Cache The Stash Challenge
To celebrate 15 years of geocaching Oregon's Mt. Hood Territory has created the "Cache the Stash Challenge" in the home of geocaching, the Place Where It All Began. This Challenge is actually a series of 6 community challenges that will launch simultaneously the morning of Saturday, Aug 8th, 2015. Five hundred (500) coins have been minted for each of the six challenges. All six coins fit together to form a puzzle cube. The communities partnering with us for the Challenge are Canby, Sandy, West Linn, Estacada, Damascus, and North Clackamas.
Participation is free, but registration is required to be entered for prize drawings. The rules for raffle drawing can be found here. Tee-shirts, Geo-Heritage Tour tickets and reduced entrance to the End of the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center are available for purchase on the registration page.
There is plenty of on-site and near-by parking. Approved lots will be marked and there will be directional signage for auxiliary parking.
Schedule of Activities
Friday, August 7
7:30am
Early Registration Check-In for those going on the GEO-HERITAGE TOUR. Bring a copy of your registration confirmation page to claim your seat on the tour and to pick up your welcome packet and prepaid event tee-shirts.
8:00am
GEO-HERITAGE TOUR to GCGV0P - The Original Stash Tribute Plaque; GC92 - Un-Original Stash (aka The Place Where it all Began); GC12 - The 2nd oldest active cache in the world, and GC16 - the 10th oldest active cache.
Tickets are required for a seat in a van. The cost is $14/person. Tickets can be purchased here.
NOTE: The tour is expected to take approx. 10 hours. Participants should bring drinks, lunch, snacks and wear appropriate clothing/shoes for hiking. We will stop for comfort breaks. Getting to several of the cache sites involves a fair amount of hiking and the longest excursion will take around 2 hours to complete. Those thinking of participating in this activity should assess their personal fitness and mobility before registering.
Non-registered parties are welcomed to join by following in their own vehicles. However, please note that a portion of the drive is on forest service roads and that a Northwest Forest Pass is required to park at the trail head. The cost is $30 for an annual pass or $5 for a day pass. Passes can be purchased on-line.
Also, there is no cell service for much of the tour.
9:30 am to 6:00pm
Early Registration Check-In at EOT
Bring a copy of your registration confirmation page to pick up your welcome packet and pre-paid event tee-shirts.
Other Things to See and Do
Explore the History of the Oregon Trail
Discount admission to the End of the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center for available to registered Cache the Stash Challenge participants. Cost = $6.50/person (an $11 value). Admission tickets can be purchased here. Stroll amongst the exhibits and learn about what life was like on The Oregon Trail – one of the largest mass migrations of people in human history.
In-Town
Take a tour of the home of Dr. John McLoughlin, Superintendent of the Hudson’s Bay Company at Fort Vancouver and the “Father of Oregon”.
Take a ride on the only “vertical street” in North America – Oregon City’s Municipal Elevator
View Majestic Willamette Falls – the second largest water falls by volume in the U.S. and location of the first transmitted industrial hydroelectric power in the U.S.
More interesting places to visit in and around town can be found on the Willamette Falls Heritage Trail.
Out of Town
Checkout Historic Timberline Lodge. Situated on Mt. Hood, Oregon’s highest peak, The Lodge was built during the Great Depression by the Works Progress Administration. Mt. Hood offers the longest ski season in North America; through September most years. Take a short hike and you will be able to make a snowball to take home with you.
Find a new furry friend on a farm loop or tour local wineries
More ideas can be found at www.MtHoodTerritory.com. Explorer’s Guides and Travel Planners available at Registration Booth.
6:00 pm to 9:00pm
Coin & Swag Swap
BYOPD - Bring Your Own Picnic Dinner on Abernethy Green
Family-Friendly Beer & Wine Garden
Entertainment and pioneer games for kids young and old.
Saturday, August 8
7:30am
Registration Check-In
Bring a copy of your registration confirmation page to pick up your welcome packet pre-paid tee-shirts. Event shirts can be purchased on-line until noon, July 22nd. Limited tee-shirts will be available for sale at the event, but prices will be higher.
Participation in the Cache the Stash Challenge is free, but you must be registered to be eligible to win drawing prizes. Link to Drawing Rule.
8:00am
Welcoming Comments - Invited dignitaries include Sandy Bigfoot
Information about The Challenge – Details, Rules, Logistics, Claiming coins, Etc.
8:30am
Cache the Stash Challenge Launched and coordinates for the 6 community challenges released. GO! (Safely!)
On-going Activities:
Sign the Big ol’ Can of Beans (to celebrate the Original Can of Beans placed in the Original Stash)
Slingshot Shooting Range (in honor of the Slingshot placed in the Original Stash)
Ammo Can Toss Competition
GPS Accuracy Contest
6:00pm
Information/Registration/Coin Redemption Booth Closes
Sunday, August 9
9:00am
Information/Registration/Coin Redemption Booth Open Anybody done yet?
On-going Activities:
• Sign the Big ol’ Can of Beans
• Slingshot Shooting Range
• Ammo Can Toss Competition
• GPS Accuracy Contest
5:30pm
Registration Closes & Activities wrap-up
6:00pm
• Prize Drawing - You have to be there to win folks!
• Competition & Contest winners announced
• First to Finds & First to Finish announcements
• Group Photo