2013-12-14 46 -122

Location

In a field just south of the Lewis-McChord Air Force Base.

Participants

Rex Wolf (talk)

Plans

I had some extra time to kill, the hash looked fun, and it was within drivable range. Spontaneity!

Expedition

Driving down to the area of the hash itself was interesting. With my recent work-sponsored phone upgrade, I didn't have any capability for US data yet. I took some time to familiarize myself with the roads in the area before I left, but then I was totally on my own. No data, no maps. Just memory!

Of course, I had to go through Lewis-McChord Air Force Base to get to the right area. Or at least, I went through on a main road that cuts through the southern portion of the base. I did see at least one of the big Chinook heavy-lift helicopters flying overhead, but it was gone in the trees before I could get a picture of it.

The roads towards the hashpoint seemed an awful lot like driveways over flat land, heading for the ridge where the trees and houses were perched. I followed one until I couldn't follow it any more. I could have gone further, but the road was dug up in a trench, with a line running through it. I guessed they were doing some maintenance and just parked the car there.

Walking forward a bit, I came to a fenced area with a gaggle of chickens staring at me. I took a photo, chuckling at them, before stumping onwards. A few seconds later, there was a commotion, and I turned to see the chickens coming after me in hot pursuit! Still on their side of the fence, but I thought it was really funny.

As I went, I noticed that Mt. Ranier was looking very beautiful out to the northwest, so I detoured slightly so as to take a good shot of that. Turning back to the hashpoint, I soon found my way blocked by a fence. There were more fences out in the field, and I guessed the hashpoint wasn't just in a field, but a cattle field.

Retreating back to my car, I belatedly noticed a sign leaning up against a tree, opposite from the chicken run. Um... oops! Sorry...