As most cachers are painfully aware, the notion of using
satellite technology to locate caches is quickly becoming outdated.
Newer technologies have naturally been in development in recent
years, and the concept of the Cache Locator Device (CLD) is finally
becoming a reality.
I have been lucky enough to be the first civilian to be granted
permission to test the CLD on a very limited basis. This cache
marks the first practical use of the CLD in a non-laboratory
setting, and cachers are invited to participate in this phase of
its development.
The coordinates posted above will lead you to the CLD itself. It
is through the use of the CLD that you will find the actual
cache.
To participate, first retrieve the CLD from its protective
housing. Take extreme care not to drop, misplace, bonk, fondle,
mistreat, abuse, or thwack the CLD as it is currently a
one-of-a-kind device.
From the point where you have retrieved the device, face
southwest at a heading of 230 degrees and proceed forward 30 paces
until you reach a yellow plastic marker, next to a tree beside the
road.
At this point, turn to your left -- southeast -- at a heading of
120 degrees, and proceed forward 9 paces.
Carefully follow the rest of these directions:
While continuing to face southeast, state in a firm and clearly
audible voice, "I AM TESTING THE CLD!" Repeat this three times.
Within 10 seconds of repeating that phrase for the third time,
hold the CLD out in front of you (for the love of God, be sure to
point it away from your body) and carefully depress the
activation button on the CLD. It is entirely up to you whether or
not you choose to wear protective head gear for this step.
Assuming everything has gone to plan, you should be alerted to
the precise location of the cache, and you can proceed to it as you
would normally approach any other cache.
If you were not alerted to the position of the cache, one of the
following reasons could be to blame:
- You are were not close enough to the correct spot when you
activated the button.
- You are not actually holding the Cache Locator Device. Perhaps
you picked up an empty, discarded cigarette container, and wrongly
assumed it was the CLD.
- You may not have said the special phrase loudly enough.
- The stinkin' batteries are dead (if the red activator light
does not illuminate when pressed, please alert the cache
owner).
- It's just not working right.
In any case, since this is a first-of-its-kind test, I have
placed the cache in a location where it may actually be humanly
possible to find it without using the CLD. Just poke around.
I wish you the best of luck, and will look forward to learning
and sharing your experiences with the development team.