THE CACHE IS NOT LOCATED AT THE POSTED COORDINATES, but is less than a quarter mile from the start, located along the Ice Age Trail. Simply walk past the various Ice Age Trail yellow markers to the cache; see below for directions. This is one of 12 caches we have placed to celebrate the 12 years of the annual West Bend $1,000 Cache Ba$h, with this one commemorating Cache Ba$h #3 (GC1XV02), from the year 2010. Parking is available in the parking lot at N43 24.875 W88 13.155.
This is also a letterbox hybrid cache. Letterboxing is another outdoor activity in which people follow clues or a story (rather than just coordinates) to find a container and then put their personal stamp in the logbook and then stamp their own journal with the stamp from the cache.
A letterbox hybrid, like this one, is both a geocache and a letterbox. It can include both coordinates and clues to get you to the final location. Follow the instructions in the following paragraphs to be directed to the actual cache location. Contents include a stamp (do not take) for letterboxing, as well as a log book and swag for geocachers and letterboxers.
YOUR ADVENTURE AWAITS
1. The starting coordinates are N43 24.869 W88 13.159. They will take you to signage for the West Bend segment of the Ice Age Trail (“IAT”), the longest trail in the state. The Ice Age National Scenic Trail is one of only 11 national scenic trails in the U.S. Although approx. 1,200 miles long, the entire trail is located within only one state: Wisconsin! Tracing the edge of the glaciers that covered much of Wisconsin during the Ice Age, this long-distance trail travels from Sturgeon Bay, near the shores of Lake Michigan, to St. Croix Falls, on the Minnesota-Wisconsin border. And it cuts through the area RIGHT HERE. The entire trail throughout the state is marked by yellow “blaze” rectangles to direct you along the way. You’ll encounter some of these markers while walking 1,200 feet (.23 of a mile). Just follow the markers to the cache.
2. Walk southwest about 25 feet and you’ll see a blue rectangular marker painted on a tree. Blue IAT markers indicate that it is a short spur trail off of the main Ice Age Trail to direct you to parking or a special site. Follow the “blue” trail south about 50 feet and cross the street, then continue straight another 40 feet toward the pond.
3. It is here that you’ll be at a T-intersection on the trail that goes left and right, at N43 24.836 W88 13.158. It is also where you’ll encounter the first of thirteen yellow blaze markers. You’re now on the famed Ice Age Trail!!
THE SHORT VERSION
From here, keep walking as directed around the pond, staying on the Ice Age Trail until you get to the 13th yellow blaze marker. Then turn left and you’re there. Boom.
THE MORE WORDY, COLORFUL VERSION
4. From the T-intersection, head left (southeast) on the trail around the pond, taking in the scenic views. About 40 feet down trail you’ll see the 2nd yellow blaze marker, on a tree on the left. Then in another 140 feet or so you’ll pass your 3rd yellow marker on a post, with the Ice Age National Scenic Trail emblem above it.
5. Near the previously-mentioned 3rd yellow marker, at N43 24.825 W88 13.120, the trail forks into two paths. Do NOT take the trail on the right, which traverses a deteriorating boardwalk that is scheduled for removal. Instead go straight (east) on the Ice Age Trail, past the 4th yellow marker on your left.
6. Continuing along you’ll pass yellow marker #5, with an arrow pointing to the right. The arrows are helpful in identifying the route of the trail. You should be able to see a huge picnic shelter on your left at the top of the hill from here, but we’re not going there! Go right along the trail.
7. Continuing along the trail you’ll see the 6th marker on a tree to your left, and then marker #7 past that on your right. You’re at the half way point to the cache!
8. In about another 200 feet you’ll encounter the 8th yellow marker on a skinny tree to your right. Along the way you’ll see a pond that is the overflow of Lucas Lake. At the time this cache was placed, there was a boardwalk over the water that you had to walk on to find this geocache. Sadly, that fun boardwalk is/was no longer stable enough to safely traverse, so this geocache and the Ice Age Trail itself have been rerouted here over dry land.
9. Continue SE along the trail about another 300 feet to the 9th yellow marker, located on a post, and about 150 feet later to marker #10 at the bottom of the sloped trail. This 10th marker has an arrow pointing left to marker #11, which is only about 15 feet farther down the trail, so go to marker #11. You’re now heading east. Along the way on your right you’ll see a chain link fence which runs parallel to this section of the trail.
10. Now here’s where it gets tricky (but not by much). When you’re approximately 150 feet from the previous marker, the trail goes in three directions at N43 24.769 W88 13.058. There are two paths to the left (north) and one that goes straight (east, into the creek). Ignore the first left trail (the one farther to the west) and take the second left trail going north (closer to the creek, only 10 feet past the first left), which is still the Ice Age Trail. Ignore the trail that goes straight as it ends up in the creek.
11. You’re now less than 160 feet from the cache. Instead of walking east, you’ll now be heading north on the IAT. The creek will be on your right (nice views) and the chain link fence will now be behind you. In about 50 feet or so you’ll come to the 12th yellow marker on the skinny tree to your right. One more to go!
12. Walk to the 13th yellow marker. Stop. If you’ve walked 200 feet you’ve gone too far. On your right is the tree with the 13th blaze yellow marker and a steep slope downward to the creek. But don’t go there. Go left (W/NW) off trail 33 feet uphill from that yellow marker and you’ll find the cache hiding behind a huge 40 foot long log, on the ground. You’re done!
12. We hope you have enjoyed the journey! Instead of heading back to parking, if you continue north on the IAT you’ll find two more caches placed for this year’s Cache Ba$h.
Cache Bash #3 (2010)
Back in 2010 West Bend featured "450 caches within 7 miles," and the bash had events on Friday and Saturday night as well as Sunday morning. There weren’t specific themes for the first several cache bashes, but this letterbox hybrid cache has elements of what was offered at bash #3. Back in 2010 there were several caches placed on or near the water, there were Ice Age Trail caches, a letterbox hybrid cache, and one of the most memorable and favorited caches was called “Something’s Shady.” You’ll find similar features with your journey to this cache!
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