I’ve gone creek swimming in winter and recaptured a bit of my youth coasting down the street on a Big Wheel. Later this month, I’ll be putting my field day skills to the test against some much, much younger opponents. Now, I’m looking for more ideas for my Out of Focus column. Should I arm wrestle your cousin? Should I challenge you to a wood spliting contest? Should I hitchhike across Wythe County? If you have a suggestion for an upcoming column, please post it here. I’ll give you the credit and may even show up on your doorstep to get that load of firewood ready for winter. I look foward to hearing from you soon.

Enough with the dog transport allready!!!!

Log every Geocache in Wythe County in one day.  No cheating to the two on top of Sand Mountain (if you also happen to have a dual sport cycle).  Just between those and the Elvis Confluence you will have very sore legs.

If you’ve not found any of them before, then I bet you can’t do it!  Some of the caches, like the one at Carter’s Park, took me a few tries on different days to find.  The satellite signals reflect off of a rock cliff, which really throws the GPS receiver off.

Let’s see, just to name some off the top of my head, you would have to visit:
* Rural Retreat
* Rural Retreat Lake (with a mile of so of trail hiking)
* The Shot Tower
* New River Trail Park at Foster’s Falls
* Miller’s Creek (a couple miles of serious hiking through woods - no trail)
* Very top of Sand Mountain (where the towers are, a few mile hike each way)
* Jefferson National Forest
* Porter’s Crossroads
* Top of Big Walker Mountain (not sure if that is actually in Wythe County)
( Mount Rogers National Park, just south of Speedwell (not sure if that is actually in Wythe County either)
* Carter’s Park
* Fort Chiswell Outlet Mall

Dan

Dan East - 04 May 2008 11:07 PM

Log every Geocache in Wythe County in one day.  No cheating to the two on top of Sand Mountain (if you also happen to have a dual sport cycle).  Just between those and the Elvis Confluence you will have very sore legs.

If you’ve not found any of them before, then I bet you can’t do it!  Some of the caches, like the one at Carter’s Park, took me a few tries on different days to find.  The satellite signals reflect off of a rock cliff, which really throws the GPS receiver off.

Let’s see, just to name some off the top of my head, you would have to visit:
* Rural Retreat
* Rural Retreat Lake (with a mile of so of trail hiking)
* The Shot Tower
* New River Trail Park at Foster’s Falls
* Miller’s Creek (a couple miles of serious hiking through woods - no trail)
* Very top of Sand Mountain (where the towers are, a few mile hike each way)
* Jefferson National Forest
* Porter’s Crossroads
* Top of Big Walker Mountain (not sure if that is actually in Wythe County)
( Mount Rogers National Park, just south of Speedwell (not sure if that is actually in Wythe County either)
* Carter’s Park
* Fort Chiswell Outlet Mall

Dan

Thats a good one!! Gave it a try last summer.

So many adventures, so little time. I just want to say thanks to all of you who’ve been kind enough to post and e-mail ideas for new Out of Focus columns. So far, I’ve been urged to test my nerve in a haunted house, go fishing with a feisty 8-year-old and become an elite competitor in the annual Hillbilly Olympics. All great ideas, indeed. Thanks again, and keep them coming. I’ll announce my next misadventure soon.