u/WayyyUpYonder

Four Days in the Circle - 06/01

Four Days in the Circle - 06/01

Boots on the ground, from Saskatoon to Muskiki Springs to Lanigan...

This is my story.

DAY 4

https://preview.redd.it/philupazx35h1.jpg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=75c8dc81a069396dd52d3004484130695a3ba782

https://preview.redd.it/uz22z9xzx35h1.jpg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f42f6efa9003b52182c8149dcc36e76533950bf0

I bounded into the Heritage Centre at 9am sharp, met the volunteers, made a small donation, and bee-lined to the potash displays.

The rooms were educational 🏫

but, ultimately, ineffectual for the purpose of my visit.  I just couldn't glean any clues from the exhibits - as impressive as they are.

I even watched Nutrien's corporate video ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

https://reddit.com/link/1tvxr6b/video/mi592iq4y35h1/player

And toured the caboose

https://reddit.com/link/1tvxr6b/video/706y1erky35h1/player

https://preview.redd.it/knkcb9dly35h1.jpg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=39518f4cfd93d943d1ae59c854b3c2a8a455e3d1

https://preview.redd.it/h9t3nftly35h1.jpg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a59806bdbc1ab4871cdc8b98e562a74cabf2c515

As nice as the visit was, I left yet another museum empty-handed.

I felt stuck . yet convinced that I was in the right area.

https://preview.redd.it/9sx90hu2z35h1.jpg?width=828&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=332eef9dc114ca8d13ff2eb6a6da759bdc53f488

There are no hiking trails or look-out points in this part of the world...

so I found reasonable facsimiles 

https://preview.redd.it/guzzdb3qy35h1.jpg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ed52bae6a3426e845f38b28ec308b17837601947

and searched them thoroughly.

https://preview.redd.it/tor16hjry35h1.jpg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f840ea622f2e96a0a3b6ce9285a34c9408254691

This spot can be debated whether it's public or private...

https://preview.redd.it/r0zu45gty35h1.jpg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=79b0d96c7ff0c095b46e84c621d4a349c847cf2c

When it's a moral dilemma, you know it's time to go home.

4 days in the circle!  Going hard.  It's a rollercoaster ride, this treasure hunting business.  Soaring highs and crushing lows.  I don't regret any of it.  I'm at peace with how the time was spent and where I spent it.  But it's time to widen my perspective.

Oh - a word about ticks.  They're no joke.  Invest in some tick spray and you'll wind up picking only 3 off yourself instead of 30.  Here's what I use:

https://preview.redd.it/byzdtil0z35h1.jpg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=fa8e5b5a457c3f330bde1949cec478d51f7de299

Be prepared, be well, and good hunting! 

reddit.com
u/WayyyUpYonder — 7 days ago

Four Days in the Circle - 05/28

Boots on the ground, from Saskatoon to Muskiki Springs to Lanigan...

This is my story.

DAY 3

I hit the ground running with a brilliant gameplan.

Hit 38-26w2.  Home of Dana Salt Lake and Muskiki Lake - the true birthplace of Saskatchewan's industrial alkali mining industry.

https://preview.redd.it/loxs48z5s35h1.png?width=1792&format=png&auto=webp&s=0ad549c45f6f33aecc60060f245a4fa532369e1d

The numbers are inverse of the Morse code clue ;

and this township is within Northern Miner's white circle:

https://preview.redd.it/0r45dwu7s35h1.jpg?width=827&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8fe20510d073833eaeb0cf39ed90ccb3722e2ce0

https://preview.redd.it/qyehpck9s35h1.jpg?width=828&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=93870d4a28990e9b8f9c6846eb6ba7a912606e56

I also liked the fact that the Canadian Salts & Potash Co. was established in 1915 - the same year Northern Miner was.  (NM likes to tout that year)

https://preview.redd.it/s6w7406bs35h1.jpg?width=827&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=eaef7e44cff742bca34c979d9763c04766d7abbb

Spent an hour where Muskiki Springs once was...

poked around some great potential hiding spots

https://preview.redd.it/tnrt5u2ds35h1.jpg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=906af886c26e3a041059d63e4e806289b23bf5a3

https://preview.redd.it/9wrl06xds35h1.jpg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=13a8901a5cc087b452da124f1810e6e03cd35c3c

unfortunately there are no preserved structures or artifacts left at the site 😞

Checked out Dana Salt Lake:

https://preview.redd.it/u6mz9i6gs35h1.jpg?width=827&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c6b06006367e31521063da2b55baeb8638490a93

only to be reminded (yet again)  that Google Maps is not perfect:

I think I'm missing some road...

https://reddit.com/link/1tvx3e9/video/4kjbngfqs35h1/player

So after back-tracking to the hamlet of Dana, and studying the map again, I just had to go find the intersection of RR26 and Twp Rd 38!

Second Meridian, Range Road 260, Township Road 380

\"one marker stands\"...?

Not reaching down there .. I'm no Matthew Schwartz

https://reddit.com/link/1tvx3e9/video/u6gp8304u35h1/player

That was a full day, so I pointed the truck west and headed back to Stoon - feeling good about how I spent the time.  No regrets.

That concluded my whirlwind tour of Saskatoon to Muskiki Springs - as I needed to trek home that evening.  (damn work gets in the way of treasure hunting)

However:

little did I know that I would return a mere 4 days later, after this juicy tidbit dropped on Discord:

https://preview.redd.it/ccogzz4cu35h1.jpg?width=828&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=add9fba2efb2ae8c28295a52388e3aa01736ad35

This li'l revelation was an eye-opener.

I spoke on the phone with a very nice lady, that Saturday, who was on the Lanigan Heritage Board. She informed me that the Heritage Centre was opening for the season on Monday June 1st.

https://preview.redd.it/fmirmc3yu35h1.jpg?width=828&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5e43c466f1d1f14989200599e1c175b05ad1119f

I re-packed my bag and made plans to be in Lanigan first thing Monday morning.

reddit.com
u/WayyyUpYonder — 7 days ago

Four Days in the Circle - 05/27

Boots on the ground, from Saskatoon to Muskiki Springs to Lanigan...

This is my story.

DAY 2

Renewed energy, all from one photo:

https://preview.redd.it/9r1c0lbaq35h1.jpg?width=828&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=13746d48b14f77dca083f5e0146c530afe702ce3

Hopper car POTX 2638.  *chef's kiss

Pictured in Wisconsin ~10 months ago.

But how to track it down?  Where else to start 💡 but the SK Railway Museum.

Awesome

Awesomer

However - the property is home to only one static potash hopper exhibit:  PTEX 32039. 

https://preview.redd.it/mfgcavljq35h1.jpg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c18121ec4420a3e30fe18749bcf71f4bd4b3c3cb

https://preview.redd.it/x2gjzebkq35h1.jpg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=bee20eebdbd97b5818d134853c1c15f9234b6544

But if the side-goal of this race is to immerse yourself in history and heritage - on the way - it's been successful, in that regard.  I spent an hour chatting with old-timers  (volunteers)  who were more than eager to talk the whole thing out 😄

One of them - "PJ" 🙏 enlightened me with valuable feedback:

* 2638 is a Potash Corp car - now Nutrien 

* may be a bad-ordered car now, sitting on a rip track somewhere

* what I'd need is a Canadian Trackside Guide, to access the whereabouts of rolling stock

* unfortunately no free, public domain resource exists... Guides these days are industry/customer-only access 

Despite a very enriching 2 hours, I left the Railway Museum no further ahead in the hunt.

reddit.com
u/WayyyUpYonder — 7 days ago

Four Days in the Circle - 05/26

Boots on the ground, from Saskatoon to Muskiki Springs to Lanigan...

This is my story.

DAY 1

SK clue dropped at 2:19pm.  I was in the truck by 4 and rolled into Toontown at 6:30.  Bee-lined to the WDM  (naturally)  bc of the Ring.  The museum was closed, of course, but the local Car Club was meeting there right at that time.  I talked my way in and had my run of the place.  While the gearheads socialized and my competition was outside kicking rocks, I was cruising the exhibits and snapping pix like a wild man.  No - I don't play fair.

https://preview.redd.it/4epmo92wn35h1.jpg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=44cd7d5a11c6087f46e81dc6c6a781f7a146cbbb

https://preview.redd.it/qhrkhjnwn35h1.jpg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3b67e3a35e8589910f36fb49870cc7dd2d2cc8b2

https://preview.redd.it/ehezwokxn35h1.jpg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=29435810b63275ee820021a7e8e4cf4afd300e9d

\"the phoenix flew\"...?

https://preview.redd.it/op9uof40o35h1.jpg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=74912236c5995b0132bd9e38435dc11303ac8e44

Obviously the treasure chest wasn't going to be inside the building - any more than it would be on the WDM grounds or next door at Boomtown Park.  No regional prize thus far has been 'urban'.  What I was hoping for was a sign or display of the Morse code clue:  2-6-3-8.  A clever placement of the digits planted amongst the artifacts, I imagined 💭 which would point me toward the actual location.  À la the Toronto regional. 

Unfortunately, this strategy appeared to be a dead end.  No sign of the code.  Heck, there's barely a mention of potash in the place.  After 45 minutes of canvassing the joint, I left, dejectedly .. 

https://reddit.com/link/1tvvzgz/video/d21z3s07o35h1/player

walked over to the outbuildings ; poked around them as I felt obliged to do,

then slunk off to my hotel.

reddit.com
u/WayyyUpYonder — 7 days ago