Operation Arctic Knights Multi-cache

This two-stage all season night cache is dedicated to all the servicemen at home and abroad who are protecting our freedom so we may safely geocache here at home.

The 4th Battalion, 123rd Aviation Regiment "Arctic Knights" are based at Ft. Wainwright, Alaska, and will adopt the moniker of "Desert Knights" while deployed in the Middle East.  Your assistance is required to complete a mission that was aborted due to the Arctic Knights' overseas deployment.

OBJECTIVES:

• Complete mission undetected after sundown (this will be especially challenging in the summer).
• Follow reflective trail and other directions to locate final objective.
• Log your visit and trade items useful to future patrols.
• Record the guidance information at the first cache for use in a future mission.

MISSION DETAILS:

1. Parked humvee in turnaround at N 64° 55.208', W 147° 44.685' and proceeded on forest path.
2. Enemy operatives in the area forced patrol to leave the path at the cache page coordinates.
3. Patrol blazed off-path route using single white reflective markers placed between five and six feet off the ground.  The markers are best seen using a high-powered illumination source held at eye-level.
4. Second contact with enemy operatives forced the patrol to abort mission and summon a Blackhawk extraction by firing a star cluster flare.  The patrol marked this location with a white and amber set of reflective markers (location of first cache).
5. In the event of capture, the patrol cached the mission-critical second cache materials in an ammo box and recorded heading and distance information from the take-out point in the empty flare container.  

REQUIRED GEAR:

• Global Positioning Satellite Receiver

• Strong Flashlight

• Extra batteries for both

OPTIONAL EQUIPMENT:

• Compass (if you don't know how to use your GPSr's bearing and heading functions)

• Skis or snow shoes in the winter

Original cache contents are log, pen, pencils, FTF/STF Geocaching.com goodies and a duct tape wallet, small headlamp for the junior FTF, handwarmers, new flashlight and batteries, new AA batteries, light sticks, emergency candle, 5-in-1 survival tool, ladybug stampers, novelty erasers, paratroopers, miniature novelty clothes pins, lapel pins, crayons, glue stick, new Pez dispensers, dog charms, 3-in-1 carabiner, pencil sharpener, Fairbanks magnet, dog bracelet charms, and a camera to capture cachers' photos (please take your photo, return the camera to the cache, and report your photo number(s) in the cache log).

Please keep the in your thoughts and prayers while they serve their country in the Middle East.

Many thanks to Bilder and Corgi Clan for providing the inspiration and helpful hints to create the Interior's first night cache.