The waypoint given for the cache is the only cache type container you will seek. The rest of the information to the proceeding waypoints will be gathered from information in the field. There is one cache and three other waypoints you will visit on the way to the final. Total time varies according to not only your physical fitness and mental fitness but your choice of route and time spent exploring. The Littlest_Hkr and myself have spent hours at the site finding pieces to the puzzle. I would guess that most could finish the puzzle portions and the walking in under 3hrs.
Be advised that this could be a great family experience but that some portions could require climbing and are over areas where there are not trails, of course this is depending on your choice of routes and trail finding abilities. The Littlest_Hkr had a blast roaming around but your children may not have the same experiences, be forewarned.
Stage One:
I have given you the coordinates for Stage One where you will find the coordinates which leads to Stage Two. Your are seeking a camo tape covered match container in one of the junipers. As you approach notice the rock work on the other side of the wash. This is actual rock work by the Beale Party over 150 yrs ago. When you find the container and gather the information to the next waypoint you can use this road cut and continue on the Beale Wagon Road if your path finding skills are adequate.
Stage Two:
At stage two you are looking for a steel pipe with a brass cap on it. This is one of the "brass monuments" left by Jack Beale Smith in the mid 1970's. This monument has wording on it and two dates. You will use this information to find your next waypoint.
For the North coordinates you were given at Stage one you will subtract the 20th prime number from the seconds position. This is your new seconds for your North. For a check in the field, adding these three seconds digits together should get you the 4th prime number.
Using the marker you have found you will take the last two digits of the first year stated and add 1. Use this new number to add to the West seconds. For a check in the field, adding all three seconds together should add up to 12.
These are the coordinates to Stage Three.
Stage Three:
At stage three you will most likely cross the wash again. You can choose a safe route across the wash to the south or the more tight rope route, the choice is yours. On this tight rope you will find your next clue to help you find Stage Four.
To the North coordinate you used to get here you will add 1/1000. This will give you a sum check of the seconds to be the fourth prime number + 1.
To gain the West coordinates you will need to take the numerical placement of the 4th letter you find and use it as the tenths and hundredths of the seconds. You will then use the third letter divided by two and the answer will be your thousands numeral. These three numbers will need to be subtracted from your current West coordinate. The sum of these three numbers will equal the 5th prime number - 1.
Stage Four:
At Stage Four you will be better served if you find the trail on the South side of the wash. It makes for much easier travel to this stage. Much more dramatic as well. On your way to this stage you will be in the heart of Turkey Tanks. You can only imagine the amount of water that this place used to hold. The desert varnish on the rocks show the high water marks well.
At this stage it would be nice to explore the area. I sat at the spot indicated and looking 26° of magnetic north. You will see a rock face with inscriptions on it. Please do not touch these as they were left by the people long ago. Treat this area with great respect as the Littlest_Hkr and myself have observed medicine men gathering plants from the area on more than one of our expeditions to the area. Just act like your in church and all should be fine.
On the rock face you are looking for rectangular symbols. You will find a few of them in a row. This symbol according to the Hopi is a migration symbol. Count the number of migration symbols and multiply by 22. The product when done correctly and added together will give you 12. Take this product (not 12) and subtract it from the seconds or your North coordinate. This will be your new North coordinate.
For the West coordinate you will add 145/1000 to the seconds. When and if done correctly the sum of the three seconds digits will add up to 10. This is all you need for the final stage.
Final Stage:
We leave it to you to find your way to the final stage. If you think like an animal your path will be the easiest to not only navigate but traverse as well.