Vermin Crossing (Dunedin, Otago) Traditional Cache
Vermin Crossing (Dunedin, Otago)
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(large)
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An easy find at the intersection of Swine Spur and Possum Busters tracks. The cache is a ten litre black bucket. It's a 15 - 20 minute walk into the cache. There are some steep, slippery, ups and downs as you cross three small streams.
Hopefully this cache will encourage you to go further and explore the interesting network of informal tracks on the backside of Swampy.
But please note: In bad weather the area is even more slippery, cold and unpleasant. These routes are unmarked and can get overgrown very fast. Look back regularly- it helps you to recognise the track on your way back.
If you find you have lost your way, stop immediately. Going on will only get you more confused. Follow your GPS track back to a known waypoint.
Park at the locked gate on the Swampy Access road (Rollinsons Rd) [2] and walk three minutes up the road to the Possum Busters track entrance [1]. It may take a bit of looking to spot the track down the grassy bank; there are fabric markers tied to trees at the bush edge. Once in the bush, the track takes you over three small streams and is easy to follow as far as the bush edge. Then follow the fabric ties over a short stretch of grass and through broom to the cache. There are three single reading waypoints for this last stretch to assist you.
From here, if you wish you can continue along Possum Busters and Possum Hunters tracks to Sligo's Junction cache, and then out to the Whare Flat Rd by Possum Hunters and the Jim Freeman track [6]. This track is a well-used route and is normally straightforward to follow. On a fine sunny day it would take an hour and a half to walk one way (and another 40 minutes to walk back to your car via the road).
Idea: if you would like to find a fellow geocacher to walk with, why not put a note on this cache page so someone else can email you?
Using two cars you could enjoy a one-way walk. Park one car at the bottom of the Jim Freeman track [6] and drive the second car to the locked gate on Swampy Road [2].
Possibly tricky parts of this through route:
(a) The track junction at [15]. A currently unnamed route leaves Possum Busters and heads up to Swampy Ridge. The Possum Busters track is well-trodden and doesn't need markers, but since this new route is less used it has been clearly marked with fabric ties. If you find yourself following fabric markers going uphill and coming out at the bushline at [16], you have started exploring this new route!
(b) The Possum Hunters Track just downstream of the junction with Possum Busters and McQuilkans Tracks at [13]. The Possum Hunters track crosses over to the true left and then back across Sligos Creek before continuing downstream on the true right bank to the "Sligos Junction" cache.
Another nice round trip is to walk up the access road to Swampy (about 1 1/4 hours), down Swine Spur [8A] and [8B] to "Vermin Crossing" and along Possum Busters back to the road [1] (about 50 mins). If you would rather drive the Swampy access road, you can get a key from the DCC which opens DCC gates. You have to sign a bond of $5000 to ensure that you don't lose the key!
You may find it useful to download routes to follow from pter's home page. Some of the track names he uses are different from the ones on Antony Hamel's map (Shangri-la = McQuilkans, Unknown Spur = Swine Spur).
Be aware that less-used tracks in this area quickly become overgrown and can be difficult to follow. Some tracks are marked with fabric ties and others are unmarked. Routes can mutate unexpectedly and new tracks may appear. Off the main Possum Hunters/Possum Busters track you will need to have good route-finding skills.
At the moment, the lower Swine Spur track between "Vermin Crossing" and the Lake Whare track [10] is overgrown and tricky to follow. Smithy's track is generally easy to follow, but the terrain is rough and swampy in parts. The short tracks around Lake Whare are quite well used.
Why is the Possum Busters/Possum Hunters terrain so much easier than the Lower Swine Spur and Smithies tracks?
Check the Dunedin Geological map. The tops of Flagstaff and Swampy are mainly basalt, so it's pretty solid rock. But the lower slopes on the backside of Swampy are the infamous Abbotsford Mudstone. No wonder the tracks take you over slumping, swampy bits and steep eroded gullies!
A map from Antony Hamel's "Dunedin Tracks and Trails" is included (Take the book with you when you go exploring). Co-ordinates of useful track entry points and track junctions are included as waypoints. Remember to also download the coordinates of Sligo's Junction.
It's safer to walk with a friend. Always tell someone where you are going and when you are due back. Carry warm and waterproof clothing, snacks and drink, a map, cellphone and extra batteries for your GPS. (If you get geographically embarrassed, you can always retrace your route!)
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Onfr bs ynetr znahxn naq cvggbfcbehz gerrf orfvqr gur tenffl pyrnevat.
Treasures
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