Geostash Challenge 2009

IntrepidXJ · 08-26-2009, 01:35 PM

After being home for only 4 days (all of which I had to work) from my 9 day Colorado Adventure, I headed to northern Utah to spend the weekend at the NAXJA Intermountain Chapter's Geostash Challenge. I've wanted to attend this event the last two years it was held, and finally decided I would drive up for it this year, even if I could not stay longer than a standard weekend (I didn't want to take any more time off because of my previous week off). For those that are not familiar with this event, it's basically like a poker run. In order to get your cards you need to find hidden geocaches that you are given the coordinates for. You need to find at least five of the hidden geocaches to get one poker hand. When you get back to camp for the dinner, the hands are analyzed and the best hands win some prizes. Since it's put on by a Jeep club, the caches are hidden along 4x4 roads with some short hiking required to reach some.

I left right from work Friday and drove the 7 hours to the basecamp near Evanston, WY. I ended up driving through some very strong winds on I-70 between the Cisco and Moab exits, and then ran through a couple more storms after passing over Soldier Summit. Luckily, when I reached camp around midnight, it was not raining, so I quickly got my tent setup and got to sleep.

Once morning arrived, it was raining pretty good. Everyone slowly got up and ready in hopes that the rain would stop, but there was no such luck....it was still raining when we finally decided to head out to find our caches for the day.

After getting our permits and airing down, our large group headed up the bumpy Gold Hill Road to an overlook where the first cache was hidden. On our way, the rain turned into sleet and then into snow. By the time we reached the overlook, the snow was coming down fast and heavy and there was probably an inch accumulated on the ground. The flakes were huge! It certainly didn't feel like it was the middle of August. It felt like we should be looking for a Christmas tree to cut down

After we found the cache near the overlook, I snapped a few photos of the new snowfall, since it might be another few months before I see snow like this again. Unfortunately, because of the storm, there was not much to see from the overlook this day. I had arrived in the dark of the night, and the day so far had been very cloudy and snowy. I had just finished my first trail in the Uintas and still had not been able to see the mountains around me!

Airing Down and getting our permits

Our group as it started to snow pretty heavily

Some more photos of the snow...

The view from the overlook

IntrepidXJ · 08-26-2009, 01:36 PM

Found the first cache

Ryan

Fun in the snow

A small pond I found near the overlook

IntrepidXJ · 08-26-2009, 01:36 PM

On our way back down to our next cache, the snow finally stopped and the clouds were finally clearing up. Hiking to this cache my boots got soaked from the melting snow on the ground. I certainly did not come prepared to be hiking through snow this weekend.

Snow starting to melt off

Remains of an old cabin we passed

Skies clearing up

On our way to the third cache the sun was finally out and the snow was melting pretty quickly. I was finally able to see the Uinta Mountains around me! This trail was pretty slick and muddy from the melting snow.

Some photos from along the way

IntrepidXJ · 08-26-2009, 01:36 PM

After grabbing the third cache, we made plans to find two more quick caches on our way back to the campground, so we could make it back in time for the dinner.

We found the fourth cache near Whitney Lake, that ended up being hidden right near a campsite. I'm sure they were surprised to see a bunch of people heading towards their camp

Whitney Lake

The final cache was a quick one just off the main road back to the highway. We grabbed it and headed back for camp.

Group shot near the 5th cache we found

After dinner, figuring out the poker hands, and awarding the winners (I ended up winning a $50 gift certificate to DPG Offroad), we had a good campfire for the rest of the evening. The night was very cold, so the heat of the campfire was welcome. It was definitely a cold night for camping.

I woke up early on Sunday hoping to get a trail or two in before heading home, but most everyone else was slow to get up. So I said my goodbyes and started on my way back home. My plan was to head east on I-80 and then south on US 191. Through Flaming Gorge and then to Vernal, where I could check out the trail that goes to Brown's Hole. But by the time I reached Vernal, I decided not to rush through Brown's Hole and that I would just go straight home instead.

Along US 40 I passed two very recent wildfires along the highway that were just put out. South of Rangely in Canyon Pintado, I passed two more fires that were still burning. The firefighters had just arrived at the first fire I passed (their trucks passed me a few miles before). When I reached the second fire (between the Waving Hands site and Kokopelli site), it was right along the highway and burning pretty good. The smoke was blowing across the highway and a Rio Blanco sheriff had blocked off the road. I was worried I was going to be stuck here for a while, so I started looking at my maps to see if there were any backroads I could take around the area. Lucky for me, while I was looking through my maps, the sheriff decided to let us go through, as long as we drove with our hazard lights on. After getting past the fire, I quickly made it over Douglass Pass and was back home in time for dinner.

I am going to plan heading back for the Geostash Challenge next year, however, if I do it will have to be for more than just a weekend. It was a pretty long drive for just a weekend, and there are a ton of roads for me to explore up there as well

builtnotbought89' · 08-26-2009, 02:04 PM

Looks like a ton of fun! I take it NAXJA is a xj only kinda club! Do they have a web site & do u have the link?

prerunner1982 · 08-26-2009, 05:29 PM

www.NAXJA.org

Quite a few people here are on NAXJA as well. They aren't quite as friendly as CF is but there is a ton of info.

JakeWI · 08-27-2009, 12:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by prerunner1982

www.NAXJA.org

Quite a few people here are on NAXJA as well. They aren't quite as friendly as CF is but there is a ton of info.

that is with every forum even here sometimes though.

nice photos randy, i was wondering where some of those where from when i saw them on naxja.

08-26-2009, 01:35 PM	#1
IntrepidXJ Seasoned Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Grand Junction, CO Posts: 386 My Photos 2000 Cherokee Year: 2000 Model: Cherokee Engine: 4.0 Transmission: AW4 Transfer Case: 231 Front Axle: D30 Rear Axle: 8.25 Tires: 32x11.5 Bighorns Lift Specifications: Approx 5"	Geostash Challenge 2009 After being home for only 4 days (all of which I had to work) from my 9 day Colorado Adventure, I headed to northern Utah to spend the weekend at the NAXJA Intermountain Chapter's Geostash Challenge. I've wanted to attend this event the last two years it was held, and finally decided I would drive up for it this year, even if I could not stay longer than a standard weekend (I didn't want to take any more time off because of my previous week off). For those that are not familiar with this event, it's basically like a poker run. In order to get your cards you need to find hidden geocaches that you are given the coordinates for. You need to find at least five of the hidden geocaches to get one poker hand. When you get back to camp for the dinner, the hands are analyzed and the best hands win some prizes. Since it's put on by a Jeep club, the caches are hidden along 4x4 roads with some short hiking required to reach some. I left right from work Friday and drove the 7 hours to the basecamp near Evanston, WY. I ended up driving through some very strong winds on I-70 between the Cisco and Moab exits, and then ran through a couple more storms after passing over Soldier Summit. Luckily, when I reached camp around midnight, it was not raining, so I quickly got my tent setup and got to sleep. Once morning arrived, it was raining pretty good. Everyone slowly got up and ready in hopes that the rain would stop, but there was no such luck....it was still raining when we finally decided to head out to find our caches for the day. After getting our permits and airing down, our large group headed up the bumpy Gold Hill Road to an overlook where the first cache was hidden. On our way, the rain turned into sleet and then into snow. By the time we reached the overlook, the snow was coming down fast and heavy and there was probably an inch accumulated on the ground. The flakes were huge! It certainly didn't feel like it was the middle of August. It felt like we should be looking for a Christmas tree to cut down After we found the cache near the overlook, I snapped a few photos of the new snowfall, since it might be another few months before I see snow like this again. Unfortunately, because of the storm, there was not much to see from the overlook this day. I had arrived in the dark of the night, and the day so far had been very cloudy and snowy. I had just finished my first trail in the Uintas and still had not been able to see the mountains around me! Airing Down and getting our permits Our group as it started to snow pretty heavily Some more photos of the snow... The view from the overlook __________________ Randy Langstraat .: myXJ.net \| adventureJK.com :.

08-26-2009, 01:36 PM	#2
IntrepidXJ Seasoned Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Grand Junction, CO Posts: 386 My Photos 2000 Cherokee Year: 2000 Model: Cherokee Engine: 4.0 Transmission: AW4 Transfer Case: 231 Front Axle: D30 Rear Axle: 8.25 Tires: 32x11.5 Bighorns Lift Specifications: Approx 5"	Found the first cache Ryan Fun in the snow A small pond I found near the overlook __________________ Randy Langstraat .: myXJ.net \| adventureJK.com :.

08-26-2009, 01:36 PM	#3
IntrepidXJ Seasoned Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Grand Junction, CO Posts: 386 My Photos 2000 Cherokee Year: 2000 Model: Cherokee Engine: 4.0 Transmission: AW4 Transfer Case: 231 Front Axle: D30 Rear Axle: 8.25 Tires: 32x11.5 Bighorns Lift Specifications: Approx 5"	On our way back down to our next cache, the snow finally stopped and the clouds were finally clearing up. Hiking to this cache my boots got soaked from the melting snow on the ground. I certainly did not come prepared to be hiking through snow this weekend. Snow starting to melt off Remains of an old cabin we passed Skies clearing up On our way to the third cache the sun was finally out and the snow was melting pretty quickly. I was finally able to see the Uinta Mountains around me! This trail was pretty slick and muddy from the melting snow. Some photos from along the way __________________ Randy Langstraat .: myXJ.net \| adventureJK.com :.

08-26-2009, 01:36 PM	#4
IntrepidXJ Seasoned Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Grand Junction, CO Posts: 386 My Photos 2000 Cherokee Year: 2000 Model: Cherokee Engine: 4.0 Transmission: AW4 Transfer Case: 231 Front Axle: D30 Rear Axle: 8.25 Tires: 32x11.5 Bighorns Lift Specifications: Approx 5"	After grabbing the third cache, we made plans to find two more quick caches on our way back to the campground, so we could make it back in time for the dinner. We found the fourth cache near Whitney Lake, that ended up being hidden right near a campsite. I'm sure they were surprised to see a bunch of people heading towards their camp Whitney Lake The final cache was a quick one just off the main road back to the highway. We grabbed it and headed back for camp. Group shot near the 5th cache we found After dinner, figuring out the poker hands, and awarding the winners (I ended up winning a $50 gift certificate to DPG Offroad), we had a good campfire for the rest of the evening. The night was very cold, so the heat of the campfire was welcome. It was definitely a cold night for camping. I woke up early on Sunday hoping to get a trail or two in before heading home, but most everyone else was slow to get up. So I said my goodbyes and started on my way back home. My plan was to head east on I-80 and then south on US 191. Through Flaming Gorge and then to Vernal, where I could check out the trail that goes to Brown's Hole. But by the time I reached Vernal, I decided not to rush through Brown's Hole and that I would just go straight home instead. Along US 40 I passed two very recent wildfires along the highway that were just put out. South of Rangely in Canyon Pintado, I passed two more fires that were still burning. The firefighters had just arrived at the first fire I passed (their trucks passed me a few miles before). When I reached the second fire (between the Waving Hands site and Kokopelli site), it was right along the highway and burning pretty good. The smoke was blowing across the highway and a Rio Blanco sheriff had blocked off the road. I was worried I was going to be stuck here for a while, so I started looking at my maps to see if there were any backroads I could take around the area. Lucky for me, while I was looking through my maps, the sheriff decided to let us go through, as long as we drove with our hazard lights on. After getting past the fire, I quickly made it over Douglass Pass and was back home in time for dinner. I am going to plan heading back for the Geostash Challenge next year, however, if I do it will have to be for more than just a weekend. It was a pretty long drive for just a weekend, and there are a ton of roads for me to explore up there as well __________________ Randy Langstraat .: myXJ.net \| adventureJK.com :.

08-26-2009, 02:04 PM	#5
builtnotbought89' CF Veteran Join Date: May 2009 Location: SLC, UT Posts: 1,211 My Photos 1989 Cherokee Year: 1989 Model: Cherokee Engine: 4.0 Transmission: AW-4 Transfer Case: NP231 Front Axle: Dana 30 Rear Axle: Dana 35 Tires: 31x11.50x15 Super Swampers Lift Specifications: 3" rubicon express & 2" teraflex puck/shackle Misc Accessories: TC drop kit, cut fenders, cut front bumper, QDiscos, cool air, 22" brake lines, & mega maps!!! lol	Looks like a ton of fun! I take it NAXJA is a xj only kinda club! Do they have a web site & do u have the link? __________________ Real name is Ryan! 1989 2door, RE 3" & 2" BB, 31x11.5 swampers The purchase of this XJ was nothing more than a down payment on the accessories!!! Check out my build http://www.cherokeeforum.com/f46/bui...9-build-36364/

08-26-2009, 05:29 PM	#6
prerunner1982 CF Veteran Join Date: May 2008 Location: Edmond, OK Posts: 1,527 My Photos 1993 Cherokee Year: 1993 Model: Cherokee Engine: 4.0 ltr Transmission: AX15 Transfer Case: NP231 Front Axle: Dana 30 Rear Axle: Chr 8.25 Tires: 30x9.50x15 At (off brand) Lift Specifications: stock Misc Accessories: N/A at this time.	www.NAXJA.org Quite a few people here are on NAXJA as well. They aren't quite as friendly as CF is but there is a ton of info. __________________ Jon AKA "Stew Padidiot" 1993 XJ, 2dr, 4x4. Stock.

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