Cloud Catcher Multi-Cache

This cache has been archived.

MattyRx: This one has been washed away in the Northern Rivers 2022 floods. Between park closure, floods, fire and covid this cache had been unavailable for so long now, so I’ll archive it. Incidently, the cache was hidden beside the Kyogle Road. Here a link to a video so you can see how bad the flooding was that took the box away for the last time: https://youtu.be/VcMkAvfwdL4

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Hidden : 12/17/2011
Difficulty:
3 out of 5
Terrain:
4 out of 5

Size: Size: regular (regular)

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Geocache Description:


Cloud Catcher

Wollumbin (or Mount Warning)  is the central volcanic remnant of an ancient shield volcano which would have been about 1,900m above sea level. The volcano erupted around 23 million years ago. As the mountain's central vent cooled it shrank, forming a depression at the top that has greatly eroded. Today the leftover plug stands 1,156m above sea level.

This cache is not hidden at the listed co-ordinates. The cache is somewhere outside of the national park. The listed co-ordinates mark the summit of the mountain - which is where you'll need to go to obtain some details that will allow you to obtain the coordinates for the actual container.

Before you set off, please note that the walk takes most people 5 hours or so by the time they ascend, a couple of rests on the way, have a look at the summit, then head back to the car park. You'll walk 8.8km return. There are warnings at the car park telling of the danger of setting off too late in the afternoon, as it would be difficult to navigate your way back down in the dark. Be aware that footing will be slippery if it's raining (but the rainforest really comes alive in the wet). Don't go up in a thunderstorm - metal chains and platforms at the top could be dangerous if struck by lightning.

That aside, the walk up from the carpark is straight forward. Follow the sign to the trail when you leave your car, and immediately you'll start ascending - step by step. By step. There's heaps. You'll certainly feel the ticker and your legs warming up. As you get higher and higher you'll notice the temperature getting lower and lower. Be prepared for this - bring a jumper. The track is well constructed, and will keep zigzagging its way up. You'll catch a few good views as you climb. Appreciate them - just in case there's cloud at the top.

At S 28° 23.958 E 153° 16.251, the track stops and you'll see a chain leading steeply up a rocky slope. You need to grab on and pull your self up the last 200m to the summit.

Once your at the top, have a breather and appreciate the views (or the cloud as it often is), then you can get to work on getting the information you need to find the cache. Walk around the all the different viewing platforms and count the number of lightning rods. They are light greenish square metal poles sticking 5m or so into the air, each one is attached to the side of a platform. Theoretically, lightning should strike these instead of the platforms. You can see a thick earth cable at the bottom of poles that terminates in the ground below. Then you'll need to find the Emergency Helicopter Point sign close to the listed coordinates. You'll need some info from this sign.

    A = Number of Lightning Rods at the Summit
    B = Helicopter Point Number at the Summit.
    C = Last digit of the Longitude
    D = Last digit of the Latitude
    E = B + D
    F = A + B
    G = C - D

Checksum:  A+B+C+D+E+F+G = 40

The final coordinates are at:      S 28° 22.ECF     E 153° 20.GDC

Once you've worked them out, head back down the mountain and you can collect the cache after you exit the National Park. You'll be looking for an ammo can. Clear skies!

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Va gur sbex bs n gerr, pbirerq jvgu fgvpxf naq yrnirf.

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)


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