Night Spirits of Dead Man Swamp Multi-Cache
Night Spirits of Dead Man Swamp
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(regular)
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The coordinates given are only for parking you will have to follow the instructions to find the cache.
A big thank you to GorgeHiker for the inspiration and technical knowledge and hcliii for help with set up and up keep.
Night Spirits of Dead Man Swamp.
This cache is meant to only be hunted and viewed in the dark and since it is a night-time only cache,
YOU SHOULDN'T BE ABLE TO DO IT DURING THE DAY.
A few things to know first:
The spirits will guide you along the trail to the cache. The spirits are invisible during the day, but at night they glow when a flashlight is aimed at them. (Fire Tacks)
This cache also requires the use of a magnetic compass and GPSr or cell phone with TRUE NORTH to find a bearing to navigate once you leave the main trail.
REQUIRED EQUIPMENT: You will need a BRIGHT flashlight, a compass, a cell phone or other device with True north compass app. and of course your GPSr.
First step: Follow the Spirit’s Path
The above coordinates will take you to the parking area, walk south along the two track until you reach the rail trail, go west down the trail to coordinates N43°50.200 W084°54.116 and the beginning of the path into the forest.(Spirit path)Using the flashlight, shine it into the trees and you should see a pattern of 5 spirits, 4 white with a orange one in the middle about 10 foot above the ground.
(see image gallery for spirt path entrance image)
Head into the woods and west down the trail and look for the spirits about 8 feet off the ground, from this point the spirits will show you the way. Follow the spirits until you come to the point where you find two spirits in a vertical line, an orange colored one above a white colored one,
(see image gallery for vertical line spirts image)
when you arrive at this point look to the left and behind. You should see compass reference tree #1; you will see a vertical line of three spirits – white on the top and bottom, yellow in the middle.
(see image gallery for compass reference tree #1 image)
Now you are ready to start using your compass to find bearings. NOTE: You will be staying on the main trail until you reach compass reference tree #1 and bushwhack from there.
With your back to compass reference tree #1 find a True North bearing of 288°
(see image gallery for IPhone screen shot) (TRUE NORTH)
and walk into the woods in that direction. there will be spirts to help you find your way to compass reference tree #2.
compass reference tree #2 is a triangle of three white spirts with a orange one in the middle.
(see image gallery for compass reference tree #2 image)
once at compass reference tree #2 record its position on your GPSr. Now proceed at MAGNETIC North bearing 205° for 150 feet. (Or 0.0284 mile) (Using "project waypoint" on your GPSr or using the compass) This will be the location of the cache!
Sorry no Spirts to help you out this time.
Be sure to note all compass bearings from compass reference tree #1 , to compass reference tree #2, and final so you can backtrack your way back to the trail.
Cache Recommendations:
• I would avoid this cache during regular hunting season, deer hunters use this area.
• If you've never been on a trail at night, everything takes on a different perspective. To hike at night, is to intentionally allow you to slip out of your comfort zone and connect with the forest in a new and interesting way. If you want more natural light during your adventure, then hike during a full moon. You will find that the light from the moon is so bright that you cast a shadow.
• Bring a companion or two. This is strongly recommended, however, I would not include any young children in your party.
• Bring a good light source for each person in your party, including extra batteries and extra bulbs. Headlamps work great and they keep your hands free to ward off any critters or bogeymen.
• Bring insect repellent!!! During warm months expect plenty of mosquitoes.
• Bring the cache page printout.
• An orienteering compass is needed to complete this cache.(magnetic and true north readings are used to find this cache ) A GPS can be used if you can switch from True North, to Magnetic North, and project a bearing but bring a compass anyway since the reception might be spotty.
• I strongly recommend marking the coordinates for each stage, so you can backtrack if you get lost or lose the spirit trail or a compass reference tree.
GOOD LUCK & HAVE FUN!!
Additional Hints
(No hints available.)
Treasures
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