On the Sixth Day of Christmas, mrGreen317 hid for me, another red bucket near an evergreen tree!
Welcome to the Twelve Buckets of Christmas (12 BoC). Each cache is an on-coordinates letterbox-hybrid cache in a festive-colored 5 gallon bucket, all placed in one of our fine PA state game lands (SGL).
NOTE: This will likely be a thorny area getting to and from GZ from the SGL path, especially in growth season. A waypoint has been provided for a possible best approach into GZ. There are some paths of less growth that zig and zag between this waypoint and the container, so minimal contact might be possible, at least in late fall, winter, and early spring. The area is also prone to soft, possibly wet ground. Sturdy hiking boots and long pants are very much recommended for this one.
On May 3, 2000, a GPS enthusiast named Dave Ulmer "placed his own container, a black bucket, in the woods near Beavercreek, Oregon, near Portland. Along with a logbook and pencil, he left various prize items including videos, books, software, and a slingshot. He shared the waypoint of his "stash" with the online community on sci.geo.satellite-nav..." (text from geocaching.com) Well, you know the rest of the story, and here we are twenty years later!
Since this year, 2020, is the twentieth anniversary year of the origin of geocaching, 12 buckets are to be placed as a Merry Christmas to all our friends in JAGA-land at the close of the year. As has been stated for the past three years of the various 12 ?oC series, the traditional Christmas season actually runs from December 25 through January 5, the "Twelve Days of Christmas". So here is another year-end series of caches hidden for the "Twelve Buckets of Christmas" to grab this Christmas season or any other time of the year when geocaching is on the day's agenda.
For this cache series, be sure to note the specific Christmas-themed letterbox stamp in each of the bucket caches. These notes about the stamp designs may come in handy for a future cache to be published (series final).
This cache location is designed to provide a mostly short, flat hike along a grassy (or snowy) SGL road, through this plot of gameland located across Marina Road from Prince Gallitzin State Park lands. A parking waypoint is provided at an SGL pull-over parking along Marina Road. Please be sure not to block SGL road/path leading away from parking with your vehicle.
Vegetation Note: This cache would seem to be particularly susceptible to late spring and summertime growth (there are thorns present even in non-growing seasons) as the forest canopy is thin in this area. Note the approach waypoint provided. Since these caches are hidden in SGL in the non-growing months, it is very possible that access may get even more challenging during late spring and summer growth seasons. When considering hide locations, an attempt was made to minimize this potential issue as much as possible, but when searching in the late spring or summer, just keep this in mind. Good, sturdy hiking footwear and possibly long pants (not shorts) are a good suggestion. Always be on the lookout for wild animals and ticks in the game lands.
This cache is located in state game lands, so PLEASE observe all state game land rules and wear orange during hunting seasons. During the primary hunting season, finding this cache is recommended on Sunday only.
Series Information for the Buckets of Christmas
- Each of the Twelve Buckets should have a letterbox stamp in a plastic latching container inside the bucket. Each stamp is different, and the designs will be related to a later series final (aka bonus) cache. PLEASE leave the stamp and inkpad with the latching box in the cache container, either with the log book or somewhere in the cache that is easily accessible. The inkpad/stamp are NOT swag items.
- In the case of a missing stamp, each log book is stamped on the inside cover with the corresponding stamp design for use with the final/bonus cache.
- These caches may be found simply at the published coordinates, like traditional caches, or if preferred, some letterbox-style instructions are provided below, starting from the parking waypoint.
- FTF on each series cache: There is a nice FTF prize with each cache, either in a cloth bag or a cover-stock paper gift box (and labeled accordingly). There will be no additional "FTF Games" at the close of this series as in past years, so all FTF gifts will be collected from each of the caches themselves by the FTF geocacher. An "FTF Leaderboard" for the series may still be used, just for informational purposes. Any additional prizes awarded after the series will be at the discretion of mrGreen317, but these will not look like the online "FTF Games" of past series.
Optional letterbox instructions from parking: From the SGL parking, walk the grassy (or snowy) road/path leading past the open area (with woods to your right and the open area to your left). You will walk about 1100 feet towards a "four-way" tree (four trunks sharing a common main trunk) just off to the right of the path. (A waypoint coordinate is provided if needed.) This may be a good place to turn in to the woods and head towards a tall evergreen standing about 200 feet into the woods from this point (if you were to make a direct 90-degree right turn in from the path). As you approach this evergreen, you might need to meander a bit to avoid the worst of the thorns and growth, but keep that tree as your navigational beacon. About 20 feet in front and to the right of that tree are some downed tree/logs that will have the bucket tucked beside them and covered with plenty of other sticks/logs for geocover.
A congratulations on FTF goes to ??? . Merry Christmas to you and your family!
Merry Christmas from the 3 "E"s!
(mrGreen317, Sage-Hippo, and littleEEE)