Umtanum Creek Canyon

Eagle's Nest across River

While we were in Yakima over Memorial Day weekend, we spent Sunday traveling up the Yakima River Canyon between Yakima and Ellensburg.  It was a lovely day, with a little bit of haze, but generally sunny and warm enough that we were comfortable in t-shirts.   We drove up the canyon in part because there was a geocache every mile or so.  We saw a Bald Eagle nest, Swallows in their cliff dwellings and other birds.

Foot Bridge at Umtanum
Creek Canyon

Near the end of the day, we made it to Umtanum Creek Canyon.  This is a popular hike near Ellensburg, both by the number of cars in the parking lot as well as by the number of geocaches along the trail.  The hike begins with a crossing over the Yakima river on a foot bridge.  Zoe started over the bridge fairly confidently, however, as the bridge began to swing she began to walk more hesitantly, finally slipping through one of the cracks on the bridge.  No harm done, but she stayed close to her master.  

The hike follows the Umtanum Creek through an old homestead while the canyon narrows.  The cliffs and valley walls were covered in scrub brush and prairie grasses, with stands of aspen growing in the wet areas. We ended up walking about a mile up stream (finding four geocaches), before resting our feet in the stream and snacking on trail mix. 

By the end of the day, we added 21 cache finds to our log (a new daily record for us) and walked a few miles. 

Geocaching in the Afternoon.

So, it wasn't enough fun to hike around with the backpack on in the morning, we decided that since the weather was still cooperating, we'd go out for a little walk with the dog and a little geocaching.  3 miles later, we returned, finding 5 caches along the way.  The dog enjoyed it, and amazingly enough, the sun was out long enough that we actually had to take our coats off because it was getting too hot. 

Of course, the only reason I wanted to do this post is because of the cool screen shots that I can do on the GPS.  Maybe one of these days, I'll get tired of it, but right now, it's just fun. 

Geocaching? Hiking? no, Shopping.

Garrison Keillor is coming to Saint Michelle Winery and Ticketmaster had a $12.50 surcharge per ticket to buy a $39 ticket, a 32% premium.  Not wanting to get ripped off by monopolistic money grabbers, Gail and I decided to drive down to the Winery today (it's only about 15 miles away at the most).  So, while we were down there, we figured we'd go geocaching.  We found about half a dozen along the Sammamish River Trail so I thought I'd strap on my backpack and get some exercise in. 

The tickets were bought, but we managed one geocache before the sky turned dark and it began to rain.  Given that the forecast was supposed to be for rain, rain and more rain, we decided to head home.  Unfortunately, we had to drive by Woodinville on the way back home, past Sir Plus, an Army surplus store.  I love surplus stores, mostly because you never know what you'll find.  We stopped in there, and I picked up an Ammo can (for hiding a geocache), a rain coat, and Gail got two pair of gloves.  All for less than $40.  We decided not to get any MREs (Tuna and Tortellini), a spork, Camo clothes or bullet shells.  Then we went to Petsmart to get dog treats (since Zoe was with us).

By the time we got home, the sun was out again, so we took our standard walk around the neighborhood.  It started sprinkling by the time we got home.  It would have been nicer going along the trail, but I'm also not one that's going to get soaked when I don't have to.  It's supposed to be nicer tomorrow, so I'm thinking on heading down to Meadowdale Beach Park.  That's a 2.5 to 3 mile hike down Lunds Gulch to the Sound.

New GPS (or, why we buy things at REI)

About 18 months ago, we decided we'd get a GPS, however, we were more interested in using it for Hiking and other outdoor activities, so we didn't get a vehicle GPS.  We decided we'd get a GPS with Topographic maps instead.  Furthermore, we decided to go to REI to get our GPS because REI is really good at helping poor misguided souls and answering really basic questions.

So over a year ago, we got a Garmin Oregon 400t which was great with only one flaw.  The roads that were on the GPS didn't match the roads we drove on.  Many times, the roads would be off by 50 feet or more.  This didn't bug us too much until we started doing more geocaching.  The GPS would get to the right coordinates, however, at times when geocaching in an urban area, we'd go down the wrong street because the map was off.

So, last week, I took it back to REI and asked them if this behavior was expected (remember, misguided souls with stupid questions).  They said that this shouldn't do this, so they offered to exchange the maps.  When the map came, I came back and tried the new map but it didn't really work.  When the supervisor couldn't figure out how to make the exchange, he asked me if I wanted to replace my old unit for a new one.  I said sure, if it'll fix the problem. 

So, without batting an eye, they exchanged a 18 month old GPS for a new one that has a built in camera and a few more features.  I was happy, until I tried to track my path on the way home. 

The maps are still off.  I guess I have to do some more work to figure out how that should work. 

A Saturday Stroll (with a GPS)

It came to pass that I finally got tired enough of the cold I'm fighting to go to the doctor.  It started last night with a number of dry coughing fits and although I managed to sleep until 6am, that was about it.  So instead of going up to the mountains to snowshoe, I ended up at the Walk-in Clinic at 8:30 this morning.  Sent on my way with a prescription and some recommended over the counter medicines, I figured that it probably wouldn't be a good idea to go snowshoeing in 40 degree weather with rain.  Instead, we decided that we'd take a long walk around the neighborhood.  6.75 miles later, I figured I should interrupt my Gear stories and talk about my neighborhood.

Mill Creek, Washington, was one of those 70's planned communities, with lots of walking trails, greenbelts (woods for those of you living on the other side of the Rockies) and cute neighborhoods surrounding a golf course and nature preserve.  Proper behavior is embedded on covenants enforced by the Mill Creek Community Association, otherwise referred to as the Garbage Can Nazis.  We live on the eastern edge of the city, and my prescription was being filled on the western edge.  So we decided to take a little walk to get the prescription.

Since we were walking, and since we got a new GPS (another story for another day), we decided to do some geocaching along the way. That took us to a bit of a round about route, allowing us to explore more trails than we usually do.  Playing with the new GPS, we decided to go ahead and track our route.  We found that during 3 hours, 15 minutes, we walked for 2 hours, rested for 1:15 and travelled 6.64 miles for an average walking speed of 3.3 miles per hour.  I had on a small backpack, maybe a couple of pounds at the most, so it was basically just a stroll.

And during all that time, no rain.  Altogether a good day.

Geocoin

Yesterday was a busy day with the entire extended family meeting for a late Christmas celebration in a beach house at Nag's Head, North Carolina.  One of my gifts this year was a Mount Rainier geocoin. 

For those not familiar with geocaching, it's basically a big game of hide and seek with electronics.  Caches are anything from a magnet to a 20 gallon Rubbermaid tub hidden in, on, under, around, between, and within anywhere.  Yesterday we found one under a lighthouse, just placed under the decking. 

Geocoins are small coins that are serialized and tracked on geocaching.com.  They then placed in a geocache and fellow geocachers move them from one geocache to another.  Then the owner of the coin can look at their progress on the website to see all the places they travel.  Some geocoins will have a "goal" to work toward, allowing others to pick it up and try to move it closer to the destination. 

It's obvious where this Geocoin is headed.