Tag Archives: geocaching

Celebrate Geocaching in Oregon

geocaching in OregonGeocaching in Oregon is nothing new as the game started here. On May 3 this game, once known as the “Great American GPS Stash Hunt’, celebrates its 23rd birthday with now over 3 million hides world wide. A little history lesson here, the full version can be read on the Geocaching.com website where I pulled this information.

“Geocaching is a high-tech treasure hunting game played throughout the world by adventure seekers equipped with GPS devices. The basic idea is to locate hidden containers, called geocaches, outdoors and then share your experiences online. Geocaching is enjoyed by people from all age groups, with a strong sense of community and support for the environment. Geocaching.com is the headquarters for the activity”

Blue Switch Day, May 2, 2000, is the day accurate GPS technology became available to everyone. It launched innovation and new technology that changed the world forever. It’s not a coincidence the first geocache was hidden the next day, and the game of geocaching was born!

On May 3rd, 2000 a black bucket was placed in the woods near Beavercreek, Oregon, south of Portland. Along with a logbook and pencil, various items including videos, books, software, and a slingshot were left to trade. The waypoint of this “stash” were shared online and the “Great America Stash Hunt” was started.

That original bucket was severely damaged by an Oregon road crew mower and is no longer around. Concerned geocachers dedicated the Original Stash Tribute Plaque GCGV0P on behalf of cachers everywhere.

Find a geocache, Adventure Lab, or attend an event May 1st through May 3rd and earn the Blue Switch Day souvenir

Many innkeepers of the Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild are avid cachers and you’re sure to find many caches near their inn when doing a search.

Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild is ready to share Oregon with you: it’s environment, culture, and heritage. Combine gracious hospitality with ambiance at an inspected and approved Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild member Inn.

Hospitality Update: Our inns are following COVID-19 protocol guidance from the Oregon Health Authority. 

Although mask guidelines are lifted:

● Some businesses may choose to still require masks.

● Some people may choose to still wear a mask.

We have all struggled through COVID-19 and could use a little kindness. Please be respectful of local businesses and their workers and most importantly kind to yourself.

Interurban Elk Crk Trestle of bygone rail days

The Disappearing RR Blues series of caches are ones that highlight abandoned NW Oregon railroad, and trolley right-of-ways or structures.

GC5ANXN Disappearing RR Blues: Interurban Elk Crk Trestle

The Elk Creek Trestle, featured photo, is the old Cazadero Line of the Portland Railway Light and Power (Ancestor to current PGE). The railway was electrified, thus starting an electric Interurban passenger service between Cazadero, Estacada and Portland Oregon.

Oregon State Parks is converting the old interurban line into a trail, Cazadero Trail which starts just north of cache location. With plans to extend the trail over the bridge. Wouldn’t that be great!!

Eugene bygone rail ties embedded in street

Disappearing RR Blues: Eugene Streetcars GC1F305 – This cache highlights part of the Fairmont line.

Coined the finest small city streetcar system in the US, Eugene’s was the third largest in Oregon behind Portland and Salem. Mules hauled the first railcars in 1891 before being replaced by an electric streetcar system built between 1907-1912 by the Portland Eugene & Eastern. It was purchased by the Southern Pacific RR in 1915. Service ended in 1927. There were 4 lines in 1912.

Disappearing RR Blues: Portland Trolleys

Portland Oregon at one time had a large trolley system heading out into many neighborhoods. It is rare to fine remnants to this earlier time, but at 26th and Morrison, rails of the old narrow gauge system are in plain view: GC1M1ZP. The tracks here were part of the Mt Tabor Line.

Portland Trolly bygone railroad ties embedded in street seems to running right into the house

The first trolleys in Portland were horse drawn in the 1870’s and the first electric trolley started in 1888. After WWII trolleys were quickly fallen out of favor with politicians and the public. By 1950 the automobile was becoming king and the last of the narrow gauge streetcars ceased running. The interurban line to Oregon City ceased to exist by 1958.

Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild is ready to share Oregon with you: it’s environment, culture, and heritage. Combine gracious hospitality with ambiance at an inspected and approved Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild member Inn.

Hospitality Update: Our inns are following COVID-19 protocol guidance from the Oregon Health Authority. Although mask guidelines have been lifted some businesses choose to still require masks. And some people are still choosing to wear a mask.

We have all struggled through COVID-19 and could use a little kindness. Please be respectful of local businesses and their workers and most importantly kind to yourself.

The Original Geocache plaque

Geocaching in Oregon ~ Where it all Began

Geocaching in Oregon is nothing new as the game started here. On May 3rd this game, once known as the “Great American GPS Stash Hunt’, celebrates its 22nd birthday with more than 3 million hides in over 190 countries. A little history lesson here, the full version can be read on the Geocaching.com website where I pulled this information.

“Geocaching is a high-tech treasure hunting game played throughout the world by adventure seekers equipped with GPS devices. The basic idea is to locate hidden containers, called geocaches, outdoors and then share your experiences online. Geocaching is enjoyed by people …from all age groups, with a strong sense of community and support for the environment. Geocaching.com is the headquarters for the activity”

On May 3rd 2000 a black bucket was placed in the woods near Beavercreek, Oregon, south of Portland. Along with a logbook and pencil, various items including videos, books, software, and a slingshot were left to trade. The waypoint of this “stash” were shared online and the “Great America Stash Hunt” was started

That original bucket was severely damaged by an Oregon road crew mower and is no longer around. Concerned geocachers dedicated the Original Stash Tribute Plaque GCGV0P on behalf of cachers everywhere.

Many innkeepers of the Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild are avid cachers and you’re sure to find many caches near their inn when doing a search.

Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild is ready to share Oregon with you: it’s environment, culture, and heritage. Combine gracious hospitality with ambiance at an inspected and approved Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild member Inn.

Hospitality Update: Our inns are following COVID-19 protocol guidance from the Oregon Health Authority. Oregon’s statewide mask requirement for indoor public places was lifted on March 12.

After mask guidelines are lifted:

● Some businesses may choose to still require masks.

● Some people may choose to still wear a mask.

We recognize that there will be mixed feelings about this change. We have all struggled through COVID-19 and could use a little kindness. Please be respectful of a person’s individual decision to wear a mask or not, and most importantly kind to yourself.

Our inns are doing everything in our power to keep you safe. Not sure if your favorite inn  is open? Give them a call as they just might be.

Multnomah Falls and the Benson Bridge

Multnomah Falls in the Columbia River Gorge

Multnomah Falls pinterest pinMultnomah Falls is the most visited recreation site in the Pacific Northwest with 2 million stopping each year to take in the views. As a local innkeeper I suggest visiting the falls on either ends of the day and midweek to beat the crowds. I also suggest taking the time to hike the 6 miles Wahkeena – Multnomah Falls loop so as to ‘discover’ 6 more waterfalls, if you indeed love to chase waterfalls.

Fed by underground springs from Larch Mountain, the flow over the falls varies, usually its highest during winter and spring. Multnomah Falls offers one of the best places in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area to study geology exposed by floods. Five flows of Yakima basalt are visible in the falls’ cliff face.

The earthcache ‘Multnomah Falls’, GC98X65, studies the different types of exposed basalt layers.

Our Chasing Waterfalls and Oregon Waterfall Wednesdays series continues. According to Northwest Waterfall Survey there are well over 1000 waterfalls in Oregon! We’ve set out to witness the beauty of as many as we can. We’ll share our finds with you, our guests, so you too can set out to Chase Waterfalls.

Where to Stay. What to Do. Where to Eat. Where to Play

Chase Oregon Waterfalls with us by following the Pinterest and Facebook pages of the Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild. Choose an Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild member in Portland or the Columbia River Gorge as your home base while chasing waterfalls in the Columbia River Gorge

The Oregon Trail of Waterfalls Map from the Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild will inspire you

Download the map and start the new year right with some Oregon inspiration. We’ve included where to stay, things to do in Oregon, where to eat. You’ll find a mountain of epic trip ideas for your next outdoor, cultural or culinary adventure in every corner of the state. Now more than two dozen inns are ready to help you plan your most EPIC Oregon road trip!

SEE A DIGITAL VERSION OF THE MAP

Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild is ready to share Oregon with you: it’s environment, culture, and heritage. Combine gracious hospitality with ambiance at an inspected and approved Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild member Inn.

Hospitality Update: Our inns are following COVID-19 protocol guidance from the Oregon Health Authority. 

Although mask guidelines are lifted:

● Some businesses may choose to still require masks.

● Some people may choose to still wear a mask.

We have all struggled through COVID-19 and could use a little kindness. Please be respectful of local businesses and their workers and most importantly kind to yourself.

An Oregon Lookout Tower

5 Reasons We Love Geocaching in Oregon

Geocaching in Oregon is nothing new as the game started here.  On May 3, 2020, this game, once known as the “Great American GPS Stash Hunt’, celebrates its 20th birthday with now over 3 million hides world wide.  A little history lesson here, the full version can be read on the Geocaching.com website where I pulled this information.

  1. You’ll find that discovery, exploration and adventure still exist in the real-world. It gets you out and about!
  2.  It’s a great way to stay healthy while having fun
  3.  Many of our innkeepers are cachers so you’ll experience new places from a local
  4.  Discover places you never knew existed
  5. You can learn fun facts about Planet Earth

And 5 reasons to Geocache as the Seasons change

  1. Trails are less traveled
  2. There may be more affordable travel options
  3. Enjoy the View: As the seasons transition temperatures can vary and lead to some stunning landscapes
  4. The changing weather means that you may have a sneak peek of summer sunshine in spring, or could indulge in ski or snowshoe caching in autumn!
  5.  A chance to get some lower elevation caches

Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild is ready to share Oregon with you: it’s environment, culture, and heritage. Combine gracious hospitality with ambiance at an inspected and approved Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild member Inn.