***** January 2014 *****
Construction has started on the new waterpark so the area is closed and off limits to everyone not connected with the project. The path, (not the actual cache), to the final location is within the closed area, so the path location has been removed from the cache page. You will now need to find another way to the final on your own by accessing it from the East, North, or West.
Please stay out of the construction area or you can be arrested, fined, and no telling what else, in addition to ruining our relationship with the St. Louis County parks and the rangers.
Thanks to County Park Rangers Mary and Ted for pointing out these areas to me and also Marc and Glenda with the museum at JB for their help with the details and locations.
The first 3 waypoints, which can be done in any order, will give you the information needed for the final location and cache. The waypoints will lead you to areas that are easy to access and locate. Since there are no signs or other information that is easily obtainable, you'll be using other means to get some useful numbers. The D/T ratings basically apply to the combination of WP's, since the first three are straightforward and requires almost no bushwhacking. The final will be the most difficult because of the inability of getting a good lock and it's in a rough area, but locating the proper trail will help immensely!
NOTE: All of these areas are within the park boundaries and I have obtained permission to be in these "off the beaten path" areas. However, in some cases you will be very near "Off Limits" parts of the park that are not open to the public. Please respect these areas.
WP1-N38 31.008 W90 16.257
The is the location of the quarry which produced all the rock for the buildings in the park. This WP is at the top of the quarry and you will need the following information:
Looking East across the river, how many high voltage transmission towers can you see?
***** Update 6/16/11 - There seems to be confusion on the number of towers on cloudy or overcast days. So to eliminate that problem I will give you the value for "A".
So "A" will = 1.
The bottom of the quarry is:
5-filled with water?
7-smooth and flat?
9-rough and rocky?
That number will be "B" ______
NOTE: You will be standing on a very high ledge with no fence or railing. There is a sign nearby, but we have permission from a park representative to go to the overlook to get the needed information. If you have kids with you, make sure they stay back. For those that are scared of heights, you should be able to get the needed info without getting close to the ledge.
WP2-N38 31.207 W90 16.310
This area is at the top of the staircase which led from the railroad tracks to the induction area for all the soldiers, regardless of branch. In early 1941, as many as 1000 soldiers a day walked up these steps. The woods and steps are in a "off limits' area, but you can see them through the trees. These coords will put you at the rounded corner of the wall at the top, and you need the following information:
The highest point of the wall at the curve is?
6-one to two ft
7-three to five ft
8-six to eight ft
9-nine to ten ft
That number will be "C" ______
WP3-N38 31.108 W90 16.517
This is the location of one of the gunpowder storage buildings before the powder magazines were built. At this location you need the following information:
How many 1/2" square (full height) vertical bars are on the door?
That number will be "D" ______
FINAL-N38 3(A-1).(B)(C-1)(A+A) W90 1(B).(A-1)(D-1)(C/2)
N38 3___._______ W90 1___._______
Note:The numbers in parantheses are meant to be calculated seperately for a single digit, not multiplied by the ajoining values.
IE. Assume A=2,B=4 and C=6. The substituted values for "N38 3(A-1).(B)(C-1)(A+A)" would be N38 31.454.
Checksum for final coords (N&W) with all digits added individually (3+8+3+....+9+0+1+....) = 59
This area is the remains of an old swimming pool. In 1944-45, this secret area contained soldiers working on a secret mapping project. For that reason they were kept seperate from everyone else at the barracks. They slept, ate, and worked here the entire time they were on the project. The pool was for their recreation.
The cache would not be difficult to find in normal circumstances, but with the dense cover, I've provided some good clues. Cache is a STL County Parks green plastic water bottle..
| NOTICE: Please be respectful of the posted park hours. If you enter the park after hours you are trespassing. If you are stopped you can be ticketed or arrested and will put the future of geocaching in the parks in jeopardy. |