Emmett's Wild Adventure IX - Upton Woods Mystery Cache

This cache has been archived.

emmett: It is time to finish with archiving my caches. I understand some may be interested in completing this series. The containers are still out there as far as I know so you can still log finds but I will not be doing any maintenance. I don’t want them listed on GC.com any longer and will not be working on any of them unless and until I have the time to modify and publish these as new caches on another site.

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Hidden : 9/20/2007
Difficulty:
2.5 out of 5
Terrain:
3 out of 5

Size: Size: small (small)

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Geocache Description:


About the EWA series

The EWA series is comprised of nine basic caches, plus a bonus cache, and an Epilogue cache that was published last to offer additional help and tips for those interested in completing the series.

All of the EWA caches have been set up uniquely to allow for some extra fun and/or something different at the beginning. In general, there are two ways to complete each cache and you get to choose which option you think you will enjoy the most.

Those who complete the series will have visited a wide assortment of trails and terrain while finding micros and containers of all different types. It is hoped that the series will serve as a fine introduction for newcomers yet still hold the interest of veteran cachers with some twists and turns not commonly found in more traditional hunts.

For maximum enjoyment, it is strongly advised you consider the impact seasonal changes will have on some hunts. All of the EWA locales are spots that are very nice at certain times of the year, but not necessarily all year round. Make the best of the EWA collection by planning your visits at the optimal times. This is explained in more detail with the “Owners Tips” provided in the Epilogue cache.


About EWA-9: Upton Woods

An exploration of Upton conducted earlier this year revealed considerable open space and many trailheads that lead to uncached territory. Four such trailheads lead into the EWA-9 Upton Woods, two of which have been incorporated into the EWA-9 hunt.

In keeping with EWA practice, this hunt offers two options to choose from. Choose a somewhat traditional multi stage hunt for a shorter hike that begins with a twist, or employ a different set of navigational skills for a longer hike to the cache. You get to pick the adventure you think you will enjoy the most.


Overview

You must solve the puzzle below to determine the coordinates of a mystery location to be called Waypoint "X," then use the offsets below to hunt for the Stage One of your choice. One set of numbers will lead to Option A - Map and Bearing and the other set will lead to Option B - A Dozen Decoys.

Option A - Map and Bearing

Use the offsets below to identify the location of Option A, stage one. Nearby roadside parking should be obvious. This option involves four stages, including the stage one container and two micros placed within ten feet of the trail, and the final cache which is a little further off the trail. None of the hides are intended to be real difficult. Total hiking distance is about two miles.

The stage one container provides a trail map with arrows showing the path of the complete hike. Stages one and two are marked on the map but the coordinates for stage two are not provided. Instead you will be given the precise bearing from stage one to stage two.

Make sure your unit is set to “true north” not “magnetic north” and use a projection in combination with the map to locate stage two. Once you find the micro, the rest of your hike will play out like a typical multi-cache.

Option B - A Dozen Decoys

Use the offsets to identify the location of Option B, stage one. There is very limited roadside parking at the trailhead. This option involves four stages also but the hiking distance is shorter and you'll have access to coordinates and a hint that will make your search for stage two easier.

So what's the hitch? Within 20-25 feet of the stage one coordinates, a baker's dozen of 35mm film containers have been hidden in fairly typical locations. Only one of these micros contains the coordinates and a hint for the next stage. All of the other micros are empty decoys.

The stage one coordinates for this option will take you to a large, two-trunk tree right next to the trail that marks ground zero for your search. The micros have been hidden within 20-25 feet of ground zero, roughly between the two-trunk tree and the crest of a nearby hill. You need only search on one side of the trail, between the tree and the small hill.

Micros at stage one have been hidden in trees and stumps and under rocks. Nothing real fancy. You'll save more than a half mile of hiking with this option, but you may spend some time sorting through the decoys before you find what you are looking for. Some will probably find this option faster, while others may not.


The puzzle

Recently I discovered www.brainygeography.com, a web site that should interest those who enjoy the outdoors. The site provides access to information about parks, woods, bridges, falls, streams reservoirs, airports, on and on it goes.

Chances are, if you browse a bit, you might find some new spots you would enjoy visiting. A click of a link and you'll have access to coordinates, map options and other information for many spots of interest. For the purposes of EWA-9, brainygeography.com may be used to determine the official coordinates of Waypoint X.

Waypoint X is a very modest "summit" located within two miles of the posted coordinates with a whopping maximum elevation of 595 feet. There is a different online "tool" that would be best to use to develop a list of suspects, then brainygeography.com will help you identify the correct spot.

Your task may be made a little more challenging than it should be as there are some errors on brainygeography.com that might throw you off. The actual name of Waypoint X is misspelled and there are at least one or two nearby summits that are listed as being somewhere other than Worcester County. However, you being an EWA-dventurer will not allow these minor obstacles to hinder your quest for EWA-glory.

For confirmation purposes and to assist you in your search, the closest posted coordinates to Waypoint X as of June 10, 2007 mark a spot that lies at a bearing of either 246.441 degrees, or -246.441 degrees from Waypoint X.


Getting started

Apply the following offsets to the Waypoint X coordinates to determine the stage one location of your preferred option.

Option A - Map and Bearing: +1.069N, + 0.121W.

There is room for a car or two on the road by the trailhead. The Option A, stage one container is in the middle of a four-way trail intersection not far from the road.

Option B - A Dozen Decoys: +0.799N, -0.137W.

Parking is very limited at this trailhead. Make sure you follow the instructions carefully to identify ground zero of the Option B, stage one search area which is also not far from the road.


About the EWA-9 locale

The area is most enjoyable when there is a significant volume of water is flowing in one particular stream, so you will probably enjoy this spot more if you visit sometime other than the summer. My first visit to this spot was in the springtime during a rain storm and that was actually the most enjoyable of my many rides in these woods.

The trails are suitable for hiking and biking and while much of the hunt is along level terrain, you will encounter a couple of short but steep hills as well.

The trails are pretty wide and clear until you get to stage three where the trail is narrow on the way to stage four, which is close to private property. Please use the instructions below to exit along a path that will keep you clear of nearby homes.

Once you have found the final cache, you'll need to backtrack about 50 feet from where the trail crosses a stream, back to where a side trail leaves right (northeast) by a large fallen tree. Go right at the fallen tree for a short hike to a main trail where you will turn left and navigate back to your car by way of stage two.

For those who use Option A, when you get back to the stage one area, there are trails to additional territory you may want to explore if you have time. As far as I can tell, all trails eventually dead end on private property, but there is room for one or two additional caches in these woods. The map provided at stage one will help you navigate if you want to take a look.


The EWA Lineup:

EWA-1: Callahan Bypass - (visit link)
EWA-2: Which Way From Here? - (visit link)
EWA-3: Big Rock - (visit link)
EWA-4: The Theft - (visit link)
EWA-5: Micros or Mystery? - (visit link)
EWA-6: Kids Treasure Chest - (visit link)
EWA-7: The Ledges - (visit link)
EWA-8: Points of Interest - (visit link)
EWA-9: Upton Woods - (visit link)
EWA-10: The Final Conquest - (visit link)

EWA-Epilogue: Owner's Tips - (visit link)


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Additional Hints (No hints available.)



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