Geocaching Trip to Valentine, Nebraska - June 20-22, 2014

First geocache of the trip at a cemetery North of Merna

Very old hand made grave stone at the cemetery.

We were invaded by a group of six geocachers
from Omaha at another cemetery near Dunning.

Found the geocache with the Omaha cachers.

Geocache at a historical marker near Thedford, Nebraska.

Another sign near Thedford.

One of the cache requirements was to tell the elevation.
Our GPS says it is 2843 feet above sea level.

Mary found the cache.  A small pill bottle stuck in the sign post.

A geocache at the beginning of the Valentine National
Wildlife Refuge south of Valentine, Nebraska.

While crossing the bridge on Highway 20 we could see
the Cowboy Trail hike bridge to the North.

Our new friends Mike and Lisa Moore from Juniata
were at the Friday evening meet and greet event.

A page from the registration.

People came from Nebraska, South Dakota, Colorado
and Kansas City.

Our new friend Jim Splitt from Axtell, Nebraska.

The whole group on Friday night.

The host of our event handing out door prizes.

Finding a geocache after the evening event.

FTF = First to Find
The Moore's caching name is hunter83
We use Jerry+Mary (not very creative)

The cache was on this trail on the North edge of Valentine

Our motel room.

Mary was very impressed with the choice of pillows.

Saturday morning geocache in a tree
in southwest Valentine.

Large dragonfly on sign with a geocache nearby.

Jerry found this one at the City Park on the North edge of town.

The disc golf course appears to be very difficult.

Lots of trees and tall grass on the disc
golf course.

Jerry heading up a steep hill to a geocache.

It took a while but we finally found it.

View from the top.

Meeting up with the Moore's to go find some more.

The Moore family with Mary at the City Park on the
North edge of Valentine.

We should have read the geocache description
because it was not under the bridge.

It was on top the bridge.

Another bridge on the Minnechaduza Creek near the
Fish Hatchery northeast of Valentine.

The geocache description said you might have to get wet
to find it.  We didn't find it this time.

Heading into the woods to find another one.

Back at the bridge looking again with a bunch of geocachers.

None of them wanted to get wet.

Finally found it under the bridge.

Mike retrieved the magnetic key holder under
the bridge and Jerry signed everyone's name.

Everyone on top logging their find on their phone or GPS.

Looking for another geocache along the creek.

Strange abandoned structure that was at a dam that failed.

Jerry and Mike looking for the geocache.
We didn't find it this time.

Hiking across the bridge to Smith Falls on the Niobrara River
with Jim Splitt.

Lots of boaters on the river today.

Nebraska Game & Parks "Great Parks Pursuit"
I forgot to take the print out to do the rubbing so
we could enter the contest.

Walkway to Smith Falls.

Small water fall downstream from Smith Falls.

Smith Falls

Lots of kids at the falls.

We needed this picture to complete a geocache
at Smith Falls.

Jim measuring the water temperature below the falls.
Another requirement of the geocache.

A big group of tubers on the Niobrara River below the bridge.

On the bridge.  Yes there was a magnetic geocache here too.

Hiking to another cache near the falls.

Turkey Feather Falls along the trail.

This is where we stayed.  There were quite a few
other geocachers that stayed here too.

Sign at the Saturday evening picnic event.

One of the rows of picnic tables.

Jerry with some geocachers we know from Seward, Nebraska.

A large group hiked back to find the geocache at this location.

Steve (Geocache name:  James Bridger) on the right hid the cache
He came along to give us a hint to where it was hid.

Mike found it and I signed everyone's names to the log sheet.

When Steve went to put it back he dropped it.  It was at least 12
feet down.  One of the guys from Omaha climbed down the
ladder on the wall to retrieve it.