Ahoy, Mateys!
We hope t' be able t' gather an' will prepare t' do so, th' fates be willin'!
TEN years it be since th' MOGA crew advanced upon th' shores o' Rend Lake an' scattered o'er a hun'derd thirty coffers o' swag fer ye t' find.
Some be there still an' with recent marks upon thar logs, an’ some be
deep in th' woods an' not found in years.
Avast!
A quest I present t' all hands who be up t' th' challenge
t’ make th’ area aroun’Rend Lake shipshape
fer th’ guests that’ll soon be convergin’ upon these shores!
Gather ye what rubbish yer path may cross as seek out the booty that be on yer map.
Them at Groundspeak be callin’ this type o’ event a CITO,
as ye’ll be cachin’ in, an’ trashin’ out!
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Rend Lake Area Project, in cooperation with the St. Louis Area Geocachers Association are sponsoring the first CITO event at Rend Lake! You can form your team, as large or as small as you’d like, before or at the event, or you can CITO solo. We will be gathering at the Rend Lake Spillway Event Area, just east of the dam. Each team or individual will choose a map with a section of Rend Lake to CITO. There will also be a few new caches hidden in different areas around Rend Lake. Bags and latex gloves will be provided by the USACE. Terrain varries from about 1.5 to 3, your biggest challenge being the undergrowth and swampy areas if it's been raining. Be prepared to bushwhack through the woods. Bring water and bug repellent. Long pants and closed-toe shoes or boots are highly recommended.
If your team would like to bring bikes and CITO along one of the 20 miles of bike paths, you can request a bike path section when you post your attending log. Requests will be honored in order they are received, as there is a limited quantity, so long as your team arrives with their bikes to the event. Teams that have a member or members that require the use of a wheelchair or scooter can also request a bike path section.
When your team has finished your section, you are not required to report back to the Spillway pavillion but you can if you'd like to toss your trash in the dumpster and share your adventure with us! Feel free to bring a picnic lunch and enjoy one of the many picnic areas Rend Lake has to offer. A wide variety of eating establishments can also be found in nearby Benton and West City. Plan to get a little dirty and have a lot of fun as you meet with geocachers from all around the area, earn the 2021 Spring CITO souvenir, find new and lonely caches, and help clean up Rend Lake!
Be sure to follow the local and state mandates. Masks are required if a distance of 6' cannot be maintained. We want to have fun, but be safe while doing so.