Strathcona Science Park Geocache and Dog Walk - Sat, Nov 21 2009

Strathcona Science Park Geocache and Dog Walk (11/21/2009)

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The Basics:

Event Type:

Urban Hike

Event Location:

Fort Edmonton Park

Date(s) & Time:

Sat, Nov 21 2009 10:30 AM

Registration Cut Off:

Fri, Nov 20 2009 11:00:00 PM

Event Duration:

2 hours

Difficulty Rating:

D3: Moderate

Event Coordinator(s):

Shirley M
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Member Cost:

Voluntary Donation Only (See Below)

Participant Info:

Who's Invited:

Members Only, All - DO NOT USE

Maximum Group Size:

Minimum Group Size:

Number Registered So Far:

6 (To see who's signed up, log in to the Member Area)

Are Dogs Permitted:

Yes

Itinerary:

The leaves are off the trees, giving a clear view of the sky, and there is no snow on the ground at the moment. Perfect conditions for geocaching! We will try to find the "Come to the Science Park", the "Black Diamond in the Rough", "Bubba 2" "The Motherload" and possibly the "R57's Iron Horse Crossing" caches in the Strathcona Science Park Area, and will walk our dogs at the same time.

For those not familiar with geocaching, please visit Geocaching.com for more information. It is a worldwide hobby where people hide boxes of trinkets and post their GPS coordinates for others to find. It's treasure hunting by GPS! I have a GPS so you don't need one, but if you happen to have one then go to the web site, sign up, find the cache, and load up all of the coordinates you will need. Try the 'map it' option after typing in your home postal code to find the caches around you - then just zoom out and zoom into the Science Park area and you'll find the caches. Double click on a cache box to get to the geocache page.

The hike includes mainly gravel paths and some pretty intense hills, so be prepared for a bit of a workout and some slippery footing. There is some ice on the lower trail as well. There might even be a little snow. There will be some bushwacking involved, so don't bring your best coat and be sure to wear grippy hiking boots. Dogs must be on leash in this area. You are expected to be responsible for your dog's behaviour, so please keep him/her in check.

The park is pretty easy to find (see directions). Wikipedia says that Strathcona Science Park is a provincial park that was established on December 12, 1979 on both sides of the river and is maintained by Alberta Tourism, Parks, Recreation and Culture. We will be on the east side, which was the location of an annual aboriginal camp for thousands of years, as it was located close enough to the river for transportation and trade and the bluffs of the river valley provided excellent bison-hunting opportunities. The park was established to preserve the site from encroaching industrial development. It was the site of archeological excavations in 1978 to 1980. There is a small ski hill on this side of the river as well; we will cross along the bottom of it.

We will meet at 10:30 am at the south end of the middle parking lot and will leave promptly at 10:40 am. I will be wearing a white polar bear toque and I have a white dog.

Required Items to Bring:
Weather-appropriate clothing (toques, gloves, rain gear etc.)
Poop bags if you have a dog
Grippy hiking boots
Water

Recommended Items to Bring:
Use our Event Checklists to make sure you have everything you need.
Dog
GPS unit
Dollar store items to exchange with those in the caches (generally items smaller than your hand but some of these caches can take larger items)

How to Get There:

Event Directions:

From Sherwood Park Freeway, take the 17th St. exit and head north. Go past Baseline Road and after some industrial areas, turn left into the park (there will be a sign). From the Yellowhead Highway, take the 17th St. exit and head south. Turn right into the park (there might not be a warning sign from this way so keep your eyes peeled for the sign in the park itself). Once inside the park, cross the railway tracks and go straight (do not turn right towards the ski hill). Turn right into the parking lot.

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Notes:

If you need a ride to the location, please email me and I will try to organize one for you.

- We encourage all members to follow our Etiquette Guidelines at all times while participating in EOC events.
- Please scroll through and read the entire online waiver when you sign up.
- Details of this event are subject to undergo a change at any point in time, with or without warning.

Voluntary Donation: ( What is this?)
Suggested donation amount for this event is: $2.00/Person.

Cancellation/Partial Attendance:
Please review our Cancellation Policy carefully!