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Boyd's Butte Multi-Cache

Hidden : 6/25/2012
Difficulty:
3.5 out of 5
Terrain:
4.5 out of 5

Size: Size:   regular (regular)

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Geocache Description:

Boyd's Butte is a prominent feature in the Cougals Section of Springbrook National Park. It's disctictive triple peaks were used as a navigation point in the early days of shipping. At the summit there is a small clearing where you will be rewarded with excellent views to the Gold Coast and beyond. The cache is NOT at the published coordinates, but you'll need to collect a couple of clues on the way up to find it. It's a steep 8km hike. Allow approx 4-5 hours return.

Park in the Cougals NP Section car park at the top of Currumbin Creek Road and head up to the remains of the old saw mill. Continue past the fence line behind the mill and follow the remains of the logging trail down to the creek. Continue past the NP warning sign and follow the creek, crossing once, before you reach a major bend at WP1. Here you will leave the creek and follow a spur uphill to the north. The creek departure point is marked with ribbons.

Continue up along the spur and join an old logging trail heading uphill. Note the huge old stumps of felled cedars with the planking slots still visible; more remnants of this area's logging history. Continue upwards along a reasonably well marked footpad. Much of the track is now ribboned so navigation should not be an issue. After a few steep sections the terrain flattens out for a while. Locate WP2 which is the remains of an old National Park sign right next to the footpad. The sign has long gone, but one of the posts remain which has a number still legible on the back. You'll need this to locate the cache.

After more climbing you'll reach a pretty plateau full of palm trees and strewn with small rocks. This is a good place to catch your breath for the final, very steep ascent to the summit. We went straight up the boulder field, which in the wet would be very tricky. There may well be an alternative track contouring west which would be easier.

Finally you will reach WP2, a large fallen tree leaning against the cliff. We have shamelessly dubbed this the "Leaning Tree of Herbz". Before you use this tree to head up to the summit,  find the old initials carved into the dead wood behind the base of the tree. The summit is a short scramble up the cliff face. A short rope would be handy in wet conditions for added security, but it's not really necessary.

Enjoy the views at the summit then work out the puzzle to find GZ, which is hidden back down the valley outside the NP in an appropriate place.

Boyds' Butte actually consists of of 3 peaks, the other 2 smaller peaks are more difficult and dangerous to climb without proper climbing gear.

GZ = S28 12.8AB E153 23.XYZ

Where AB = Number on sign at WP1 x 5.
and XYZ = At WP2 multiply the initials' values together from the list below. Then deduct the Number on sign at WP1.

A = 13
C = 14
H = 15
N = 16
P = 22

Checksum: A+B+X+Y+Z = 11

N.B. In the logbook you'll find a number which you'll need to find our "Herbz Challenge" cache http://coord.info/GC3FGJF.

Additional Hints (No hints available.)