Caching in Hinton.

After 40 yrs of breathing in this great province this Albertan has some special spots in the province to visit. Well, JNP and the area east of the park are some of my favorite places to hike and explore. After I was 16 I was hiking, fishing and exploring on my own (on account I had my license) throughout the eastern slopes of the park, north to Switzer park, and all the way south on the trunk road past Banff. The forestry truck road running N&S, parallel to the park has sTuRgi sweat and tears all over it. Simply my favorite.

So it was a natural selection to head south west to JNP and Hinton area for our geoadventure get-away! That's why we got here.

Sunday am the breakfast bell was a bit later 8am this time, so we all got a sleep in. The morning air was brisk and certainly fresh. I just can't explain the feeling I get when you first walk out into clean, mountain air, with a tint of horse poop, GAWD I love that!! We all packed it downstairs to have breaky with the owners and other guests. Liam insisted the bell be rung....again! Then we eat.

Breakfast:

• Bacon
• Pancackes
• Fruit
• Coffe n Juice

Packed lunch for our Geoadventure as we knew we would not be back for lunch at the ranch! We hit the road by 10am to get a full day of cachin in, and another Geoadventure begins.

Today's Geocaches:

Solomons Creek  

Dawg Heaven  

Old Powerhouse 

Welcome to Bruele

Old Yellow

Police Stash#1

Kiddie Cache

Stop, Pop & Roll

Inushuck

Height of Heights 

A FULL day of navigation, p breaks, sunshine, fresh air, family and geocachin!!! 

The hi-light of the day was certainly "Dawg Heaven" - his cache will forever remain in the sTuRgi hard drive for a long time. The coordinates for this cache were very close to the BCR, but we decided to leave it till later in the morning when it warmed up a bit. Well, we planned that one right. After locating the access road, Daddy had to do some 4x4 maneuvers and a stellar park job on a tight trail, and ICE!!! The listing for this cache was very intriguing, and had momma and I thinking a bit. Boy were we right, what an interesting cache.

Dawg Heaven GCNQ3H - a geocache located on the far side of a "pet cemetery" = Dawg Heaven. It was a beautiful spot, but with an emotional tie, that definitely touched the sTuRgi. This was a place for pet owners to lay their pets who passed on rest. A quiet, secluded spot facing west, towards the mountains. Now this is the place I would like to rest, if given the chance. BEAUTIFUL!!!! We had to explain to the kids what the idea was behind the pet cemetery, and Liam took it to heart and shed a tear. Who know our Crystal kid would be so touched - ya we both knew before we got their Liam would be affected, and he was. We explained that when pets die, it's like loosing a family member, and that this place was a happy place for the passed on pets to enjoy their time in a better place. And that this special place meant alot to the mommy and daddies of these pets. Liam certainly understood, but it brought alot of sadness to his young heart. It was our job to ensure he understood the reason, and I think we did a great job...after of coarse we all cried!! Momma led us to the cache, signed the log book and then we trekked back to the limo. We stopped at every grave, saying the names of the critters and wishing them a great day! The kids may have heard about the circle of life today, and they may have understood it a bit, but Im glad we stopped at this cache. 

Liam was sad still, and he mentioned he didn't want Spriggsy to die and come here. So we explained that indeed someday Spriggs would pass away, and maybe we would bring him here, or create our own spot for him to rest, with a great view. A place we can visit him anytime, and he'll be left alone to enjoy his time. Liam liked that - and with that it was time to go. Definitely one of the best caches we have been too, and learned alot about life and death!!

After this cache it was time for some grub, so picnic time it was. We headed into Hinton for a break, fuel and finally a LIMO BATH!!! The balance of the afternoon was more cachin, a nap for the Bean and Jr. On our way home we hit the cache Height of Heights. This cache is loacted just outside Hinton, on Hwy 40 North towards Grande Cache. There is a subdivision for the richy rich, who don't want to live in Hinton, but close to the mountains, my opinion a great spot to live, much like the Zac, cept RICHER$$$$$$$$!!!!!!

This cache was a great location, great view, ez access and a family designed cache - our favorite when caching with the mini me's. So we thought what a great spot to drop our first Travel Bug - TCB. 

So we did, left our first Travel Bug behind, with directions and a mission to get it to Graceland, home of the King of Rock n Roll - ELVIS!!!!! 

It is still there as of today 15Apr12, but we hope it starts it's mission soon. I am apprehensive that it will make it, but hey it's worth a try!. I took my TCB silver ring and attached it to the TB via a key chain ring. Hope it holds, Hope it makes it to Graceland. So far no-one has visited this cache since our visit, but it's a great spot and I hope the TB gets picked up soon!!!

Back to the BCR for din din, and R&R! Then the journey home in the am.