The Hazards of Geocaching–Timber!
We’ve been geocaching quite a bit these days, trying to find those wonderful little parks we haven’t visited before or returning to ones that to which geocaching brought us. We made for the Minnesota River valley.
The day was incredibly windy, something to note when you’re taking to the trail. Personally, I like geocaching on windy days. There’s nothing better for keeping cool and keeping the bugs away. The ambient noise also provides some opportunities to see wildlife that may not hear your approach.
The trail we hiked was beautiful, with lovely views of the river. We talked about the cache we were seeking, being thankful that I had Sprint coverage for my geocaching app. We were so involved with trying to plan our next move that we didn’t notice it at first. I remember hearing a tiny crack, thinking it was a misplaced sound for where we were at. Then, kaboom! The tree fell across the path, not 15 feet ahead of us. Needless to say, we’re shaken up a bit. I don’t think it would have hurt us too bad, but it certainly wouldn’t have been pretty. All of which leads to my tip:
On windy days, stick to geocaching in more open areas.
Not all wooded areas pose this same kind of threat. The area we were at though had shallow-rooted trees, probably from all the off and on flooding the floodplain experienced through the years. Of course, older, dying trees pose a greater threat. The point to take away though is to be alert to your surroundings. Pay attention to those unnatural noises. The sound I heard was the tree snapping. Be alert for the hazards the area in which you are geocaching may hold.
The Hazards of Geocaching–Timber! | Exploring the Great Outdoors By Chris We've been geocaching quite a bit these days, trying to find those wonderful little parks we haven't visited before or returning to ones that to which geocaching brought us. We made for the Minnesota River valley. Exploring the Great Outdoors –
July 8th, 2009 at 10:48 pm