MSPCGT:Ortonville RA Multi-cache

Michigan State Parks Centennial GeoTour (GT93)

UPDATE: 3/1/2024:

2019 was the 100^th Anniversary of Michigan State Parks and we're still celebrating!. Join the Michigan Geocaching Organization (MiGO), the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and Geocaching.com for the first official GeoTour in Michigan.

This tour was originally scheduled to run for three years, kicking off on Friday of Memorial Weekend in 2019 and continue through May 31, 2022. The success of this awesome tour has not gone unnoticed. On February 2, 2022, The DNR announced the extension of the GeoTour through September 24, 2024! Join us in making a final push to complete this very popular and very successful GeoTour before the sun sets on it.

Each geocache is in one of Michigan's state parks. The geocaches are arranged by MiGO Region, with twenty-five geocaches per region. The Ticket to Celebrate 100 is available for download from the DNR's Geocaching page. It explains how to qualify for prizes in each of the four regions and for the GeoTour as a whole.

Day use areas of state parks are open from 8AM to 10PM. Geocaching is limited to those hours. Entry into Michigan's State Parks requires a Michigan Recreation Passport. See the Resources section below for more information.

The sun will set on the MSPCGT at midnight Tuesday, September 24, 2024. The MSPCGT will go off the air as a GeoTour and the caches will disappear from the map. There is a lot of construction going on in our State Parks in 2024. Some of the GeoTour caches will have to be pulled earlier. The remaining geocaches in the tour will be archived October 1, 2024. Players will have until December 31, 2024 to claim any prize they have earned. Hiders will be contacted to request removal of the geocaches they hid unless they have made arrangements with park managers and have their own permit in place to keep the geocache in play, with a new GC Code.

Now for some good news: MiGO and the DNR are busy working on a new project that will kick off in the Spring of 2025, code named MSPGT 2.0. Are you interested in helping? Keep your MiGO Membership up to date and stay tuned to the website.

Cache:

This cache was hidden as part of the Michigan State Parks Centennial GeoTour, presented by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and the Michigan Geocaching Organization. Record the codeword printed on the log book and on a label inside the cache container to the appropriate box on the Ticket to Celebrate 100 form. See the instructions on the form to claim prizes.

This is an seven stage multi-cache with a field puzzle and is not at the posted coordinates. To determine the location of the cache, navigate to the various stages and find the information from signs. The coordinates to each stage are in listed waypoints.

Stage 1: Simply proceed to stage 2

Stage 2: A = Number of "D"s on the sign

Stage 3: B = Number of "F"s on the sign.

Stage 4: C = Number of "O"s on the sign. Z = Number of "A"s on the sign.

Stage 5: X = Number of "T"s on the sign.

Stage 6: Y = Number of "C"s on the sign.

Final: is at N 42 52.ABC W 83 26.XYZ.

Checksum: A+B+C+X+Y+Z = 11

You are looking for a Regular size container. Please return everything as good or better than you found it.

Thank you GLC & GEO_BUM for creating, hiding and maintaining this MSPC GeoTour cache.

^{Photo courtesy of Michigan Department of Natural Resources}
Day Use Area at Big Fish Lake

Ortonville Recreation Area:

Ortonville Recreation Area is one of many state parks located in Oakland County, Michigan (and extends into southern Lapeer County), and is approximately 5,400 acres. When it was named a "recreation area" instead of a park, it was named correctly.

Are you bored and need something to do to occupy your time? Head to Ortonville Recreation area where you can enjoy the outdoors in several ways.

^{Photo courtesy of Michigan Department of Natural Resources}
Ortonville Recreation Area Beach at Big Fish Lake

History:

The development of the Ortonville Recreation Area began in 1945, though the original park (named Bloomer #3 State Park) was donated in December 1922 by Mr. Howard Bloomer, an attorney in southeastern Michigan, and his wife Amy. They donated the land for the park to preserve land for future generations, and we are reaping the rewards decades later. Thank goodness for their foresight!

^{Map courtesy of Michigan Department of Natural Resources}

Activities:

Popular activities in the area include hiking, biking, swimming, fishing, camping, cross country skiing, paddling, horseback riding, snowmobiling, boating and even shooting (both at the range and for hunting). A designated swimming area is located at Big Fish Lake.

A two and a half-mile cross country ski trail and a three and a half-mile hiking and mountain bike trail are located at the Bloomer #3. From the equestrian campground, eight and a half miles of trails are available for horseback riding. The Ortonville Recreation Equestrian Association help to maintain the park′s trails. The equestrian trails are open to snowmobiling when conditions are good.

^{Photo courtesy of Michigan Department of Natural Resources}
Shooting Range

Fishing is allowed throughout the recreation area with access sites located on Algoe, Davidson, Round and Tody Lakes. The lakes and streams may produce a wide variety of fish such as pike, bass and perch. Although Bloomer #3 is deemed a game sanctuary, much of the rest of Ortonville Recreation Area is open to public hunting. Hunting for deer, rabbits, grouse and waterfowl is very popular. Consult the recreation′s area map for specific areas closed to hunting. The Recreation Area also includes a shooting range.

Metal detecting is recognized as a legitimate recreation activity when it is conducted in ways that do not damage natural and cultural resources in Michigan state parks nor violate applicable state statutes. This Park Map clearly shows where this activity is allowed. Any items found must be reviewed by park staff and may be retained for further investigation.

Information:

Note that camping at is on a first come, first served basis. Reservations are not taken. For more information, follow this link to Ortonville Recreation Area.

Special thanks to CachingGrands for help with this geocache.

Special thanks to beenhere, LynnGeoGin and HNY Event Staff for the Southeast regional prize.

Resources:

• State Parks Centennial GeoTour - Download the Ticket to Celebrate 100
• Michigan.gov/StateParks100
• Michigan DNR Recreation Passport
• When were Michigan state parks and recreation areas established?
• Michigan Geocaching Organization (MiGO)