This cache is part of a series of caches I plan that can be done in
one line (if you have the time and strength to do so). It leads you
through the Hautes Fagnes, a moor area that is very beautiful at
all seasons - be it in summer when the air is hot and flickering
above the ground and mosquitos are swirling around your head, be it
in winter with lots of snow, even in thick fog it is very nice. Try
to pick a time when there is no one else there - on a weekday, in
the early morning.
You should bring high waterproof boots or trekking sandals, if
you don't mind dirty and wet feet. Depending on the trail you
choose, you may have to walk through a river. The area can be very
muddy, and even on the trails you can sink into the mud up to your
ankles and deeper.
Since this cache is in a nature reserve, there are some do's and
don't's that you should be aware of:
1) In case of danger of forest fire, the area is completely
closed. Red flags are hanging out at all entrances to the area, and
you should check by a phonecall : 0032-(0)-87-552313 before you
leave. Usually the area is closed from the snow melt till Easter
because of fire danger. You cannot reach the cache at these
times.
2) Bikes are not allowed on those trails you need to walk on to
do the cache, also no motor driven vehicle. (Sorry, Marco!)
3) Dogs are not allowed in the nature reserve, not even on the
leash. (Sorry, Chakko!)
4) Smoking is not allowed in the sensitive areas. (Sorry,
Ray!)
5) Don't leave the paths, it's not good for the nature, and very
dangerous for you (remember, it's a swamp, and lots of people have
died there when falling in a mudhole and not coming out on their
own again.)
When coming from Aachen along B258, watch your speed all times
carefully! On the way up and down again there are at least 6
chances to log FLITS (GC38D4) as well :-(
When coming from Eupen along N67 enjoy this fine example of
belgian roads.
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Let's go finally!
About coding and decoding: Every code is only valid at the
station where you got it. The first numbers of each code are always
N 50°3.,... and E 6°1.,... so I only give you the last four digits
without the ','.
You can park your car or bike at the given coordinates. If you
want to come by bus, take Bus 166 from Aachen Bus Station to
Monschau, there change to Bus 85 and exit at Mützenich Zoll. On
weekends, there is also bus service from Eupen train station with
line 385.
Station 1 (Parking Lot)
At the starting place there is a flag pole. Fixed to it is a
sign written in four languages. It contains a date DD/MM/YYYY and a
phone number XX (X) XX XX XX XX. To the date, assign ABCDEFGH, to
the last six digits of the phone number assign IJKLMN.
BTW: You can take any flag pole you meet in the Fagnes - the 4
language sign will be always the same. When you are doing Venn 3
and want to continue Venn 2 without returning to the start of Venn
3, keep your eyes open early enough to gather the information
searched for now. This can save you 3 km of walk, and you can start
at station 2 of Venn 2.
Now go to station 2 at B(J-E)B(I+L)/NCEJ
Station 2
Nearby is a trilingual information board about a typical sort of
forest. Take the German word for this sort of forest. Assign to the
first ten different letters numbers from 0 to 9 in the order they
occur in the word. If a letter occurs that already has a number,
leave it open.(Example: The word "HAGEBUTTENHAIN" results in H=0,
A=1, G=2, E=3, B=4, U=5, T=6, N=7, I=8)
Now go to Station 3 at HANE/FCHW
Station 3
A very interesting place that lets you determine the flora at
this place 10000 years ago. I am searching for the times when
certain trees had their maximal stand. As answer, give me the year
number EARLIER than the maximum. Example: if the maximum of a
certain tree is at 3500 B.C., and year numbers are 3000 B.C. and
3800 B.C., the right answer is 3800 B.C..
Hazel: AB 00 B.C. (Hasel) Hornbeam: CDE A.D. (Hainbuche) Pine:
FG00 B.C. (Kiefer)
0 is number zero and not letter O.
Go to station 4 at GEG(D-G)/E(A-B)AC
Station 4
You are standing on a wooden platform. It is made out of AB
boards in C rows. In total it is AB*C = DEF wooden boards. In
average, every board is fixed by G nails. The total amount of nails
is DEF*G=HIJK nails.
Go to Station 5 at JAAD/K(G+J)(A+D)(B+C)
I recommend the board path that starts at JHC(G+D)/F(C+D)DK. It
is more beautiful than the forest road, and the character of the
fen is a total different one.
Station 5
There is a three digit number written in white on a blue sign,
on a small tree stump next to a birch. Note it as "code #1"
Go to station 6 at GJF(G+J)/IDBG with the code from station
4
The way will be muddy from now on. At one place your GPS arrow
will point towards a muddy path that is closed with a barrier.
There is a wooden board leading towards it. There are also signs of
hiking paths. Due to inconsistency of belgian road marking, this
way is legal! Use it!
Station 6
How many benches are standing around the rock formation? This is
code #2. Nearby is a border stone bearing a three digit number.
This is code #3.
Cache is at 2*#2*#3 + #1 + 95 / #2*#3 + 2*#1 + 97
In the logbook, there are coordinates for station 3 of Venn 1.
If you still have power, go for it from here. You can also find a
description for the shortest (and nicest) way back to the starting
point.