Hello Geocachers,
During a recent trip to southwestern Texas, I visited an area that I thought should be worthy of a virtual cache. This area is Closed Canyon near the Rio Grande. I wrote what I tought is a good cache description. However, the authorities who approve caches turned this one down.
There are many virtual caches far inferior to this one, but this one was not approved. It was featured in the October 1997 issue of Texas Monthly, so it is an area that is worthy of being featured in a major travel magazine. It was even described in The Boston Globe on June 23, 1996, so it clearly is an area that receives recognition from major newspapers and publications based far away from Texas.
Since this location is in a remote area far from my home, I am unable to put a physical cache here. It would be very difficult to place a physical cache in this area, because there are few or no known geocachers who live in this region. However, I firmly believe we need more caches in remote areas, not just caches close to the city.
Therefore, what can I do to appeal this decision, and get this cache approved? I firmly believe that this is an area that warrants having a cache, even if the only cache that I could establish there is a virtual cache.
Below is the text of the cache description so you can see what this cache is about.
Sincerely,
Ken Akerman (a.k.a. Highpointer)
Closed Canyon
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by Highpointer [profile]
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This cache has not been approved yet. Once it is approved, it will be listed on the site.
N 29? 19.629 W 104? 01.901 (WGS84)
UTM: 13R E 594018 N 3244621
or convert to NAD27 at Jeeep.com
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In Texas, United States [state map]
Hidden: 2/24/2003
Use waypoint: GCDA59 (what's this?)
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(ratings out of 5 stars. 1 is easiest, 5 is hardest)
Difficulty: Terrain:
Hike into a narrow canyon near the Rio Grande in southwestern Texas.
Admin - Emailed to see why a physical cache could not be placed
Explore Closed Canyon in Big Bend Ranch State Park, the largest state park in Texas. This is a narrow ravine, just 3-4 meters wide with sheer, vertical walls, cut by a seasonal stream that flows into the Rio Grande.
Traversing the entire canyon is a real canyoneering adventure, and requires proper knowledge, skills, and equipment. However, you don't need to traverse the entire canyon to claim this virtual cache, so most geocachers can do this. Begin your journey by parking at N 29? 19.669 W 104? 01.690, about a quarter-mile from the canyon entrance.
To claim this cache, visit the entrance to the canyon at the posted coordinates, and if the stream is not flowing and there is no danger of flash flooding, then hike into the canyon as far as you comfortably and safely can do. The first difficult traverse is at a point where a ladder descends into a pool (see this picture), so if you are hiking into the canyon then take a picture of yourself here and post it to earn credit.
Other photographs are greatly welcome. You can go farther if you like, but you will need rope and rappelling gear and know how to use the equipment properly in order to reach the Rio Grande. Because the configuration of the canyon blocks most satellite signals, GPS reception is virtually non-existent in the canyon.
Because this canyon is very narrow and there are no escape routes once past the entrance, there is real danger of flash flooding during times of heavy rainfall, particularly during the summer thunderstorm season. Therefore, please heed the weather forecasts and don't enter the canyon if there is any chance of heavy rain in the area. If it is not safe to enter the canyon, then post of picture of yourself at the entrance.
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