20 Years with the Skunk Event Cache

This cache has been archived.

Scruffster: I think everyone logged the event. Time to put this puppy to rest. Thanks everyone for helping me celebrate 20 years.

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Hidden : Saturday, September 21, 2024
Difficulty:
1 out of 5
Terrain:
1 out of 5

Size: Size: other (other)

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Geocache Description:

21 September 2024, 10:00 - 11:00





Twenty Years with the Skunk

Back before piano playing cat videos and during a time when a 500 pixel photo was still considered a five minute  electronic transfer, Scruffy received an email from a chat friend (known as the Penguin) with "Odds and Ends" human interest news stories. One of the short blurbs described someone throwing in three plastic frogs for a trinket he wanted in a box hidden in the forest. It went on to explain that it was part of a new type of treasure hunt called geocaching.  Without a GPS the skunk went on his first hunt that very day.  In fact, the first twenty- five or more geocaches were found without a GPS using a print out of the geocache page along with the undecoded hint.

It was then Scruffy got locked into the treasure hunting fantasy and began to write stories of finding grand treasure with a geo buddy by the name of Karen.  He shared these stories with his chat friends.  Although based on real-life geocaching trips, these exaggerated adventures took Scruffy to mountain tops, abandoned mines,  cliff dangling, haunted derelict buildings, and one unfortunate incident with an angry goat.  This prompted the Penguin to send Scruffy a  wrist GPS. Many geocachers giggled at what they considered a glorified pedometer but Scruffy seemed to zero in on a treasure a lot faster than others with top of the line units.

Over time, Scruffy admitted that the stories were indeed fabricated and to this day a fib within the chat group is referenced as another one of those "Karen Stories."

With a GPS Scruffy could now hide caches but was nervous about the whole procedure.  It was then he decided to reach out for advice from a popular geocacher at the time --  Half Canadian & Scooter the Wonder Dog."  She encouraged Scruffy to be inventive. "Anyone can hide Tupperware in a stump," she said.  "It's innovation that will make a cache stand out."  Scruffy took that to heart..

Scruffy may not have had the tools to make elaborate physical caches at that time but he did have a knack for story telling.  So, his first caches were based on Burnaby history.  His first series used existing landmarks to spin an elaborate tale about a witch on Burnaby Mountain.  To this day some people believe it to be true.  Maybe it is, maybe it isn't.  The mere prospect of truth helped geocachers become part of the adventure.



During this time Scruffy allowed himself to become head puppet for the British Columbia Geocaching Association. There were several rival Geocaching groups in the early part of the 21st century -- all vying for power.  With a lot of tact, teamwork, and a true desire to make the BCGA a true province-wide association, the BCGA eventually prevailed as it  became the primary hub for geocaching across the province hosting events from Prince George to Vancouver Island. Scruffy designed what he believes to be the prettiest of all BCGA coins -- the 2008 stained glass Blue jay.  Since that time Scruffy shifted his geocaching volunteer related workload to geocaching.com

Over the years the skunk has garnered a reputation.  Is he famous?  Is he infamous?  Regardless of the moniker, Scruffy is always cautious at events because he doesn't know if people running up to him want to kiss or kill him.  It is most likely due to his inexhaustible desire to taunt.  He taunts the good.  He taunts the bad.  He simply can't help himself.  There is no documented proof to answer the age old question -- "Does the skunk poop in the woods?"

The golden era of geocaching is definitely long gone but Scruffy has never forgotten Half-Canadian's words of wisdom.  Today Scruffy tries to encourage newbies to invest in innovative cache hides.  After all, people can get a lot more accolades by placing one great cache than a bunch of mediocre ones.  

So who is this skunk?  Do you know him???  Do you want to know him???  Why does he talk about himself in third person like antiquated royalty???  Well, Scruffster will be available to kiss or kill  on:

Saturday September 21st, between 10AM and 11AM.
Maple Ridge Park by the covered picnic tables.
There may be special prizes (lots of scruffy rocks) and world famous candy apples.


  

Additional Hints (No hints available.)



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