A few notes:
- You'll need to be able to project waypoints in the field unless you want to make a trip home after each stage. Your GPSr should be able to do such. If not, team up with someone who can. It will be more fun with other people anyway.
- With My GPSr (Magellan explorist GC) I found that my actual projections were off quite a bit sometimes. If this happens to you, you should still get close enough to the park that you'll know which one it is supposed to be, and from there find the sign for the park. I had good projections with a Garmin that I tested though, so hopefully the Garmin users have better luck.
- There will be a lot of math to do, and a lot of variables to keep track of, so make sure you have lots of scrap paper. - I've rated this 3.5 on difficulty because of how much time it may take depending on your calculations and projections.
- I've rated the terrain as 2.5 only because if you walk or ride a bike, it will be a bit of a trek.
- I hope it is as fun to try and find as it was to hide and figure out.
Stage 1 begins at the above coordinates.
You should find yourself near a lone oak tree in the middle of a relatively new park. While near the tree count the number of houses on the new cul-de-sac that runs beside the park to the west and north. Call this 'A'.
Now, back at the tree look south and you should see 3 more oak trees along the southern fence. There are other trees in the park, but you only need to concern yourself with the three along the fence. Go to inspect the three trees for small silver tags with numbers on them. Get the number on the tag of the tree with the lowest number (just these three trees along the fence) call it 'B'. The tree has eaten the metal tag. B=888.
Now walk along the fence, heading west until you meet the fence that runs along the street side. Near this corner you will see a metal plate in the ground. Mark a waypoint here and call it 'WP1'. Then project a new waypoint from here ((2*B)+(20*A)+5) meters on a heading of ((B/A)-21.5) degrees to get you to 'WP2' at stage 2.
Stage 2
You should now be at the top of a set of stairs. Now count the number of steps, where 1 step is a vertical drop (including the last one down to the sand). So, the landings on the way down each count as one step. Call the number of steps 'C'.
From the top of the steps, which should be 'WP2', project a new waypoint ((B-(C*10))-8) meters at a bearing of ((5*C)+13) degrees to get you to 'WP3' at stage 3.
Stage 3
You should now find yourself near the sign for another park. Call the number of letters in the name only (always include the word park) 'D' and the number of letters on the whole sign 'E'.
From the sign, which should be 'WP3', project a new waypoint (B-(D+E)) meters on a bearing of (((D+E)*4)+35.5) degrees to give you 'WP4' at stage 4.
Stage 4
At 'WP4' you should again be at the sign for a park. You should also see a wooden structure nearby. Count the number of wooded posts holding it up and call this 'F'. You should see two benches here, one has a plaque commemorating someone's special birthday. Call the number of that birthday 'G' and the year it happened 'H'.
Next, walk over to the playground and look for another sign on a metal post. Count the number of letters (only) in the longest sentence on this sign, add the number in this sentence, then subtract the number of legs on the dog in the picture. Call this 'I'.
Now back at the park sign, 'WP4', project your next waypoint ((((G-I)/2)*G)+(F+2)) meters at a bearing of (((H-(B*2))+G)-19.7) degrees to get you 'WP5' for stage 5.
Stage 5
What a shock, you are now at another park sign. Call the number of letters in the name only 'J' and the number of letters on the whole sign 'K'. Now take the number of large rocks near the sign and subtract 2, call this 'L'.
Walk over to the building with the blue door and call the number on this building 'M'.
Back at the sign, 'WP5', project a new waypoint (B-(F+2) meters and a heading of (M-H-(2*B)-(3*G)+2.2) degrees to give you 'WP6' for stage 6.
Stage 6
Another park sign and some more things to count. Call the number of letters in the name only 'N'. Call the number of wooden posts between the concrete building and the metal fence 'O' (NOTE: The wooden posts have been removed so use a value of 'N'+10 for 'O'). Call the number of 'slats' around the garbage can by the concrete building 'P'.
Back at the sign, 'WP6', mark a new waypoint (((N+O)*P)+P+101) meters on a heading of (N+O+K+L+G-1) degrees to get you to 'WP7' for stage 7.
Stage 7
This time you are not at a park sign, but you are near another park. You are in a parking lot. You only need to count one thing here... hooray! Count the number of yellow concrete parking dividers and call this 'Q'. 'Q' is for Quitin' time. You are ready for the final stage.
Stage 8 for the HAG 8
Go to N 48 XX.XXX, W 123 YY.YYY where the XX.XXX is the north minutes of waypoint number (((K*G)-H)-(P*10)+D-F) and the YY.YYY is the west minutes of waypoint number ((C*E)-(O*Q)-(N*J)-K).
From here project your final waypoint (B-(((E+J+N+P)*G/10)+L)) meters on a heading of ((B/(G+J))+(D*10)+2) degrees. Here you will finally find the cache.
FIRST TO FIND PRIZE = $25 gift card to "subterranean transportation method"
2nd through 7th prize = Scratch & Win ticket
8th prize = 3 Scratch & Win tickets