-
Difficulty:
-
-
Terrain:
-
Size: 
(regular)
Please note Use of geocaching.com services is subject to the terms and conditions
in our disclaimer.
A night cache in Hart Woods near Bodmin.
This is a night cache, and you will only be able to find it during the hours of darkness.
You will need to bring at least one powerful torch, preferably one for each person taking part in the hunt. Use fresh batteries, and bring an extra set just in case. Wear sensible footwear - the tracks can get VERY muddy in wet weather! Bring a fully charged mobile phone, just in case. Make sure someone knows where you are going, and what time you are to be expected home.
There are no particular hazards on this route. No mine-shafts, sudden drops or difficult terrain to negotiate. However, it will be dark and there are no street lights in the woods! Be careful of the obvious hazards like tree roots and low branches.
The co-ordinates given DO NOT relate to the location of the cache. They are for an area where you can park your car, and begin the hunt. You will be guided around your quest for the cache by reflectors that will be virtually invisible in daylight. When you shine a light at them in the darkness, however, they will be obvious to you. Follow the reflectors and you will be on the correct route. If you haven't seen one for a while, consider back-tracking to ensure you didn't miss a turn.
IMPORTANT! - The reflectors used are 'retro-reflective'. This means that they reflect light straight back to the source. If you hold your torch at eye-level, the light will be reflected straight back to you at eye level. Hold it at waist height, and you may not get enough reflection back.
KEEP YOUR TORCHES SHINING ALL AROUND YOU! Some reflectors might not be obvious to you from every direction, and you can easily miss a turn or an important orange reflector (see below) if you're only looking ahead!
At certain spots, you might see reflectors in two seperate directions. If you do, look for the direction arrow that will indicate the correct reflectors to follow. They will be pretty obvious so don't worry!
You will also see some ORANGE reflectors on your travels. These indicate that something important to your quest is in the vicinity. Search the area close to the orange reflector until you find what you need. There are a total of four orange reflector sites to find before you will have all the information you need to locate the cache site. If you miss one, you may not find the cache. Each one is numbered in order, so you will know if you need to back-track to find a missing orange site.
The first orange site conceals a small box containing some specialist equipment essential to the completion of the cache. Please take ONLY ONE, and ensure that you return it to the box at the end of your caching experience. If the box is empty, please message the cache owners so the items can be re-stocked, but bear in mind, particularly in the first few days, you might simply have been beaten to it by other eager cachers looking for a FTF!
The cache itself is a lock'n'lock box containing a log book, a coin of the realm for FTF and various trinkets and swaps. As a night cache is a bit special, please try to make your swaps of good quality to befit the challenge that other finders will be completing. The final cache is NOT on the reflector-indicated path, but is close by. You will need to leave the main path, so don't blindly follow the trail of reflectors back to the parking area! Once you have reached the final co-ordinates, it's time to look around. Shine your torches around in the vicinity and all should become clear. The actual cache is not exactly at the coordinates listed - this is an area from which the site will be obvious with a quick search using your torch. Once found, return to the path and continue to follow the reflectors, which will lead you safely out of the woods.
There are three wrapped christmas presents for the first, second and third to find. Please take one to put under your tree!
This cache is placed with the kind permission of the National Trust.
Thanks to Matt Lewis, head ranger at Lanhydrock for his support and assistance.
Congratulations to Rat_s for being very committed and getting the FTF on a very cold and icy evening!
***Update 23/10/12***
Cache checked and repaired. Essential equipment replaced, reflectors replaced. There has been some felling between stages 2 and 3, making the terrain a little harder, but not impossible. Take care with your footing!
Some of the white reflectors have disappeared, and I have had to use my remaining orange ones to replace them. Please remember you are looking for TWO orange reflectors to mark a hidden stage, one on it's own is just a waymarker.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Gur svany pnpur fubhyq envfr n fzvyr!.