The coordinates for this cache were carefully chosen to make the location "positionally correct" with respect to my Cassiopeia Constellation series of caches, when viewed from above. (See the "Birds Eye View" in the gallery!)
Polaris is one of the first stars that my father taught me to spot in the night time sky. While Polaris is not technically a part of Cassiopeia, it is positioned close to the constellation, a bit above the left side of the "W" shape for the Cassiopeia grouping. Polaris is actually the end of the "handle" of the constellation commonly known as the "Little Dipper", or "Ursa Minor" (little bear).
Over the centuries, navigators in the northern hemisphere have used this star as the visual indicator to find "north", since the position of the star in the sky remains fixed, and does not move across the sky like other objects do. This is because Polaris is positioned almost exactly in line with the earth's axis, so as the earth spins the position of the star when viewed from the ground does not change. Because of this Polaris has become known as the "North Star".
To find true north when viewing the North Star, all you need to do is locate the star, and then drop your eyes straight down to the horizon. When you do this, you will be looking almost exactly straight north.
The trek to this cache is a long one, and it is advisable to bring a good compass, and possibly some water and snacks, and extra batteries for your GPSR. If you are attempting to find the cache at night (highly recommended for the full effect), be sure to bring a good flashlight with extra batteries, and an extra bulb.
The container is a couple hundred feet off the nearest trail, and if you become disorientated in the deep woods it could take you a while to find your way back out! If this happens, try to head either north or east to connect with the nearest trails. The nearest roads are located to the north and the west. Use good woods sense and use the location of the sun or another distant object to help you keep your bearings as you walk out.
To approach the cache, I recommend coming in from the road on the north side. The "Exercise Trail" begins at the supplied waypoint (POLAR1). You can pick up several other caches along the way down the trail as you head in!
Follow the trail southeast around 2800 feet to the second waypoint, POLAR2. Here two trails converge into a single trail that continues toward the south east. At this point, head to your right (SW) into the woods, and use you GPSR to navigate to the cache. The cache is around 400 feet into the woods.
Good Luck with your search, and I hope you have as much fun finding this cache as we did planning and placing it!
BaltaTheWolf and Lady In Orange