Oh, the weather outside is frightful,
But a "First to Find" would be so delightful.
So since the waypoint is loaded let's go!
Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!
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MY ALARM CLOCK
went off at 4:00 am that morning. The temperature was in the 20's and the weather
was consistent with the forecast we had been warned of for the past two days—this
was to be the worst storm of the year.
However, weeks earlier I had made a promise to my nephew. He needed a ride to take
some tests at the state capitol for a job he was applying for and the great state of
Illinois cared nothing about blowing snow and treacherous driving conditions. We were
on the road by 5:00 am and when we reached Springfield at 8:00 the snow was nearly a
foot deep and covered everything. I'm pretty sure we led the plow trucks in a
couple areas.
Of course, my motivations were less honorable than looking for an
"Uncle of the Year" award, but much more fun.
I hadn't been caching in the state capitol before and this
family business was just the excuse I needed to get some numbers
in a new area. I dropped my nephew off at the door and scanned my
GPS for the nearest waypoint. I was in luck—less than two tenths of a mile away!
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I FIRST
discovered geocaching in January of 2002. I was excited with this new
game and the incredibly mild winter that year fostered my early days. However,
I was certain that all it would take was one nasty cold front and a heavy snowfall
for me to trade in the GPS for another toy that might cost an arm and a leg,
but not a toe or ear to frostbite.
I've noticed from reading the forums that I'm not the only one who has had
doubts about caching in the winter weather. The threads are almost annual events:
Winter Hiatus
Winter Attenuation
Winter Caching?
Taking Caches down for the Winter?
There seems to be some notion in the minds of many cachers that
the coming of winter means the end of caching season. This notion seems
to normally be cured after a nasty bout of
cabin fever gives way to the urge to get out and do
something…ANYTHING!
Usually all it takes is one good day of "snow caching" to
remove any doubts—caching season never ends!
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Introduction
