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Post by landsharkz on Dec 1, 2015 20:55:29 GMT -9
Hello! Helen here . Chris and I (Landsharkz) are in the thick of coordinating an Alaska Geocaching cruise for August 2016. It's still some time away, but at the moment we have a group of about 50 who will be touring some of your sights with us. This will be our 2nd time escorting a geocaching cruise, 4th time cruising, but our first trip to Alaska! Chris and I are quite experienced and comfortable outdoors in the Pacific Northwest but some of the participants may not be and so we'd like to suggest gear and clothing so that people are properly equipped to get maximum enjoyment from this adventure. We will be visiting Juneau, Skagway and Ketchikan, with group excursions planned in each port. If you would like to read a bit about our trip plans please visit this link: Landsharkz Travel. We welcome your suggestions on a gear list for cruisers based on the excursions we have on our itinerary. We think we know what they need to bring, but welcome your ideas in case there's things we're overlooking. Will we have time in each port to attend an event and can we work a theme into them, so they're something locals will want to come and join in? On the Caribbean cruise it was obvious that some cachers in our group really liked to attend events in each port. The highlight of these events was when we met other tourists or the locals, but unfortunately that was seldom the case. In Alaska, we would prefer any events be hosted by locals if they are willing... Chris and I have a 'thing' about out of town cachers hosting events in Victoria and we don't want to do that 'on your turf'. Our hometown Victoria, BC is also a cruise ship port on the Alaska run, and so our summer is full of events being hosted by tourists at the cruise ship terminal or downtown at the Inner Harbour. The sad part is sometimes ships can't dock for some reason and so the tourist host misses their own event. We refuse for that to be our legacy in Alaska...LOL. Chris and I will be guests on CachingNW Podcast on December 10 talking about cruising and this trip. Please listen in and maybe ask a question or share a bit of your region with us and the listeners. We're going to encourage all 50 of the cruisers to listen in too if it fits their schedule! CachingNWThank you, Helen
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Post by SSO JOAT on Dec 2, 2015 0:30:14 GMT -9
We have an active caching group in Ketchikan. Juneau and Skagway can be hit or miss with access to local cachers. It is quite common for "cruise ship cachers" to host events along their route in SE Alaska. It's a big state and I don't think anyone really bats an eye at the practice up here. You should definately get in contact with AKRUD in Ketchikan to see if you can coordinate with some locals in her area. As you should well know, it is raining in SE Alaska. Have your cachers bring rain gear with appropriate waterproof footwear. An extra layer up top in the way of a polarfleece hoodie is always a good idea to put under the rain gear. There will be lots of bugs, so bring good bug dope. And there are plenty of bears, so some kind of noise maker is a good idea. Wearing rattling bells and having cachers walk in noisy groups of no fewer than 3-4 people will keep the bears away.
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Post by landsharkz on Dec 2, 2015 9:09:34 GMT -9
Wow, I just looked at the caches in Skagway and it looks like they're mostly 'vacation caches' with owners from all over North America. I'll definitely check if some of them need any TLC so we can do our part to ensure they last. Is there local etiquette about maintaining other people's caches that we should be mindful of?
In Skagway we're going on the train trip to Bennett Lake and the Yukon so not sure yet where an event will fit in.
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Post by SSO JOAT on Dec 2, 2015 20:46:03 GMT -9
Dumping out the water, adding a new logbook, and similar basic maintenance is always encouraged. I think it's always good to list out what maintenance you performed in your online log, if not for the benefit of the CO (who may be MIA), but for the other cachers who will be coming along after you. Let's them know the cache is in good shape.
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Post by landsharkz on Dec 10, 2015 21:13:55 GMT -9
SSO JOAT, we will definitely spell out in our log what cache maintenance we've done and also if the CO can remove a NM log (if they're actively watching). Thanks for the tip. Events: I know you're saying that the locals don't mind if we host our own events, but if we can connect with locals, it would add to the experience. Even if they just suggest a location for an event, that we might not have thought of it would be better than a gathering at the pier . Can you suggest anyone we can contact in Skagway or Juneau?
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Post by ladybugkids on Dec 11, 2015 14:51:15 GMT -9
Hello LandSharkz: Sorry about taking so long to chime in... Recommended local contacts are: Ketchikan: Wally and Ericka, aka akwrench and akrudJuneau: David or Suki, aka davidaknz or berryseekers3Sitka: No known active cachers (I tried to engage local hiders in co-hosting an event two summers ago and didn't get a response) Skagway: No known active cachers. Ladybug JMC from Whitehorse has been known to make the two-hour drive to Skagway for events. Additional Alaska caching resources may be found on the GeocacheAlaska! Cache Information Webpage. I missed the Podcast last night. With respect to gear, just as in your neck of the woods, there is no such thing as bad weather, just bad gear. I recommend that people leave the cotton clothing at home and to wear polypropylene, capilene, polar fleece or other synthetics as the base layer and then add a breathable rain layer pants and jacket. Matched with a good pair of rain-resistant shoes (I prefer a pair of light-weight Gortex lined hiking boot) and light hat and gloves, that will allow people to be on the deck of the ship or hike around the woods no matter what the weather is while their other cruise buddies, who paid top dollar, shiver in their cabin and complain about the cold, wet air or confine themselves to the steamy interior of a tour bus. The optimists in the group should pack quick-drying running shorts, t-shirt/cycling jersey, and running/trail shoes because when the sun comes out in August, one doesn't want to miss out on adding to their tan. Ultimately, folks should be prepared for everyting from 40 degrees F and pouring rain to mid-70s and sun, oftentimes occuring several times on the same day. (We also say up here that if you don't like the weather, wait twenty minutes).
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Post by freeweez on Dec 16, 2015 12:57:38 GMT -9
Greetings, Depending on your mode of transportation next summer, if you are going to be on a AK State Ferry---my son-in-law who introduced me to caching works on one of the ships. Contact WOCM. His name is Larry. They live in Seward, but he works aboard one of the ferrys in SE Alaska in the summer.
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Post by ftl-ak on Jun 16, 2016 20:21:58 GMT -9
WOW sounds like an amazing trip. I will take a look I would love to meet you in person! I am in Anchorage but will check tics for flight maybe take a day trip!
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akrud
Bronze Cacher
Posts: 55
GeocacheAlaska! Membership Level: Sourdough
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Post by akrud on Jun 17, 2016 8:54:17 GMT -9
Hi LandShark! AkRud and akwrench would love to meet up with you guys! It looks like you hit Ketchikan August 25th! Most visitors that have events in town (esp with a group that big) usually do it on the dock itself. I can get you the coords or if you'd like me to host I can as well, I just need a time that you'd like to do it. Also let me know if you have questions about Ketchikan. Southeast weather is very erratic. Ketchikan gets 14 feet of rain a year. It's either extremely beautiful or rainy... :S Bring rain gear hopefully you won't need it. I'm excited to meet you! Again feel free to message me or email me. erickarud@hotmail.com
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