As a mystery cache, this page does not show the actual location of the Bonus Cache, so there is no need to get a climbing rope to reach this cache! This is the BONUS CACHE for the "Historic Ashcroft - Set 1" Adventure Lab. As you work through the 5 stages of the Adventure Lab, each correct answer will reveal one of the digits required to find the final coordinate set for the actual cache location. The actual cache location is N50º 43.XYZ W121º 16.C6E. The values for X, Y, Z, C, & E will be obtained from the 5 stages of the Adventure Lab.
The related Adventure Lab focuses on some of Ashcroft's historic sites, taking you on a tour around our little "desert oasis".
Ashcroft is steeped in the history of the Cariboo Gold Rush. With the arrival of the Canadian Pacific Railway in the late 1800s, Ashcroft became “Mile 0” on the road to the goldfields and the major freight depot for all supplies heading north. Accommodations and services increased rapidly with the influx of people, and by 1887 Ashcroft was bustling with harness and wheel repair shops, blacksmiths, livery stables, and freight warehouses. Once alternate rail access came to northern BC from Alberta, the end of the prosperity hit the town hard.
In order to survive, the people of Ashcroft then turned to agriculture with wonderful dry-belt soil and access to the plentiful water of the Thompson River that proved great for growing many vegetables and fruits, and it soon became known for high-grade potatoes and tomatoes especially. In later years, ranching made a comeback, and then in the 1960s mining in our area became a prime economic driver.
Thanks to the Village of Ashcroft for much of the above information taken from its “Historic Walking Tour” pamphlet.
While this cache is on private property (our home), the cache container is very close to the public road and easily discoverable without wandering around any neighborhood yards.
By the way, when you find the cache, enjoy the cache container which was specially built for us for this cache by Daniel Collett! Also, Mooogirl's maiden name is "Out", and so we know you will enjoy the cache container!