4/18/2015 Update: Due to natural changes in the environment, replaced picture for Primary Waypoint #4 (Ponderosa Loop) and updated corresponding calculation for Secondary Waypoint B.
Summary: This cache was inspired by the original Silicon Forest cache, GC89B, by pdxmarathonman, active in this park from 2001 until its archival early in 2012. The Goecaching Mosaic cache includes features of the original, plus 3 of my other most favorite multi-caches. The other caches on which this is based are: A Bit Of A Disappointment, GC10QWQ, by Hoo T. Owl; Cannon Beach Photo Mystery, GCYTX6, by himilecyclist and Getting Benched II, GCW2D0, by GarminGirl. I appreciate these caches and their creators for their inspiration for this multi.
I'd also like to extend my appreciation to my good friend and caching buddy, "and Steve", who spent many hours and covered numerous miles of the trails with me performing "sanity checks", etc. He also manned the "emergency call center" for the first days of the cache while I was caching/playing at the beach for my 30th wedding anniversary (see below).
This cache is dedicated to 30 years of marriage (yes, to the same person!), to spouses who share (or at least tolerate) each others' hobbies, including geocaching (and other things)!
In order to obtain the coordinates for the cache you will need to visit 12 waypoints within the park. You will locate 9 primary waypoints from which you will determine coordinates for 3 secondary waypoints. At each of the 3 secondary waypoints you will obtain a single digit needed to determine the final coordinates. You only need 2 of the 3 digits, but which 2, and how are they used in the latitude and longitude?
Even though no part of this cache is particularly difficult (no single element is more than 1.5/1.5) there are a many of them and it will take a lot of time from start to finish.
Guidelines:
NO BUSHWHACKING REQUIRED! stay on designated trails at all times.
Note 1: All coordinate values use the format [D]DD° MM.XYZ.
Note 2: All computed values are to determine the coordinates' fractional minutes part (.XYZ, above).
Note 3: Pad numbers with leading 0s whenever appropriate.
Note 4: Waypoints are not listed in any order; plan your route.
Enough talk, the details will clarify everything -- Let's get caching!
Primary waypoints 1-3 --> Secondary waypoint A: Based on the original Silicon Forest cache, find these "park-feature-related" waypoints to get the coordinates for Secondary Waypoint 'A'.
1. Oregon Grape located at N 45° 30.157, W 122° 51.027
a) Sum of numbers listed in 2nd paragraph on sign ______.
2. Big Pond Trail at N 45° 29.937, W 122° 50.822.
b) The number of signs that have the word "Ducks" in the title ______.
c) The total number of types of ducks mentioned in those signs counted above ______.
3. Lily Pond at N 45° 30.087, W 122° 50.989.
d) Number of animals mentioned in the last sentence of the 1st paragraph ______.
e) Number of words in the second paragraph______.
Secondary Waypoint A: Coordinates = N 45° 30.((e - d) x 2), W 122° 50.(a x (b + c) + 300)
Primary waypoints 4-6 --> Secondary waypoint B: Based on the Cannon Beach Photo Mystery cache, find the coordinates from which the following 3 pictures were taken; from this information you will get the coordinates for Intermediate Waypoint 'B'.
4. You'll find this in South Woods, Ponderosa Loop Trail
N 45° 29.ddd, W 122° 50.eee; ddd = ______, eee = ______
5. Oak Trail, north portion of the park
In what direction (true) is the camera facing? If 0° to 90°, mmm = 500; if 90° to 180°, mmm = 20; if 180° to 270°, mmm = 100; if 270° to 0°, mmm = 250; mmm = ______
6. Trillium Loop Trail
N 45° 29.ggg, W 122° 50.hhh; ggg = ______, hhh = ______
Secondary Waypoint B:
uvw = subtract ddd from ggg and round to nearest 100; add mmm + 8; lat = N 45° 30.uvw.
xyz = subtract eee from hhh and round to nearest 100; add mmm + 103; lon = W 122° 50.xyz.
Primary waypoints 7-9 --> Secondary waypoint C: Based on the Getting Benched II cache, go to 3 benches sequentially (at each bench you'll figure out how to get to the next bench). At the 3rd bench you will get the coordinates for Secondary Waypoint 'C'.
7. The first bench you need to find is on the Ash Trail. To whom or to what organization is it dedicated?
- If the bench is dedicated to Jeanie Waterbury, the second bench is at the Tadpole Pond turn-out;
- If the bench is dedicated to Roger C. Fox, the second bench is on Trillium Loop Trail;
- If the bench is dedicated to Beaverton Optimist Club, the second bench is along Vine Maple Trail, just NW of where Elliott Trail turns off;
- If there's NO bench along Ash Trail, the park has been rearranged and this waypoint is insoluble!
8. Go to the second bench, as determined above, and identify the organization shown on it. The third bench is at the nearest location where you could get more information about that organization.
9. At the third bench, how many letters are in the word describing Mr. Sall's passion? ____
Secondary Waypoint C: If the number of letters is ...
- 0, coordinates = N 90° 00.000, W 180° 00.000
- 4, coordinates = N 45° 29.751, W 122° 50.505
- 8, coordinates = N 45° 30.054, W 122° 50.345
- 9, coordinates = N 45° 30.025, W 122° 50.981
Secondary waypoints A-C --> Final Cache: Based on A Bit Of A Disappointment, go to each of the 3 Secondary Waypoints A-C. At each secondary waypoint you will find a number. If a number has more than one digit, use only the least significant digit. (For example, if the number is 13, the single digit to keep and use is the 3.) Now you have 3 digits, but you only need 2 of them -- one is used for the latitude, and one is used for the longitude -- the third is totally useless. Using your best judgement (or trial and error), replace Y and X in the coordinates below and go find the cache. The cache is in this nature park, within arm's reach of a trail.
The cache is at N 45° 30.Y25, W 122° 50.X81
Accessing the prize: Remember that 3rd, useless, unused digit? It was lonely, so now it has a task. Use that digit as many times as needed on the security device dials. Notes: a) the rubber weather flap is fastened at the front; pull the flap from the back up and towards the front; b) set the dials; c) squeeze the front and back together release the catch; d) the front should pop open. To close: a) the dials must show the combination in order to close the front; b) while holding the front closed, reposition the dials; c) press the weather flap back in place.
I hope you enjoyed the park, the hikes, and the cache. Please let me know of any problems or suggestions for improvements. As the phrase goes, "If you liked it, tell others. If not, tell me!"
Congratulations and thanks to eyequilt2 and Geodude2008 for spending a good part of Saturday on this cache and being FTF!