GCMD7V The Amazing Moun10Bike Race (Multi-cache) in Texas, United States created by Chance Encounter, Mudfrog and Chicken

This cache has been archived.

Chance Encounter: This one lasted a lot longer than it was originally designed for, but it looks like it's time to archive it. I have moved to Memphis and can no longer keep up with most of my Texas hides. I've had several folks volunteer to help maintain some of the easier caches, but this one is way to involved to ask someone else to take on.

Thanks to all who hunted -- this will certainly rank amongst the top two or three caches I've designed as far as difficulty, fun, and memories made!

GCMD7V ▼

A cache by Chance Encounter, Mudfrog and Chicken Message this owner

Hidden : 1/8/2005

Difficulty:

Terrain:

Size: Size: regular (regular)

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Geocache Description:

*** WARNING: DO NOT ATTEMPT THIS CACHE BEFORE 6 AM ON SATURDAY, JANUARY 8, 2005. IF YOU DO SO YOU WILL BE SADLY DISAPPOINTED. ***

Prepare yourself for one of the most challenging cache hunts you’ve ever attempted. Oh sure, you’ll have to hike or bike a few miles, sniff out six well-hidden cache containers, decipher codes on the trail, and employ the seldom-used features of your GPSr to locate the final cache container. But the real challenge will come from the competition you’ll face for FTF honors: some of the top cachers in Texas and Louisiana are expected to be in the running.

What’s all the buzz about? Well, through the generosity of Ammoman and BizzyB, I have acquired an extremely rare and coveted Moun10Bike Geocoin. Longtime cacher Moun10Bike designed these beautiful coins to place in the most memorable caches he has found. When he releases one, eager folks rush out to snatch it up for their collection of memorabilia. So although the coin is trackable and is designed to be moved from cache to cache like a travel bug, only a handful are ever actually seen in the wild. In fact, as of this writing, only two other coins are sitting in geocaches worldwide. Thus most folks will never get to enjoy this unique icon of our favorite sport. To read more on the topic, click here.

Sure, I’d like to keep the coin for myself. But from my point of view, it would be much more memorable to design an extremely difficult multicache and present the coin to the lucky person who bags the FTF honors. I’m sure that in the long run, we’ll cherish the memories even more than the coin itself.

The race will begin promptly at 6AM on Saturday, January 8, 2005. If you try to sneak into the park early you will be disappointed; the first stage clues will not be available until the park officially opens. I will distribute the clue sheets to each cacher as he reaches the listed coordinates. Once the FTF hunt is over, future cachers will find the encrypted clue sheets inside the container at the listed coordinates.

The clue sheet will be encrypted using a simple substitution cipher, which you can learn about here, here or here. You’ll need to decrypt this and future clues in order to proceed, so bring a notepad and a couple of pens. In order to bone up on the type of work you’ll be doing in the field, you’ll find an example of the encrypted text below. It may or may not contain hints that will help you during the race.

You should also break out your GPSr manual and study all those obscure settings that we seldom use. In order to deduce the final coordinates, you will need to be familiar with things like changing the position format and projecting waypoints.

Keep in mind that the FTF hunt will begin before sunrise, so you’ll need a flashlight. In keeping with the theme of the cache, bicycles may be used to reach the various waypoints, although they are certainly not required. A bicycle may not even give you a real advantage, depending on recent rainfall and which approach you take to the various waypoints. You may also use motor vehicles to move around some areas of the park; please observe the posted speed limit of 20 mph. Other recommended items include bug spray and plenty of water. Teams wishing to coordinate their hunts may use FRS/GPRS radios, but remember that your competition will likely be eavesdropping.

Happy hunting!

*** SPECIAL UPDATE 1/5/2005 ***

Due to the slight differences in the way various GPSr models project waypoints, we're gonna cut you some slack and let you know that the final cache is at the largest oak tree in sight. In sight from where, you ask? Well, that part's still up to you.

Also, be sure to check out the Shootin' the Breeze in Beaumont event cache, to be held the same day in the same park.

*****

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