The four elements - Earth
In the old days, the pagan religious system recognised four key elements: water, earth, fire and air. Later a fifth, spirit, was added. This series of caches in the woods of Tai Po Kau introduces you to these different elements in various ways.
Earth is where we live, on the surface of which we move around. We normally do not think much about her, the earth is just there, providing the stable ground under our feet, and everything we need to live and survive. As this is an earth themed cache, you will be taken for a short journey along the surface of the earth.
About this cache.
This is a night cache, which can be done only during the dark hours of the night. The listed coordinates bring you to the start of a reflector trail. At this location hold a strong torch next to your head at eye level and look around you, to find the first reflector. The route follows established trails, where the trails are obvious you may not see the next reflector right away - just proceed until you do. The cache is hidden near the end of the reflector trail, just off the established trail. After the cache the trail continues to lead you to the shortest way out of the woods - beware, it's a very steep exit.
The colours of the reflectors have no meaning, and as the route follows established trails there are only reflectors at junctions. Each junction has a reflector, you may have to walk up and down a bit to see it as a branch or leaf may be in the way. The only exception is the final, where you find a reflector which not at a junction. From that point look for two green reflectors marking the three at the base of which the cache is hidden, just off the trial. The reflectors used are so-called retro reflectors, which means they reflect light back in the direction it came from. So to see them well, hold your torch at eye level next to your head.
The trails this cache uses have all been mapped on OpenStreetMap. Also you are strongly advised to have your GPS device trace your steps so you can always backtrack your way out of the woods. The terrain is 2-3 star during daytime, a notch has been added in the description to account for the extra difficulty caused by the darkness. Bring a strong flash light, make sure the batteries are full, and take a spare just in case.
The cache route is about 5 km in length, including the hike to the starting point and from the final back to the nearest transportation the total hike will be about 8 km. The trail from the final is rather steep, so be really careful. Count on taking about three hours for the complete hike, depending on your hiking speed and how quick you can find the reflectors.
Getting there.
Take a train to Tai Po Market station, and walk uphill along Shan Tong Road. At waypoint TH you can find the footpath up to the starting point. You may take a taxi from the station until The Paramount (waypoint TAXI), and walk from there. Please check OpenStreetMap for directions.
Keep in mind that most transport services stop around midnight, so don't leave too late.
The elemental caches.
The four elements of matter can be found independently. On the first page of the log book is written a number that you need to calculate the starting coordinates of the bonus cache, which is related to the element of Spirit.
- GC43ATK The four elements - Water
- GC43ATH The four elements - Earth
- GC43ATM The four elements - Fire
- GC43ATJ The four elements - Air
- GC43ATN The fifth element - Spirit (bonus)