Winners Update

The winners of the Leaf it to Rusk Geocache Contest were drawn at the Greater Ladysmith Area Chamber of Commerce meeting on Tuesday, October 14.  Below are the results.  All prizes will be mailed.

In case you wondering, there were 30 total entries, with 28 correctly determining the final answer (Apollonia).  Total entries into the $25 Chamber Dollar drawing were 694.  Two-thirds of the entries found all 25 caches.  Entries were received from teams out of Illinois, Milwaukee, Waukesha, Eau Claire, Rice Lake, Hayward, Baldwin, Holcombe, Colfax, Hammond, Merrill, Spooner, New Richmond, Hager City, Stanley, as well as from the Rusk County area.

Grand Prize - Camperfamily3

2nd Grand Prize - woodducks

Winners of $25 Chamber Dollars Drawing-           

leja99

Carolin Smart

tjretzer

Lobie1

stagercrew                     

All of those teams that found 10 of the 25 caches should have received the Rusk County Geocache gift (lanyard pen).  If you have not please let us know - geocacheruskcounty@yahoo.com

The Contest

The Leaf It to Rusk County Geocache Contest will run through the month of September, and will include 25 caches located throughout the County.  This is the first time the event is being held and will be an excellent way to enjoy the changing fall colors and to see visit sites in the County that you might not otherwise see.  These are all new caches specific to this event, and after the event is over all caches will become permanent.

Because this is the first year of the contest, the caches will be easy to moderate in difficulty and terrain, and most will be regular in size (small ammo can) – some will be a small container.   In future years we plan to include more difficult caches.  For the first year we wanted to make it enjoyable for all, and while some of the caches will be less of a challenge they will expose participants to a variety of interesting places in the County. Because some caches are placed in very easy and visible places, we ask participants to replace and hide caches as best possible.  All are hidden in publicly accessible places, some more populated than others- be on the look out for mugglers.  In addition to the contest clues (see below), caches are filled with area information, trinkets, and a log book.  Feel free to take an item and leave an item, and of course sign the log book. 

For more details on geocaching terms and etiquette visit www.geocaching.com .   

News Article

How To Play

Inside each cache will be a clue.  Participants will record each clue that they find in the caches.  Recording the clue will be a way to determine what caches were found, but all of the clues collectively will lead to one answer about something regarding Rusk County.  The more clues (caches) you find the easier the answer should be to determine.   The answer could be a person, place, event, etc. from the past or today.  There is nothing wrong with asking for help or doing additional research.  Participants will record each of their finds and final answer on the entry form available below or at the Rusk County Visitor Center.   Coordinates of all the caches will be available here, at the Visitor Center, and also on the geocaching.com website.

Entry Form (.pdf file)

Caches

Below are links to the caches on www.geocaching.com website.  Their you can find the coordinates, description, hint, and the logs. Please do log your finds the site.  You can also use the tools found on the website including downloading coordinates.  You can also download this .pdf document which contains a list of all 25 caches, their names, coordinates, a short description, and a hint.  This will really be all you need to start hunting (along with a GPS). It is essentially all the same info as on the www.geocaching.com webpage, minus the added tools and logs. 

1.                    Memorial On the Water

2.                    Ellingson Mill

3.                    Huck’s Field

4.                    Smallmouth Heaven

5.                    Wagon Wheel Landing

6.                    Big Falls Hyrdo

7.                    Haley Park

8.                    Meadowbrook Creek

9.                    Lighted Loop Fitness Trail

10.                 Amacoy Lake Landing

11.                 Grant Town

12.                 Downtown Ladysmith

13.                 Ladysmith Welcomes You

14.                 Bruce Park

15.                 Memorial Park

16.                 Flambeau Point

17.                 Sustainable Trails

18.                 View of St Francis

19.                 East Sisters Farm

20.                 Come to the Fair

21.                 Tony Highway 8 Park

22.                 Take a Kid Fishing

23.                 Scoles Landing

24.                 End of the Road

25.                 Come in and Visit

.pdf of cache names, locations, descriptions, and hint

How to Win

The contest will offer three ways for participants to win. 

1.     All teams that turn in an entry form will be entered in a drawing for 5 (five) $25 Chamber Dollar certificates.  Teams will be entered into the drawing according to the number of caches that they have found.  (i.e. 5 caches found = 5 entries, the more you find the better your chances of winning). 

2.     The first 50 teams/participants that submit an entry form with at least of 10 of the 20 caches found will receive a Rusk County Geocaching gift. 

3.     All teams that correctly solve the final answer will be entered into the drawing for the grand prizes.  The Grand Prize is a $500 Rusk County gift package, which includes $250 in Chamber dollars and $250 in merchandise.  The second grand prize is a $250 Rusk County gift package, which includes $125 in Chamber dollars and $125 in merchandise.

GPS Units

GPS units will be available for rent for those who do not have  unit, but would like to give it a try.  They will be available for rent on a daily basis from the Rusk County Visitors Center.  They will rent for $10/day along with a picture ID.

Intro to Geocaching

There will be an introduction to geocaching workshop at the Copper Park Equestrian Trailhead located on the reclaimed Flambeau Mine on September 6 from  9 am to noon as part of the Annual Ladysmith Community Walk.  Another session will be held at the same location on September 27 from 10 am to Noon during the Leaf it tor Rusk Festival Guided Horseback Trail Rides sponsored by the Flambeau Riders.

Sponsored by - Contact Info

The Geocache contest is sponsored by the Greater Ladysmith Area Chamber of Commerce, Rusk County Tourism, and Flambeau Mining Company.  Entry forms are available at the Rusk County Visitors Center, 205 W. 9th St. S.,Ladysmith, WI  54848, (715) 532-2642.  Questions can also be directed here, or emailed to geocacheruskcounty@yahoo.com.

Entry forms are due to the Visitors Center by October 1.  Submit in person by mail, or email.