A cache to commemorate 20 years as a volunteer for the Lotoja (Logan-to-Jackson) bike race. 2024 marks my 20th time coming up to this remote and beautiful area for this 200-mile, one-day, three-state bike race.
What an eventful five years it has been since I placed my last anniversary cache! (Lotoja 2019: 15 Trips to Strawberry)
In 2020, Lotoja prevailed despite a worldwide pandemic. We moved the Strawberry Canyon Feed Zone to the nearby summit campground, and did our best to mimimize risk to volunteers and riders, who were all in generally good spirits and eager to participate!
In 2021, we returned to the pullout by this cache. It started out windy, wet and cold. The pandemic was easing but its precautions still lingered.
In 2022, one rider struggled for miles up the grueling climb despite being seriously scraped up by a fall. We held blankets up as shields to keep the chilling wind off him while we waited for his medical evacuation.
2023 had beautiful weather, a new zone leader, and a fun tropical theme!
2024 will stand out for me because I was limping around the Feed Zone with my foot encased in a medical boot! I couldn't do hand-ups (my favorite job) and I couldn't take a lot of photos.
Here's to more years of seeing sunrises and cyclists in the Idaho mountains!
This cache is placed considerably nearer the road than my other two Lotoja caches. That does not mean it is easier to reach. You will need to scramble down a slope, and clamber over some big rocks. The cache itself will be tricky to retrieve, especially after it snows.