Geocaching Class, Coyote Lake County Park, 5/15/10

On 5/15/10, a geocaching class was held at Coyote Lake/Harvey Bear Ranch County Park.

GPS receivers for the class

Geocaching is an activity where participants use a GPS (Global Positioning System) receiver to locate hidden containers, called geocaches. The locations of the geocaches are published on the Geocaching.com website. GPS coordinates are entered into the receivers. Seekers, called geocachers, use the receivers to get within about 10-20 feet of the geocache. Then they search the area looking for the hidden geocache, which can vary widely in the size and type of container. Some typical containers are film cans, plastic bottles, plastic food containers, or large metal boxes. They may be painted or covered with colored tape to make them less visible. There are rules and limitations on geocaches, imposed by Geocaching.com and the County Parks. A cache cannot be buried, but it can be covered with rocks, sticks, leaves, wood, or other materials. Geocaches, at a minimum, contain a sheet or book on which finders sign their names, usually a geocaching nickname, or "handle." The handle may be used for one person, a couple, or a group. If the cache is large enough, it may contain trading items, which can include toys, coins, or personalized signature items. It may also contain "travel bugs," which are items moved from cache to cache and tracked online. After finding the cache, finders then sign on to the Geocaching.com website and log their finds online. They may include comments about the cache experience and upload pictures.

The class began on an overcast morning. As people arrived, Elaine Drake had them sign in. About 30 people showed up. About a third of them were experienced geocachers who had come to help out.

Docent Sam Drake gathers the class at the Mendoza Ranch staging area.

Sam gives a presentation on geocaching.

Sam talks about what geocaching is, how it started, how it works, the types of geocaches, how to find them, and how to use the GPS receivers.

As the day turns sunny, the class looks for the first cache at the trailhead.

The experienced geocachers gather to help lead the groups.

The class splits into groups, which head down the trail. The route will follow the Mendoza, Mummy Mountain, and Coyote Ridge Trails.

One groups takes the route counter-clockwise, starting at the Coyote Ridge Trail. The rest continue clockwise on the Mendoza Trail to the Mummy Mountain Trail.

We find the first cache under some trees by the Mendoza Trail.

Sam talks about geocaching trading items. He's holding a travel bug, which moves from cache to cache and whose travels are tracked online.

The group continues up the Mendoza Trail.

We near the junction of the Mendoza Trail and the Mummy Mountain Trail, which is on the hillside above. The Mummy Mountain Trail is a new trail that opened on 4/24/10.

The rest of the group climbs up the Mendoza Trail to the Mummy Mountain Trail.

Looking for a cache at the Mummy Mountain Trail bridge.

Heading through a shady area.

Approaching the big sandstone cliff, pockmarked with tiny caves.

The trail runs through a clearing alongside the hill.

We find a large cache can by a meadow.

Coming up the hill by the meadow.

The hill is covered with wildflowers, include ithuriel's spears, sunflowers, and spring vetch.

We reach the ridgeline. The trail follows along the ridgeline, with views to the east and west.

The boys found something.

View to the west from the ridge.

Near the highpoint of the trail is a picnic table. We find a cache near there.

View of Coyote Lake and the campground.

View of Coyote Lake from the picnic table.

At the highpoint of the trail, we meet the other group that followed the route counter-clockwise.

We find another cache just beyond the highpoint of the trail.

The trail now descends on stone steps.

Coming down the hill, we see a view of the Coyote Lake marsh. The hills are covered with wildflowers. In the foreground are spring vetch.

Spring vetch and fairy lanterns, also called globe lilies.

Serrated onion.

Ithuriel's spears.

View of Coyote Lake beyond blooming buckeye trees.

View of the new Gaviota Trail along the hillside. It is still under construction. It starts at the Coyote Ridge Trail on the upper right. Below is a glimpse of the Mendoza Trail.

We find the last cache on the Mummy Mountain Trail.

As we reach the Coyote Ridge Trail, a group of equestrians passes by.

On the Coyote Ridge Trail, we find a cache among some rocks.

We find a cache where there are two benches and a plaque. This a memorial to the four people who died in a small plane that crashed into the ridge above here in 2005.

We head down the Coyote Ridge Trail to the final cache.

Returning back to the trailhead at the end of the day, after covering a little over 4 miles.

Geocachers helping out were (geocaching handles): Mr. & Mrs. Sammydee, Trail Reader, GeoBaby, BuckyD, DragonsWest, Gitonyerhorse, Navratil42, Crawburr, Walruz, Hotshoe, and STP Ron.

Page created by Ron Horii, 5/22/10