Since the first year of geocaching we have wanted to put out a geocache in Georgia that required an overnight stay. But due to the number of open Forest Service roads in Georgia, we never found a trail long enough to keep a day hiker from being able to get in and out before sunset. We have also wanted to do a night only cache. We finally realized if we combined a night cache with a decent hike then we could create a geocache that requires an overnight stay.
Now as everyone knows you have to hunt snipes after dark. This snipe lives by the Bartram Trail. You can get to the starting location from more than one place. One of the parking places is at N34 53.101 W83 13.681. If you have multiple vehicles you can do like we did and make it through hike.
How to hunt for this snipe.
You have to make camp there is a good camping spot at N34 54.014 W83 11.970 if it is occupied then you will have make your own. You have to wait for complete darkness. You go to the posted coordinates. There you will find a bridge. Stand on it and hold a flash light by your eyes and look to the southwest. If it is dark you notice a bright reflector on a tree, they look like snipe eyes. They are about head high on the tree. These snipe eyes will lead you to the snipe. You go to the snipe eyes and look for some more. If you see one eye then continue to look in the same general direction you are going. If you see two eyes that mean you need to make a sharp turn. Which direction you ask, well you have to look both left and right, in the darkness they are easy to find. You continue looking for snipe eyes until you see three eyes (weird snipe huh?) that means you are close you will need to shine the flash light around the ground where the snipe lives.
Now remember:
- You will need a flash light.
- The cache is designed to ONLY BE DONE AT NIGHT. The reflectors are brown and very small and blend in very well in the woods. So if you try this cache during the day you may be able to spot only a few reflectors and won't be able to find the cache.
- Snipes don't like trails, so you will be off the trail when you leave the bridge. Note the bridge also has a reflector on each end.
- Since you are off the trail, you will need to use the flashlight to see where you are going as well as finding the reflectors. Two flashlights or a headlight and flashlight work well. There are stump holes and ditches in the area. BE CAREFUL This is suppose to be fun.
- Make sure you waypoint the campsite, so after you find the snipe you can get back to the camp. The trail here is dim and hard to follow with just a flashlight.
Obligatory list of potential dangers: exhaustion, dehydration, loose footing, wildlife encounters. You are in bear country, be sure to tie your food up in a tree. We got to use our bear bag. There is a stream by the campsite, but be sure to filter or chemically treat the water.
