TimbreWlf’s Geocaching Page

Years ago I was involved in Orienteering. This sport came to us from Europe and involves navigating with a map and compass. Teams race to a location where all of the checkpoint locations are plotted on a map. The team navigates the course and uses codes or stamps on a scorecard to verify that you visited each point. You compete against other teams for time taken to complete the route.

As technology evolved another sport, similar to Orienteering, emerged. Geocaching is a variation on the theme where caches (by definition a hidden stash of supplies) are hidden and the precise coordinates for the cache are posted on the Internet. Using a GPS receiver (GPSr), the goal is to find a cache, document the discovery – by making a notation in the logbook at the site – and posting the discovery on a geocaching website. To add to the experience, many caches contain trinkets or signature items for trading. The rule on these items is that if you take something, you leave something. It isn't the swag in the cache that we seek, rather the enjoyment of the hunt.

The Minnesota Geocaching Association (MnGCA) is a group of Minnesota geocachers who are committed to promoting safe, responsible, and environmentally friendly geocaching. We welcome the involvement and cooperation of park management and government to work with us to develop this activity to benefit both geocachers and parks. The MnGCA also provides a way for people to come together to organize regional activities and events that will promote the credibility of the sport and bring families together in nature and technology.

I wrote an article on how to camouflage paint military surplus ammunition cans, for use as geocaches.

You can view that article on the Minnesota Geocaching Association website Here.

My GeoCaches:

Border Run: Mystery Micro

N 48° 24.523 W 093° 02.965 (Waypoint GCYH98)
The mystery surrounding this cache is its origin. While scouring this local landmark for the placement of a micro-cache, my daughter suggested a little bit different hide than I had originally considered. As I was placing the micro in her spot, I found this cache!

[Geocaching.com Cache Page] [No Spoiler Photos]

Border Run: Waycache

N 48° 38.633 W 094° 09.248 (Waypoint GCWZR6)
A neat little wayside rest with a view of the Rainy River - the border between Minnesota and Canada. There is an International Border marker and trail leading down to the river. The cache is located to avoid the frequent high water mark clearly evident at the rest area. The cache is a camouflage painted ammunition can.

[Geocaching.com Cache Page] [No Spoiler Photos]

Manitou Rapids

N 48° 37.961 W 093° 54.781 (Waypoint GCVF30)
This wayside and public water access had been closed for several years, but now has been reopened and upgraded. Public access to the Rainy River is available for canoes and shore fishing. The boat ramp is accessible only on foot. Frequently seen here are large flocks of pelicans and other wildlife as well as the Northern Lights.

[Geocaching.com Cache Page] [No Spoiler Photos

Sturgeon River Landing

N 48° 12.624 W 093° 52.945 (Waypoint GCVJ3C)
You can put on to the Big Fork river below its Class IV-V rapids or come at the cache by road. Either way, you'll enjoy the landing and primative camping area at the confluence of the Sturgeon and Big Fork rivers. The cache is an ammo can a short walk from the outhouse and picnic table. The cache is accessible by water, but is placed well enough that when the water is high, the cache should remain dry.

[Geocaching.com Cache Page] [No Spoiler Photos]

Gordie’s Secret (Currently Disabled)

N 45° 22.049 W 093° 08.882 (Waypoint GCNJ0W)

I placed this cache on 19 April 2005 while out doing volunteer work with the National Map Project. There are so many little parks in Minnesota; it would be difficult to document them all. I’m seriously considering preparing about 10 caches and keeping them in the vehicle so I can place them in these wonderful little wilderness areas. The cache is located in the Gordie Mikkelson Wildlife Management Area in East Bethel, Minnesota.

[Geocaching.com Cache Page] [No Spoiler Photos]

123 Rest Stop Cache

N 45° 15.164 W 093° 13.243 (Waypoint GCHB70)
I placed this cache on 10 December 2003 at the same location I used to hide the very popular Moving 123 cache, which has been circulating the Minneapolis area since March 2003. Another geocacher (Centris) commented that the hiding spot would make a good location for a permanent cache, and that if I didn’t put something there, she would. The cache is located in Ham Lake Park, in Ham Lake, Minnesota.

[Geocaching.com Cache Page] [No Spoiler Photos]

Anderson Memorial Park Cache

N 45° 23.714 W 093° 14.634 (Waypoint GCH3EG)
Placed on 20 October August 2003, I managed to find a hiding spot in a small park in East Bethel, Minnesota. The park has swimming and picnic areas, and limited trails for hiking. The park can be accessed from MN Highway 65 North of the Minneapolis Metropolitan Area.

[Geocaching.com Cache Page] [No Spoiler Photos]

Cedarwood Meadows

N 48° 35.893 W 094° 15.980 (Waypoint GCGT9A)
Placed on 31 August 2003, this cache is located near the Canadian border, near what used to be Border, Minnesota. This recreation area is very near my cabin. The cache container is approximately ½ mile from a public picnic area, about 50 feet to the right of the trail, between two fallen trees. The container is wrapped in a piece of camouflaged burlap to conceal it from accidental detection by non-geocachers. In October 2003, geocachers MarneBill and Pura Vida sought the cache and discovered that it had been plundered by an animal-probably a bear. This is a learning point: No matter how well you clean a potential cache container, if it EVER contained food, the critters will try to find it. I created a more durable cache container and have had no problems since. Since this is in a remote area and subject to some of the worst weather Minnesota has to offer, I’ve built the new container out of 4” sewer pipe-let the critters even try to eat this one. The last several years have recorded considerably wet conditions in this state forest, so be prepared!

[Geocaching.com Cache Page] [Spoiler Photos]

Icebox of the Nation

N 48° 36.234 W 093° 22.602 (Waypoint GCGVW6)

I placed this cache in my hometown of International Falls, Minnesota on 7 September 2003. The cache is located just East of town on MN Highway 11 at the Pat Roche boat landing and seaplane base. The original container was wrapped in camouflaged burlap for concealment, but in 2005 I replaced the container with a camouflage painted ammunition can.

[Geocaching.com Cache Page] [No Spoiler Photos]

TimbreWlf Cache

N 45° 14.980 W 093° 06.832 (Waypoint GCGTR9)

This is the first geocache that I placed and it is near my home in Ham Lake, Minnesota. The cache is located in the Carlos Avery Wildlife Management Area. I recently replaced the cache container with an ammunition can, as the previous container did not stand up too well to the environment. Note: This is public hunting land and you should always wear BLAZE ORANGE clothing of some kind during hunting seasons. This cache was hidden on 2 September 2003.

[Geocaching.com Cache Page] [No Spoiler Photos]