Gadgets - A Night Cache Mystery Cache
-
Difficulty:
-
-
Terrain:
-
Size: 
(other)
Please note Use of geocaching.com services is subject to the terms and conditions
in our disclaimer.
Welcome to Gadgets - A Night Cache. I have been wanting to put out a night cache for some time but I never quite had the right idea to make it work. After completing a cache in West Virginia, GC2RTGW , I had an idea - why not make a night cache that requires you to use different "tools" to complete the cache. Cache is on State Game Lands with plenty of parking.
This night cache is four stages long and will require you to use different gadgets or household tools in order to find the coordinates for the next stage. Important: Since this area is frequented by hunters, there are many fire tacks already placed. For this cache every stage can be found by following a series of fire tacks backed by camo duct tape. The terrain is a mix of open woods and small growth trees with a few briers, blow downs, and short brushy trees throughout your trip. I would recommend pants even in the summer time just to be safe. The overall hike is not extremely difficult or long.
For this cache I am suggesting you bring the following items. Note that some are essential and some are optional and some will not be used at all. Please bring a flashlight, three AAA batteries, a twelve inch ruler, a mirror, a strong magnet, a magnifying glass, a hard cover book, some paper, a calculator, two AA batteries, a snack, bottled water, and a Philips head screwdriver.
The posted coordinates will lead you to the first stretch of fire tacks (reflectors). All stages start with two fire tacks - look for the fire tacks or reflectors with camo duct tape behind them and follow them until you see a set of triangular tacks. For all stages the cache or puzzle is within 30 feet or less of the triangular set of tacks.
Stage 1 - cache is a lock and lock. The start of stage 2 will be located at N 39 50.ABC and W 076 21.XYZ. Use your gadgets to find the coordinates. To help you the sum of ABC and XYZ is 819.
Stage 2 - cache is a large round cylinder. The trail is found by orange fire tacks. As before the start of stage 3 will be located at N 39 50.ABC and W 076 21.XYZ. Use your gadgets to find the coordinates. For this stage you may go old school or high tech with your gadget choice. To help you the sum of ABC and XYZ is 856.
Stage 3 - cache is a nano inside of another container. Be careful as we saw a lot of other fire tacks on this stage. Use the listed gadgets to find the start of stage 4. If your tool is not "strong" enough, I have a tool you can use tied to the same tree. Please re-hide this stage exactly as you found it. While for this stage you are not finding ABC or XYZ like in the first two, I will tell you the sum of those digits will be 1014 to help you.
Final Stage **As of 1/28/18 the puzzle to solve the combination lock has changed. Use one of your tools to find the lock combination. The object should be attached to the final container. Use the fire road to get to the start of stage 4 from stage 3. Remember to save the parking coordinates to help find your way home - it will be a short bushwhack out.
Some general thoughts about the cache:
If you are having trouble at any part, my cell phone number is 717-968-0309. Call or text me if need help or tacks have gone AWOL.
Please bring along a strong flashlight as it will make finding the reflectors and tacks that much easier. Also all the tacks are about eight feet off the ground which makes them easier to see - especially with a headlamp.
I recommend doing this cache as part of a group - it is more fun and safer in the end.
Recently some neighbors have decided to follow cachers to parking and say the area is closed from dusk to dawn. This is not true! The area is SGL which is open at night and is a township road. You can hunt animals like raccoon at night, so the area is open to cachers as well. Neighbors get tired of many people using the remote parking lot for 'other' uses. In fact a Game Commission Conservation officer recently told me that SGL parking lots can be the hub of illegal activities.
Congratulations to gohangasalami on a well earned FTF!
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Fgntr 1 - jura snpvat gevnatyr ybbx gb gur evtug naq ybj - nybat ebggvat gerr
Fgntr 2 - oybj qbjaf gb gur yrsg jura snpvat gevnatyr
Fgntr 3 - anab vf pybfr gb tebhaq ohg vg arrqf gb tb 'abegu'
Fgntr 4 - onpx haqre