along that stretch.)
- Counties separated by a river are considered adjacent, even though there is not a bridge across the river between the counties. (I.e. Counties in Ohio are considered adjacent to the corresponding counties directly across the river in Kentucky)
- Counties separated by a Great Lake, Ocean Inlets, Gulfs, major Bays, Sounds, etc. are NOT considered adjacent. For example the counties of Wisconsin are not adjacent to the counties of Lower Michigan (separated by Lake Michigan). Similarly Connecticut counties are not adjacent to Long Island NY (separated by Long Island Sound). Another example would be Huron County on the thumb of Michigan, is not adjacent to Arenac County on the mitten (Separated by Saginaw Bay).
- An exception to the above rule would be Emmet County MI in the Lower Peninsula IS considered adjacent to Mackinac County MI in the Upper Peninsula. (Connected across the straits of Mackinac by the Mackinaw Bridge.), Similarly San Francisco County is considered adjacent to Alameda County and Marin Counties (Connected by the Golden Gate and Bay Bridges), as well as Northampton Co VA, and Virginia Beach Co VA (connected by Chesapeake Bay Bridge).
- For Washingtonians who think differently, ferrys are NOT bridges. San Juan County isn't adjacent to anything.
- Hawaii counties are NOT adjacent to ANYTHING, not even each other, so don’t even ask!
This cache is on Arizona State Trust Land. Geocachers must purchase an annual recreation permit available on the Arizona State Land Department website.
Special thanks to MaxB on the River who did the original version of this cache and all of the hard work required to create the county relationships for the challenge checker.