2022-12-11 42 -78

Location

In a field of Carlton Hill State Forest

Participants

Pedalpusher
Simon the dog
Myka the dog

Expedition

When seeing the hashpoints for the weekend, I didn't initially think this was reachable being in a field that was likely posted, but switching to OSM, I realized this was within Carlton Hill State Forest where I stopped after a previous hash expedition. I figured I could pick up this hash and then hit a trail at the end of the road by the hash and hike for an hour or so. I would also have to go on this adventure first thing in the morning, as it was recently my Mom's birthday and we were getting together in the afternoon to watch the Buffalo Bills Game (NFL - American Football) and have lunch/chocolate pie.

Since I needed to be out the door around 08:00, I had packed up my stuff for the week at my girlfriend's, made the chocolate pie and got everything ready to go the evening before. I was really good about getting up on time and was actually out the door a little after 08:00 and thought this would go great. Following my phone GPS out to the State Forest, I realized we were still in Hunting Season and we would have to be careful. There was a nice layer of new snow and I could see tire tracks heading up the hill to the State Forest area and found a couple vehicles parked along the road here and there. I figured, worst case, we could just walk the roads, but the hash, being in an open field would still be safe to get to.

Finding the parking area at the end of the hash-road, I parked next to another two vehicles and hopped out. The dogs were excited to run around and we stuck to the road to get to the hash-field. Seeing no one around, we walked in and realizing I still had a good phone signal, I used the HashDroid app to locate the hashpoint after a minor GPS dance. I had forgotten about recording proof about a potential Hash Collision (Honorable Mention), but when I tried turning on my GPS unit, it had gotten too cold and the batteries died. Knowing the general area for the Cache, I wandered around the pines along the field attempting to find a 'green bison tube' without any luck. Knowing it was a pretty small cache and not having exact coordinates, I didn't have much hope and gave up after about 10-15 minutes.

I had noticed another trail across from the hash-field and without any footprints around, I figured we could hike a bit through the woods over in this area since we were a decent way away from the parking area. Turns out the trail looped around and came back to the road right near the hash. With all the other cars around, I decided it would be safer to just stick to the road at this point so we headed back the way we came and went by the Cache area. I noticed an opening in the trees and thought I should give it another try on the way back. Perhaps I was overthinking it before...

After walking around for a while, a passing police officer gave me a wave but never stopped (I didn't consider this, but I don't think it counts as a Police Geohash anyway). Figured he was checking on the hunters on the last weekend of the Regular Season. Getting back to the hash-field, I first checked out the State Forest signage right there, but then entered the woods after not finding anything. I just tried to naturally walk through and around the trees where it was clear, but within a minute, thought I was in the same area as before. I had given it a good try, but don't really cache unless it's a Hash Collision so I don't get exposure to the more tricky hides. Giving one last look around, I was about to head back, but what's this hanging in the tree right next to me? We have a Hash Collision (HM) after all! Signing the log, I noted that I couldn't actually see the hash area well enough through the trees and recorded some additional proof of my finds.

We then headed back to the car and had a very nice lunch/Bills win with the family.

Photos

After getting out of the car, the dogs are happy to explore.
Walking up to the hash-field it feels like we are in a Bob Ross painting.
Made it!
The Dogs at the hash.
View North and to the road from the hash.
View West and toward where we parked.
View South.
View East and toward the GeoCache in the middle of those pine trees...somewhere...
Standard Stupid Grin.
On our way back, we did eventually find the cache.
Distance from the cache back to the hash for the Hash Collision event!