last update:March 5 @ 11 AM
Geolobo and Bluegirl have taken a well-deserved break from planning the Mid-Winter Geocaching Get-Together that has been held in Long Lake for the last 7 years.
I was looking forward to it as I know many others were. I didn't realize until late that there was no event in Long Lake. There just has to be a winter geocaching event in the Adirondacks, so I decided to get it something going in my home town in central Hamilton County.
I didn't have time to work out all the details before the initial event submission, but I wanted to get the notification out right away. We are continuing to work on the event and may come up with additional activities. Please check back frequently because this event page will continue to be updated with the latest information.
The most important thing to know right now is that the Adirondack Mid-Winter Geocaching Get-Together tradition will continue. It will be fun as always. You will have the opportunity to meet other cachers and find caches.
Hey, it's the Adirondacks and it's winter. So come and enjoy.
The morning meeting/check in location (9-1) is the Adirondacks Speculator Region Chamber of Commerce office.
You're free to hang around the chamber office as long as you like, but to allow for the most geocaching during the day, and to allow for a larger group to get together afterwards and talk about their adventures, we've arranged a late afternoon meet and greet starting at 4 PM with dinner available (5-6 PM, optional) at the Piseco Community Hall.
Since it's a full moon this weekend, we're thinking about organizing a moonlight ski & snowshoe after dinner.
Updates will be posted on this event page and we'll have any last minute details, information, and agenda changes available at the chamber office on the morning of the event.
Here's the facts so far:
| Who: |
All geocachers, especially those missing the Long Lake Get-Together.
and looking for a winter geocaching event in the Adirondacks. |
| What: |
8th Annual Mid-Winter Geocaching Get-Together
(or First Annual Late Winter Get-Together in Lake Pleasant, depending on your perspective and what happens next year.) |
| When: |
Date: Saturday March 15, 2014, Time: 9 AM - 1 PM and 4 - 7 PM.*
*Meet & Greet with optional Dinner at Piseco Community Hall starting at 4 PM.
Possible additional activities/events on Friday, Saturday, and/or Sunday. |
| Where: |
(morning) Adirondacks Speculator Region Chamber of Commerce, Lane Emporium, Speculator |
| |
(evening) Piseco Community Hall, Old Piseco Road, Piseco. |
| Why: |
Meet and greet other geocachers and have fun in the great outdoors. |
| Breakfast: Nothing planned at this time. Full breakfast or just coffee and donuts available locally. |
| Lunch: |
Nothing planned at this time. There are a variety of restaurants in the area. You can get anything from a quick snack to a fancy meal, or you can buy whatever you need locally and make your own if you didn't bring anything. |
| Dinner: |
After enjoying the area for a day of caching, meet us at the Mid-Winter Event Dinner Meet & Greet GC4Z11J at Piseco Community Hall for some good hearty food and fun stuff.
Dinner will be from 5 - 6 p.m and is optional. The building will be open by 4 p.m. and we will hang out till 7 p.m. We will have some prizes and you may want to bring some things to trade. The Community Hall is spacious and has lots of parking.
Dinner cost is $12. Children under 8 are free. To help us with a count for food please purchase a dinner ticket at the Speculator Chamber of Commerce and Tourism office before 1 p.m. If you can't get to the Chamber office but definitely want dinner, please let us know how many dinners you want when you log your 'will attend'.
Menu: Chili, Pizza (best in town), Sandwich makings, Salad, Coffee, Cocoa, Tea, Water, Soda
If you have special dietary needs and this menu doesn't fit then you are welcome to bring what you need. Just come and join us for some cacher camaraderie and fun.
Please note: Dogs will not be allowed at dinner.
|
Weather: You can check the current conditions in Speculator on the Lake Pleasant Central School weather station and webcam. Don't believe the current local conditions reported by the National Weather Service, because the reporting station is Glens Falls airport. Weather Underground uses the weather station at King Of The Frosties in Speculator.
As of March 5, conditions are great for snowmobiling, x-c skiing, and snowshoeing. There is about a foot and a half of snow in the woods and trails are well-packed. There is not so much snow that you couldn't get to most caches on foot. The extended forecast looks positive for continued good winter conditions in mid-March. If you have snowshoes or cross-country skis or snowmobiles bring them, although many of the caches will be accessible without special equipment.
One really cool thing about this weekend is that the full moon is officially at 1 PM on Sunday, so there will be essentially a full moon on Saturday night. We may get some night caches placed, but even if not, it's a good opportunity for a moonlight ski or snowshoe.
Some Cross Country Ski Trails in the area are:
Ice Skating: The covered pavilion in Speculator is a free outdoor skating rink in the winter.
Snowmobiling: The Wells - Speculator - Lake Pleasant - Piseco - Arietta - Morehouse area is also a super place for snowmobiling. We have everything from lakes to wide trails on seasonal roads to backcountry trails in the deep woods. The towns and local snowmobile clubs (DRAG of Speculator, Pleasant Riders, and Algonquin Sno-Blazers) do a great job of grooming. A free 2014 season trail map is available at the chamber and all area businesses. You can also view or download the 2009 map. Snowmobile rentals are available in Speculator.
Some caches are most easily accessible via snowmobile. If you own a snowmobile, do bring it.
(Note: Last year I rode over 100 miles on the last weekend in March, so I expect good snowmobiling in the middle of March. For actual rider trail condition reports, check the ilsnow.com trail report forums.)
March is also the time for maple sugaring. If you find Weaver's Sugarbush GCYRH you may be able to observe maple syrup being made.
If you are a ham radio operator, bring your 2 meter radio. Meet on the air on the Speculator repeater 147.165 (+, no pl). For other repeaters in the Adirondacks you can hit while traveling to and from the area, see the list on the NNYARA web site. If you have HF, join us any Sunday morning at 8:30 on 3.958. If you plan to stick around for a couple of days for some additional winter recreation, join us at the Hamilton County Amateur Radio Club meeting at 7 PM at the Lake Pleasant fire hall (43° 28.126' x 74° 24.647'). Several of the club members are also geocachers!
Cell Phone Coverage: This is the Adirondacks. Need I say more? The only cell tower in the area is on the top of Oak Mountain not too far from GC4VXDN. There is good cell service in the Speculator area and out to several miles. There is virtually no coverage much past Oxbow Lake, and due to the hills and mountains there are dead spots even closer in.
Free WiFi: Available at the Chamber office and some of the local businesses.
Event Duration: Although this is listed as a Saturday day event, geocachers may want to come on Friday before the main event and/or to stay for the weekend. For accommodation info please contact the Adirondacks Speculator Region Chamber of Commerce, 518-548-4521. If you make a reservation, please post on the forums and the event page where you will be staying so others who are interested in knowing will know.
We hope to have some related events on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday. There may be an informal winter camping activity or a moonlight ski/snowshoe. Still working on it. If you are interested in doing something or helping with this event, please let KC2WI know.
There are several winter accessible caches in the area, two others are being reworked to be more winter friendly, 10 new winter caches have been placed as of March 4, and at least 5 more are in the works. We may also have some hints available for finding some of the less winter friendly caches. If anyone is interested in placing a cache before the event but is concerned about continuing maintenance, that can be arranged. Please contact KC2WI.