The Tricachealon II
This is an adventure by bike, boot, and boat around Bemidji,
Minnesota. Each team completing this challenge will receive an
unregistered geocoin as a token of their accomplishment, a hand
autographed T-shirt and their team name on the Tricacheanator pole!
Legend has it that when Paul Bunyan perceived his death his only
desire was to return Babe the Blue Ox to the wilds of Manitoba.
This he did with a great sadness in his heart but extreme joy in
his mind. The ox lived happily for two years until the drought
brought fire to the forests which ravaged the land. Babe was on the
front line pulling the harrow which laid down the fire break when
the wind switched and took her life. Born in Memphis on the Nile,
won in a card game, she came into her own in the forests of North
America.
Several years later a group of archeologists researching the
legend discovered her remains, interred her ashes in an Egyptian
urn, and made ready to ship her home. Because of the war she never
crossed the Atlantic and lay lost in the catacombs beneath the
pyramid in Memphis, Tennessee. Many years later Dr. Hanson
discovered the legend and urn while working on his thesis. The
Hanson family being pillars of society funded a project to bring
the Babe back to lie next to Paul in the area she grew to call
home. A foundation was established for the unification of misplaced
legends by these generous benefactors and a twenty year lease was
granted so that the urn could be used as a geocache in the north
country with the stipulation that four seals be placed upon the urn
to guard it’s contents and a test be developed to find the pure in
heart. This would allow only the most worthy to gaze upon the ashes
of a legend. It was called the Tricachealon or Test of
Integrity.
The Tricachealon consists of finding the numbers to four
combination locks, which have the power to release the seals that
guard the final log by visiting twelve caches in the area and
recording the number located on the geosign or in the log book.
Remember order is just as important as color. Three parking
bonus caches are included, but not required.
First Seal ” The Bike “Once on the bike you will have a
little over twelve miles (round trip) on a paved surface. You will
be locating three geosigns and recording the numbers in the exact
order they appear. After completing the biking portion you will
have enough information to open the red seal.
Tricachealon II - Bike Parking (GC1PJYZ) No number here, only a
smiley and a place to park.
Tricachealon II - Bicycle (GC1P5P0)
Tricachealon II - Tricycle (GC1P5NX)
Tricachealon II - Unicycle (GC1P5P6)
Second Seal,” The Boot”: This stage of the multi will
take you deep into a forest ‘maze’ of trails. (Record the parking
coordinates which will guide you back to civilization if you happen
to get ‘temporarily disorientated’.) The hike is around 4 miles on
old logging roads with no bushwhacking involved - unless you feel
inclined to take a shortcut. The quest gets difficult at this point
and my advice to you would be to trust the trails. You will again
be locating three geosigns with numbers that have the power to
break the green seal.
Tricachealon II - Boot Parking (GC1PMAR) No number here, only a
smiley and a place to park.
Tricachealon II - REI (GC1P5NJ)
Tricachealon II - Red Wing (GC1P5NE)
Tricachealon II - Asolo (GC1P5NF)
Third Seal,” The Boat”: It is a round trip of about 3
miles which makes for a nice little paddle on one of our natural
habitat lakes about 12 miles north of Bemidji. You will be locating
three geosigns, with numbers that will release the blue seal. They
are located on floating bog which can be treacherous to say the
least. Our canoe is available for anyone to use by calling (218)
586-2971 to schedule a time.
Tricachealon II - Boat Parking (GC1PMAQ) No number here, only a
smiley and a place to park.
Tricachealon II - Paddle (GC1P5N9)
Tricachealon II - Oar (GC1P5N5)
Tricachealon II - Motor (GC1P5N0)
Fourth Seal, “The Cache”Even though you have the
coordinates for the final cache, you still need the numbers that
release the yellow seal. We are only requiring you to visit 3
caches. It would be wise to visit the following caches in the order
given (remember order is as important as the numbers):
Paul’s Pocket (GC13DW2)
Cache-R-Us (GC13V3Y)
Giving Tree (GC13OD3)
Final Parking Fargnot's Homestead - Revisited (GC1P64Z)
Once at the cache, the four seals can be released that protect
the swag, the pure in heart can claim the prize and log a find.
Please use care when lifting the cache out of the ashes as they are
extremely valuable.
During hunting season wear the appropriate safety clothing
(blaze orange). If you feel the least bit apprehensive about
attempting this cache place a note on the page and we will keep an
eye out for you. We are rating the cache with double fives because
of the complexity of the tasks involved, but rest assured all who
attempt it will find success or failure. Permission has been
granted by the landowner to access the final cache.
Congratulations to Team Wee Wind who was first to find
Tricachealon I. As an added bonus we have created a Tricacheanator
Pole to display the names of all teams who complete Tricachealon I
and II. This will stand as a reminder to the brave men and women
who have undertaken this grueling task!
We hope that you have a good experience in the Bemidji area.
