The four elements - Fire
This is a short, single-stage multi cache based on the element of fire.
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. Do read the cache description carefully as to the special requirements needed to find these caches.
About this cache.
Go to the listed coordinates. From there, follow the fiery reflectors through the dark, scary woods. Somewhere along this trail is a big tree with two fiery red reflectors. At this location, start the fire to retrieve the fiery coordinates of the fiery location of the fiery cache. After extinguishing the fiery fire continue to follow the fiery reflectors until you are at a not so fiery footpath. From there find your way along the normal paths to the fiery final location, which again is marked by a fiery red reflector. If you reach the footpath and still have no clue on where the final is, you probably missed something.
This cache can only be done at night. The reflectors are nigh invisible during the day, and the fire that shows the coordinates of the final will not light up.
To find the reflectors, hold a strong flash light close to your head at eye level and scan your surroundings. Some are not so easy to find, look carefully, and move around a bit as there may be a tree in your line of sight. Make sure your flash light can project a beam at least 20m away.
The first stage is along a rough trail, off the main paths. The final is in the woods, just off the trails as well, hence the high terrain rating. Total distance from starting point to the final is just over 1 km, including searching this cache may take about an hour.
Please note that fire is not allowed within the nature reserve. This cache is not using any actual fire.
Bring 2x AA batteries (tested with alkaline type; may or may not work with rechargeable batteries due to lower voltage).
Bonus waypoint: a great viewpoint can be found near the final location: add 0.011 to North, add 0.029 to East. Don't miss it!
Getting there.
Please check OpenStreetMap for directions. Main options are:
- Go to Tai Po Market Station, walk up from there (4.5 km) or first take taxi to The Paramount and walk from there (3 km, less climb, very good paths). See also GC43ATH.
- Take minibus 60K from Sha Tin station to the terminus, walk from there (about 3 km, route includes some steep and partially overgrown trails).
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 four elements - Spirit (bonus)