User:Michael5000

Bio

Me

I am a 42 year old social worker living in the Portland, Oregon graticule. I began geohashing in October 2009, but I have been an arbitrary traveler for at least twenty years. I have an atlas of every road I've ever traveled, an extensive collection of U.S. Counties, and am gradually running down each and every road of Southeast Portland.

I blog a little about my exploits in arbitrary travel, but also a lot about my exploits in arbitrary book-reading, arbitrary movie-watching, and arbitrary topics such as boring postcards and flag criticism, at The Life & Times of Michael5000.

You will probably want to visit:

• Michael5000's Great Hall of Pointless Geohashing Statistics
• Michael5000's Geohashing Map Room
• Michael5000's Trophy Room

Mrs.5000

Mrs.5000, my helpmeet and lead co-adventurer, is an architect, bricoleur, and book artist of no little reknown. She is thought to prefer expeditions in which there is some secondary payoff, such as exercise, attractive scenery, or burritos, but she is as game for a random road trip as the next person. She has joined me on Expeditions #1, 2, 4, 9, 10, 12, 13, 15, 21, 22, 23, 25, 27.02, 28-31, 38, 41, 45, 47, & 58-69.

Other Humans

Niece #1 joined us for Expedition #4 and was a brilliant puppet for Expedition #15a.

Rebel joined us for Expedition #15.

Sarah joined me for doomed Expedition #17.

BigBrother5000 joined us for doomed Expedition #30.

A Really Nice Guy and his son saved our sorry stranded asses in doomed Expedition #60.

Jennifer joined us for doomed Expeditions #69 and #70.

Kate was a intrepid puppet for Expedition #75.

And it would be churlish not to mention Robyn, the human who introduced me to the pursuit and who is my geohashing hero and geohashing spiritual counselor.

Hashscot

Cinnamon Bear, my hashscot, is a 35 year old North American brown bear. He has many years of experience as a travel mascot. He has traveled in 44 U.S. states as well as Canada, England, and Wales, and has been to Hadrian's Wall, the White House, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and other well-known sites. He has been to the top of the highest mountain in New Jersey (with me) and to the tops of Oregon's Mt. Hood and Washington's Mt. Saint Helens (without me).

Cinnamon Bear has been along for Expeditions #2, 3, 4, 5, 9, 10, 15, 16, 18-22, 25, 26, 28-39, 41, 48, 51, 54, 55, 57-71, 74, & 76-89.

Recent Expeditions

90. 2011-09-22 45 -121 Just off the railroad on the eastern edge of Cascade Locks.

• Expedition Success!
• First Expedition to Hood River County.
• The Dalles, Oregon graticule becomes the third to host my third Expedition, and the second to host my third success.
• September 2011 now has my most Expeditions (16) and my most successful Expeditions (12) of any month.

• NEEDS PHOTOS/COUNTY MAP

89. 2011-09-20 45 -121 In rangeland off of U.S Highway 197 south of Maupin.

• Expedition Success!
• Fiftieth Successful Oregon Expedition!
• Fourteenth and Final Expedition of the Endurance Geohashing series.
• September 2011 is tied for most Expeditions and most successful Expeditions of any month.

Michael5000 earned the Endurance Geohashing Achievement by geohashing for {{{numDays}}} consecutive days beginning on 2011-09-14, attempting {{{numExped}}} and reaching {{{numReached}}} hashpoints.

• *NEEDS PHOTOS/COUNTY MAP

88. 2011-09-20 44 -121 Near the Alfalfa settlement east of Bend.

• Thirteenth Expedition of the Endurance Geohashing series.
• My first attempt at Deschutes County.

Michael5000 earned the My kingdom for a boat consolation prize by being prevented from reaching the (44, -121) geohash on 2011-09-20 by an impassable and unforeseen mighty irrigation canal.

*NEEDS PHOTOS/COUNTY MAP

87. 2011-09-19 43 -121 National Forest Land in northwest Lake County.

• Expedition Success
• Twelfth Expedition of the Endurance Geohashing series.
• First Expedition (by me) to the LaPine graticule.
• First Expedition to Lake County.

• Sixth Expedition of the 2011-09-19 Ultrahash.

Michael5000 earned the Multihash Achievement by reaching 4 hash points on 2011-09-19. It's an Ultra Hash.

Michael5000 achieved level 6 of the Minesweeper Geohash achievement by visiting coordinates in [[Springfield, Oregon]] and 6 of the surrounding graticules.

Michael5000 achieved level 5 of the Minesweeper Geohash achievement by visiting coordinates in [[Bend, Oregon]] and 5 of the surrounding graticules.

Michael5000 achieved level 5 of the Minesweeper Geohash achievement by visiting coordinates in [[La Pine, Oregon]] and 5 of the surrounding graticules.

86. 2011-09-19 44 -121 In Crooked River Ranch, an ultra-low density development northwest of Terrebonne.

• Expedition Success
• September 2011 now has the second-most successful expeditions ever.
• Eleventh Expedition of the Endurance Geohashing series.
• Fifth Expedition of the 2011-09-19 Ultrahash.
• First Expedition (by me) to the Bend graticule.
• First Expedition to Jefferson County.

*NEEDS PHOTOS/COUNTY MAP

Michael5000 achieved level 7 of the Minesweeper Geohash achievement by visiting coordinates in [[Portland, Oregon]] and 7 of the surrounding graticules.

Michael5000 achieved level 5 of the Minesweeper Geohash achievement by visiting coordinates in [[Springfield, Oregon]] and 5 of the surrounding graticules.

Michael5000 achieved level 5 of the Minesweeper Geohash achievement by visiting coordinates in [[The Dalles, Oregon]] and 5 of the surrounding graticules.

85. 2011-09-19 44 -120 Deep in the Ochoco National Forest.

• Expedition Success
• Tenth Expedition of the Endurance Geohashing series.
• Fourth Expedition of the 2011-09-19 Ultrahash.
• First Expedition to Crook County

*NEEDS PHOTOS/COUNTY MAP

84. 2011-09-19 44 -119 On a hill overlooking the John Day Valley west of Mount Vernon.

• Expedition Thwarted.
• Ninth Expedition of the Endurance Geohashing series.
• Third Expedition of the 2011-09-19 Ultrahash.

*NEEDS PHOTOS/COUNTY MAP No Trespassing Achievement(s)

83. 2011-09-19 44 -118 In National Forest land southwest of Unity, Oregon.

• Expedition Success
• Eighth Expedition of the Endurance Geohashing series.
• Second Expedition of the 2011-09-19 Ultrahash.
• 60th Oregon Expedition.
• First success in Baker County.

*NEEDS PHOTOS/COUNTY MAP

82. 2011-09-19 44 -117 In the hills east of the industrial ruins at Lime.

• Expedition Thwarted.
• First attempt (by anyone) at a hashpoint in the Baker City, Oregon graticule.
• Seventh Expedition of the Endurance Geohashing series.
• First Expedition of the 2011-09-19 Ultrahash.
• My first attempt at Baker County.
• First ever failure on a Monday -- 7-1.

Michael5000 earned the No trespassing consolation prize by almost reaching the (44, -117) geohash on 2011-09-19.

81. 2011-09-18 43 -116 Off of the Silver City road in southeastern Idaho.

• Expedition Success
• Sixth Expedition of the Endurance Geohashing series.
• 2011 now has more expedition attempts than 2010.
• Second successful expedition (by anyone) in the Boise graticule.

80. 2011-09-17 42 -114 Near the Snake River south of Hagerman, Idaho.

• Expedition Success
• 2011 now tied for Geohashingest year of all time.
• Second half of a doublehash.
• Fifth Expedition of the Endurance Geohashing series.
• Set record for my easternmost geohash.

• Only the fourth graticule to be hashed in the state of Idaho!

79. 2011-09-17 43 -115 In rugged hills south of Idaho City, Idaho.

• Expedition Success
• First half of a doublehash.
• Fourth Expedition of the Endurance Geohashing series.
• Set record for my easternmost geohash; but the record would be broken again eight hours later.
• My third state!

• My tenth Virgin Graticule!
• Only the third graticule to be hashed in the state of Idaho!

78. 2011-09-16 43 -119 In ranchland on the south shore of Harney Lake.

• Expedition Thwarted.
• Third Expedition of the Endurance Geohashing series.
• First known attempt to hash the Hines graticule.

Michael5000 earned the No trespassing consolation prize by almost reaching the (43, -119) geohash on 2011-09-16.

77. 2011-09-15 43 -118 In the Malheur Wildlife Refuge, about 25 road miles SSE of Burns.

• Expedition Success!
• Second Geohash of the Buchanan, Oregon graticule (for me, and for anyone).
• Somewhat alarming nighttime expedition, without flashlight.
• Thursday can't lose: I am 10-0 on Thursdays.
• Second Expedition of the Endurance Geohashing series.

76. 2011-09-14 45 -122 In a suburban commercial district in Vancouver.

• Expedition Success!
• Most banal location ever!
• Unintentional first Expedition of the Endurance Geohashing series.

75. 2011-09-01 45 -122 Just south of the Cascade Station area, near Portland International Airport.

• Expedition Success!
• Kate went Geohashing!

Michael5000 earned the Puppet Master Geohash achievement by manipulating Kate to reach the (45, -122) geohash on 2011-09-01.

July-August 2011

74. 2011-08-14 43 -123 The wrong day's graticule.

• Rather radical expedition failure.
• We attempt to get to yesterday's graticule.
• We don't get there.
• First actual attempt, kind of, at the Roseburg, Oregon graticule.
• Our first attempt, kind of, at Douglas County.

*NEEDS PHOTOS

73.2011-08-06 44 -122 In the Cascade Foothills south of Molalla.

• Expedition Success!
• New Graticule! First attempt and success in the Springfield, Oregon graticule.
• Second successful expedition (by anyone) in the graticule.
• Tenth attempt (8th success) in Clackamas County.

Michael5000 achieved level 6 of the Minesweeper Geohash achievement by visiting coordinates in [[Portland, Oregon]] and 6 of the surrounding graticules.

Michael5000 achieved level 5 of the Minesweeper Geohash achievement by visiting coordinates in [[McMinnville, Oregon]] and 5 of the surrounding graticules.

72.2011-08-03 45 -122 In a vacant lot near the Troutdale Airport.

• Expedition Success!
• First ever evidence of previous geohashing!

Hi Michael5000, Actually my inspiration for leaving a temporary marker behind at a hash was your chalked message at 2011-02-26 45 -122. kydlt

71.2011-07-31 45 -121 Off of Highway 26, twenty-five miles north of Warm Springs.

• Expedition Success!
• New Graticule! First attempt and success in The Dalles, Oregon graticule.
• New County! First attempt and success in Wasco County.
• Personal record: Earliest Geohash -- I reached the hashpoint at 6:50 a.m.
• Personal record: With 15 expeditions, July 2011 is my most active geohashing month. Eight successful expeditions makes it the second-best month ever in that category.

Michael5000 achieved level 5 of the Minesweeper Geohash achievement by visiting coordinates in [[Portland, Oregon]] and 5 of the surrounding graticules.

70.2011-07-27 45 -122 Near Highway 99E between Milwaukie and Gladstone.

• Expedition Success!
• 25.8 mile all-biking Expedition.

69.2011-07-24 45 -123 Between Cannon Beach and Seaside.

• Expedition Thwarted
• Jennifer joins us!
• 50th Oregon Expedition!
• Only my second McMinnville graticule Expedition.
• July 2011 becomes my month with the most geohashes (13) and by FAR the most failures (7, with the previous record being 2).

Michael5000 earned the Drag-along achievement by dragging Jennifer to the (45, -122) geohash on 2011-07-23.

68.2011-07-23 45 -122 Off of Springville Road in Northwest Portland.

• Expedition Thwarted
• Jennifer joins us!

Michael5000 earned the Drag-along achievement by dragging Jennifer to the (45, -122) geohash on 2011-07-23.

67.2011-07-21 46 -121 Near White Pass in the Washington Cascades.

• Expedition Success!
• First Expedition to Yakima County
• First Expedition (by me) to the Mt. Rainier graticule.
• Second successful expedition (by anyone) in the graticule.
• (Self-Awarded) Honorable Mention for Endurance Geohashing

Michael5000 achieved level 4 of the Minesweeper Geohash achievement by visiting coordinates in Portland, Oregon and 4 of the surrounding graticules.

66.2011-07-19 46 -117 In a canyon west of Asotin, Washington.

• Expedition Thwarted.
• First attempt (by anyone) at the Pullman graticule.

65.2011-07-19 45 -118 On a ridge above the Grande Ronde River near La Grande.

• Expedition Thwarted.
• First attempt (by anyone) at the Pendleton graticule.

64.2011-07-18 45 -117 On the Union Pacific Railroad south of Union, Oregon.

• Expedition Success!
• First attempt (by anyone) at the Enterprise graticule.
• Three virgin graticules in three days!

Michael5000 and Mrs.5000 earned the Railhash Achievement by visiting the hash situating on the railway. (45, -117) geohash on 2011-07-18.

63.2011-07-17 43 -117 In desert hills east of Juntura, Oregon

• Expedition Success!
• First attempt (by anyone) at the Vale graticule.

Michael5000 and Mrs.5000 earned the Multihash Achievement by reaching 2 hash points on 2011-07-17. It's a Double Hash.

62.2011-07-17 43 -118 A few miles east of US-395 in the Malheur National Forest.

• Expedition Success!
• First attempt (by anyone) at the Buchanen graticule.

61.2011-07-16 44 -118 In agricultural land between John Day and Prairie City.

• Expedition Thwarted
• First attempt (by anyone) at the Prairie City graticule.

60.2011-07-16 44 -119 Deep in the Ochoco Mountains.

• Expedition Thwarted
• First attempt (by anyone) at the Kimberly graticule.
• Most laborious and difficult car-based geohash to date.

Michael5000 and Mrs.5000 earned the Train wreck consolation prize by failing to reach the (44, -119) geohash on 2011-07-16 due to a flat tire.

59.2011-07-15 44 -120 Rural Wheeler County.

• Expedition Success!
• First Successful Eastern Oregon Expedition
• Second Successful hash of graticule
• First Successful Wheeler County Expedition

58.2011-07-15 45 -120 Off I-84 near Arlington.

• Expedition Thwarted
• First attempt (by anyone) at the Goldendale graticule

57. 2011-07-04 45 -122 In Sellwood.

• Expedition Success! Kind of!
• Independence Day Hash!
• Unusually uninteresting expedition!

January-June 2011

56. 2011-06-17 45 -122 On Marine Drive, just east of Portland International Airport.

• Expedition Success!

55. 2011-05-29 45 -122 In a powerline right-of-way off of Skyline Drive.

• Expedition Success!
• Somewhat reckless Bushwhacking!

54. 2011-05-22 45 -122 The I-205 median four miles into Washington.

• Expedition Success!
• 10th Clark County Expedition!
• Mild recklessness!

53. 2011-05-07 45 -122 A suburban street in Southwest Portland.

• Expedition Success!

52. 2011-04-27 45 -122 A sidewalk in The 'Couv.

• Expedition Success!
• The Curse of Wednesday is broken; I'm now 1-4 for Wednesday Expeditions!

51. 2011-04-21 45 -122 The middle of a street in Happy Valley.

• Expedition Success!

50. 2011-03-18 45 -122 Industrial site south of Foster Road.

• Expedition fail: private property, bashfullness.

49. 2011-03-09 45 -122 Residential neighborhood north of the Columbia.

• Deterred due to private access.
• First failure after 18-Expedition winning streak.

48. 2011-02-26 45 -122 On the Columbia River Bike Path.

michael5000 earned the Frozen Geohash Achievement

by reaching the (45, -122) geohash on 2011-02-26 while the temperature was 28°F.

47. 2011-02-04 45 -122 Just off Hwy 26 near Tanisbourne.

• Geohashing Synergy: Shoe Shopping!

46. 2011-01-10 45 -122 Somebody's yard in Irvington.

• First Expedition of 2011!

2010 (Expeditions #11-45)

The 2010 Expeditions in Detail

Late 2010 (Expeditions #39-45)

45. 2010-12-24 43 -124 In a tidal flat just off of East Bay Drive.

44. 2010-12-12 45 -122 In an empty lot by the railroad corridor in Milwaukie.

43. 2010-12-06 45 -122 In Happy Valley, off of Sunnyside Road.

42. 2010-11-11 45 -122 Near LaCamas Lake, north of Camas.

41. 2010-10-31 45 -122 Under a tree at SE 40th and Woodstock.

40. 2010-10-07 45 -122 Somebody's house, in Irvington.

39. 2010-09-24 45 -122 Somebody's driveway, in Sellwood.

The Belle Epoch: July & August 2010 (Expeditions #23-38)

38. 2010-08-31 45 -124 On a hilltop near the ocean in the Siuslaw National Forest.

37. 2010-08-29 45 -123 In the woods northwest of Vernonia.

36. 2010-08-29 46 -123 In the Capital State Forest, twelve miles WSW of Olympia, Washington.

35. 2010-08-29 46 -124 A vacant lot in Ocean Shores, Washington.

34. 2010-08-28 47 -123 In light forest near the Matlock-Brady Road, fifteen miles west of Shelton, Washington.

33. 2010-08-28 47 -122 Off a residential street in Parkland, south of Tacoma.

32. 2010-08-28 46 -123 In Clatsop State Forest, roughly 10 miles west of Clatskanie, Oregon.

31. 2010-08-16 42 -122 In the forested hills south of Ashland, Oregon.

30. 2010-08-14 42 -122 In the forest west of I-5, south of Ashland.

29. 2010-08-13 42 -121 In National Forest land east of Chiloquin, Oregon.

28. 2010-08-12 42 -123 In the hills south of the Applegate Valley, Southern Oregon.

27. 2010-08-05 45 -122 I84W to I5N Ramp, Central Portland.

26. 2010-07-30 45 -122 Lakeridge High School, Lake Oswego.

25. 2010-07-25 45 -122 Lone Fir Cemetary, Southeast Portland.

24. 2010-07-18 45 -122 Deep in the East Vancouver burbclaves.

23. 2010-07-17 45 -122 Off Marine Drive near the Portland International Airport.

January - June, 2010 (Expeditions #11-22)

22. 2010-06-11 52 -129 In Queen Charlotte Sound, off the British Columbia Coast

21. 2010-06-06 47 -122 In an apartment complex parking lot near SeaTac Airport.

20. 2010-05-30 45 -122 Forested foothills northeast of Vancouver.

19. 2010-05-23 45 -122 Along the Clackamas River near Estacada.

18. 2010-05-22 45 -122 A Street on the suburban West Side.

17. 2010-05-05 45 -122 Kingsley D. Bundy City Park in Southeast Portland, with Sarah.

16. 2010-04-21 45 -122 At the edge of a quarry site north of Estacada.

15a. 2010-04-14 44 -123 Northeast of Monmouth (by proxy)

15. 2010-04-11 45 -122 South of Oregon City, with Mrs.5000 and Rebel.

14. 2010-04-01 45 -122 Powell Butte Nature Park.

13. 2010-02-04 45 -122 Across the street from the back of a Safeway in Milwaukie, with Mrs.5000.

12. 2010-01-11 45 -122 On a residential street in Northeast Portland, with Mrs.5000.

11. 2010-01-09 45 -122 On a dead-end road near Tualatin.

2009 (Expeditions #1-10)

The 2009 Expeditions in Detail

10. 2009-12-27 42 -124 South of Humbug Mountain, Curry County, Oregon with Mrs.5000.

9. 2009-12-25 43 -124 North of Myrtle Point, Oregon with Mrs.5000.

8. 2009-12-23 45 -122 Residential Area Southeast of Vancouver Lake

7. 2009-12-21 45 -122 Gillihan Road, Sauvie Island.

6. 2009-12-06 45 -122 Sunset High School baseball diamond, Portland.

5. 2009-11-28 45 -122 On Logging Roads north of the East Fork Lewis River in Southwest Washington.

4. 2009-11-27 47 -122 East of Everett, Washington, with Mrs.5000 and Niece #1.

3. 2009-11-13 45 -122 To the eastern fringe of The 'Couv.

2. 2009-11-08 45 -122 To Vancouver Lake.

1. 2009-10-31 44 -123 To South Salem with Mrs.5000.

Other Hijinx

2011-07-27 -- Launched oddly massive and pointless redesign of personal page -- why have one user page when you can have seven?

2010-08-10 -- Created Michael5000's Top Ten (Fake) Rejected Achievement Proposals for your entertainment and edification.

2010-08-05 -- Proposed Over and under achievement for purposes of self-aggrandizement.

2010-06-11 -- Was in Ketchikan, Alaska, one day before the globalhash would occur on an accessible waterway just outside of town, but was unable to remain in town for an extra day.

2010-04-19 -- Alerted Huntsville, Alabama friends of the location of a highly accessible hashpoint. Result: Friends proved insufficiently motivated to travel to hashpoint. Also, alerted Niece #3 of a hashpoint near her home. Result: Disappointed by eighth-grade niece's lack of initiative in not securing rowboat for what would after all would have been a relatively short row into Puget Sound.

2010-04-19 -- Fell on face while walking around staring into screen of first GPS Unit. Screen of GPS Unit suffered minor crack. Pride scuffed.

2010-04-18 -- Purchased first GPS Unit.

2010-04-11 -- Suggested simplification of the Water Geohash achievement.

2010-02-01 -- Made another attempt to score the Puppet Master Geohash achievement using cousin. Result: Failed due to repeated recalcitrance of cousin.

2009-12-11 -- Seeing a highly accessible hash not far from a cousin's home, made another attempt to score the Puppet Master Geohash achievement. Result: Failed due to recalcitrance of cousin.

2009-11-10 -- Finished entering graticules for Oregon page.

2009-11-05 -- Noting that an accessible hash is two miles from my eldest niece's college campus, sent detailed if gnomic instructions in an attempt to score the Puppet Master Geohash achievement. Result: Failed due to recalcitrance of niece..

2009-11-03 -- Laboriously created Oregon page, and links to it on individual graticule pages, out of a sudden compulsion to know which graticules are still available for the Virgin Graticule Achievement.