2013-12-30 45 -94
| Mon 30 Dec 2013 in 45,-94: 45.6246521, -94.0698163 geohashing.info google osm bing/os kml crox |
Location
A field behind a surfacing company Sauk Rapids, MN, USA.
Participants
- JMuonio (talk) (Jessica)
- Jake (Jessica's hubby)
- Norma (Jessica's grandma)
- Deb (Jessica's mom)
- Briana (Jessica's sister)
- Zeke (Jessica's nephew)
Expedition
Jessica was back in her hometown for Christmas after living in England for 18 months. She had done a few expeditions with Mcbaneg. Conversations had been ongoing about how bringing Norma on a hash would set a world record for the oldest geohasher. The Dow and dates conspired against a successful hash during a brief visit to England by Norma and Deb in July, so a second attempt was made. (Norma had her 87th birthday in the meantime, contributing to the overall goal.)
Minnesota's winter weather wasn't too cooperative, sharing sub-zero temperatures (Fahrenheit), snow and strong winds. The hash finally appeared to be achievable: located about 0.5 miles off a county road, in the middle of a farmed field. The weather was relatively nice, warming into the low, single digits with almost no wind. Our hash team was hastily assembled.
The crew consisted of four generations, Norma (age 87) was the star of the show. With her was her daughter Deb, two granddaughters (JMuonio and Brianna) and Zeke (3), a great grandson. Also along on the trip was Jake, a grandson-in-law. Everyone bundled up in warm clothes and headed to the site.
After a quick conversation with the landowner, who operated a business on the site, we had permission to stomp through the snow out to the hash. The snow was as deep as 12-inches in spots, sometimes covered in a hard crust and other times a powdery fluff. Norma and Zeke both took turns being pulled in a sled (with only an occasionally spilled rider). The trek brought the team through one field, into a second, and crossed a snowmobile trail that happened to have its own outhouse.
We arrived at the hash with red cheeks and cold toes. Norma made a celebratory snow angel, and we took our photos complete with cheesy grins. (The danger, of course, being that they'd freeze permanently on our faces.) Then, with quicker steps (either to escape the cold or out of joy), we returned to our cars. We had accomplished our goal, and Norma had earned her place in Geohash history, as the world's oldest hasher.
Because a world record was set (and because Norma lives in a REALLY small town) Deb contacted the International Falls newspaper about the record. They interviewed Norma and Jessica and wrote this article: http://www.ifallsjournal.com/news/general/snowy-dash-to-the-geohash/article_bdb50409-5fae-58ab-bc07-fd790838ce9d.html . Not sure that the reporter understands Geohashing yet.
Photos
Our crew, super excited, about to start the 1/2 mile snowy hike to the hash point.
The journey included a few stumbles and falls in the deep snow but some found a ride convenient.
Four generations helped Norma get to the hash point.
Cheesy grins at the hash point.
Geohashing is fun at any age!
Proof of a frozen hash. Being in MN, the temps are in °F.
Proof of Oldest Geohasher.
Achievements
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Jessica, Jake, Norma, Deb, Brianna, and Zeke earned the Land geohash achievement
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Jessica, Jake, Norma, Deb, Brianna, and Zeke earned the Frozen Geohash Achievement
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Jessica and Jake earned the Ambassador achievement
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Norma earned the Oldest Geohash Achievement
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Jessica, Jake, Norma, Deb, Brianna and Zeke earned the Media Attention Geohash Achievement
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