This multi-cache is designed to acquaint you with some interesting Greenville history while giving you the opportunity to appreciate the strong patriotic dedication and sacrifice of the members of our community. Don’t get frustrated. It is supposed to be challenging. Just pretend you are Benjamin Franklin Gates in National Treasure or perhaps Robert Langdon in The Davinci Code.
You will need to take notes and might want to use a calculator. There are five stages to this cache. You will walk approximately 1.25 miles if you walk the complete route or you may drive between stages and park fairly close to each point in order to save time. One stage has steep natural stone steps that are irregular, can be slippery, and are hard to walk on. Weak ankles and/or flip flops" will probably cause you to have to meet me or some of my coworkers professionally (the number is 911). That section and the final hide are not wheelchair or stroller accessible.
This cache is recommended to be done only during daylight. Save all your notes, data, calculations, and answers because you might need them later in this multi-cache. Pay attention to the details. There are a few tricks built in to this. Wording and words are important.
I STRONGLY urge you to click the link and download/copy a PDF worksheet I developed to help you keep track of the information you accumulate. The PDF file is a copy of the information listed in the long description instructions below.
Required Alert: You are about to download a file in order to obtain further details needed to find this geocache. As the cache owner, I represent that this file is safe to download although the files needed to complete this geocache have not been checked by Groundspeak or by the Reviewer for possible malicious content. As a result, you are downloading this file at your own risk.
You will not need to go inside any building or into any restricted areas. These are all in public parking/walking areas. You will not need to go South of University Ridge, West of Howe Street, East of Church Street, across the creek/river nor will you have to go onto Governor’s School property. Please respect all signage.
********* FTF honors to AgentHop and HopsGeneral***************
START First Stage- N 34 50.420 W 082 24.181
Figure out the value of the variables and plug them in to the coordinates of the second stage formula listed below.
Formula for second stage N 34 A. B W 082 C. D
(A and C are two digit numbers. B and D are each three digit numbers)
A = The last two digits of the year Furman was chartered.
B = (Number of years the university operated on this site) x (the last number written out on the sign) – 188
C = (The last two numbers painted on the light pole near the sign) + 10
D = ((The product of the numbers of the last date on the sign) x 3) + 43 [example…if the last date was 1913, the product of 1913 is (1 x 9 x 1 x 3) = 27]
Solved it? Now that you have the second stage location proceed to those coordinates. When you arrive, you must look for the numbers necessary to find value of E, F and G for the third stage’s location.
Binoculars might help when you get there but are not required. Also note that X marks the spot and means something.
Here is the formula for third stage- N 34 50. E W 082 F. G (F and G are each two digit numbers. E is a three digit number)
Checksum- E+F+G = 497
Solved it? Now go to the third stage.
Third stage steps- Follow these instructions in order. Begin by standing before the Aquila Chrysaetos. Note what each item below is.
#1- Third seal below the Aquila Chrysaetos.
#2- Go around to the rear so you are looking up at the train. Note the first name of each person in front of you.
#3- Go farther down the sidewalk to the stone bench with the various service seals carved into its top (toward University ridge and away from the building). While sitting there, look to your right at the May/02 panel. Find the columns that contain the names belonging to the service seal noted in #1. Only one of those names share the same first name as one of the people you found in #2. Once you find that match on the May/02 panel, count the number of letters in his last name. Save this number for later.
#4- Count the number of panels (including the May/02 panel) it takes you to get back to the corner of the wall at the monument. --Not past the corner, just to the corner.
Use what you have found above to figure out what H and I equal.
Fourth stage formula- N 34 50. H W 082 24. I (H and I are each three digit numbers)
H = (multiply the numbers in the year Furman moved six miles north of town) x 2 – 95 (did I mention you need to save all your notes from each stage?)
I = (the number of panels in #4) squared – 57
Checksum = H + I = 793
Solved? Now on to the fourth stage.
Kids love this area. Tell them a dragon is behind bars in the stone cave. Look for date found to the left of that doorway. Trees and loss of GPS signal will be an issue here. From the traffic circle area, follow the roadway down past the green pedestrian bridge that goes over the stream into Falls Park. Do not go into the Governor’s School. You will see stone steps leading down to the left. Take those steps and you will figure out the rest.
You are looking for information to fill out the formula for the final stage listed below.
Fifth (FINAL) stage formula- N 34 J. K W 082 23 L (J is a two digit number. K and L are each three digit numbers)
J = Answer A from the starting point of the first cache (historical plaque)
K = (Answer #3 from third stage) x 88 + (number order of the service listed in #1 answer of third stage)
L = (Date inscribed to the left of the stone cave) / 2 – (X from stage 2). Checksum = J + K + L = 1536
Fifth stage end HINT- Tree in the middle. GPS signals jump around here quite a bit. You will have to leave the dragon’s lair area to find clear sky in order to get an accurate fix. I was able to get a signal up on the road. There is clear sky near the final location but signals still bounce around. The hint gives you the best clue. Cache is 3 inch x 7 inch container that contains log and some treasure.
-Thanks to Sir Yvain and OconeeBell for their help validating and improving this multicache!