More MEGA caching!

Sunday meant another MEGA caching opportunity! Going APE 2014 event (GC4MHAQ) was held in a Washington state park about 40 miles east of Seattle. The event organizers billed it as a “laid-back Mega,” which was nice after the busy Saturday we had! We got signed in and picked up our t-shirt packets, then headed to find the log. It was hanging on an APE! He was wearing it like a sandwich board (although Mac looked much cuter in her sandwich board yesterday!), and we all made sure to add our geo-nicks to the log.

We snagged a few lab caches, then Mac and I decided to challenge ourselves and tackle the real jewel of the APE Event … the Snoqualmie Tunnel! This 2.3 mile tunnel was built through the mountain to allow train passage between the valleys. Constructed from 1912-1914, the rail tunnel was in active service for many decades. When train service was re-routed, the tunnel was left abandoned. It was eventually re-opened as a bike and pedestrian passageway in the state park. Absolutely pitch black and with temperatures at a constant 50 degrees or so, the tunnel is really creepy! The dripping water from the ceiling added to the eeriness. We started off using our flashlights, but eventually became accustomed to the dark, and we just followed each other’s voice as we made our way through. We worked on the requirements for an Earthcache along the tunnel, including identifying stalactites hanging from the ceiling! Plus there was a traditional cache about halfway through. 

When we reached the west end of the tunnel, we had a little rest and a water break, then we headed further down the trail for some highly-favorited traditionals. We first snagged a Boy Scout micro cache (along with a caching trio from Germany), and went for a neat cache called Iron Horse, which was up a side trail (bonus points to us for meeting the original CO at the cache, who arrived at the same time coming from the other direction!). Then we headed another ½ mile further down the trail to snag an extra-special cache … the Mission 9 Project APE Tribute Cache! It was very well-done - a giant ammo can very secure in its spot! And it was being guarded by Sasquatch!

We sat down for just a minute longer to prep for the return hike, then it was back up the trail and into the long dark tunnel again! In total, we hike 7 miles, snagged several truly prized caches, and checked another item off our bucket list!!

 ~Clyde