Now that Palidan is gone, someone needs to check on the hidden loot. There are clues that need to be found which will lead you to the loot and they need to be solved in the correct order. The clues consists of orienteering or fence posts that have numbers welded into the posts. You may come across other posts, but they are bogus clues. Some of the posts have letters and numbers on top; others have different numbers on top than the weld bead on the posts. Always use the weld bead number. If a post has a single digit, add a zero to the front. IE, 3 would be 03. As the posts (Waypoints) are found in sequence, place the post numbers in the table below. Total distance is about 3 kilometers.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
A B C D E F G H I J
(WP 1) (WP 2) (WP 3) (WP 4) (WP 5)
The checksum for the 2 digit numbers is 80.
The coordinates for the fence posts are:
WP 1 - 15S 0702902 mE 4267168 mN
WP 2 - 0702591 mE 4267373 mN
WP 3 - 0702482 mE 4267344 mN
WP 4 - 0702141 mE 4267306 mN
WP 5 - 0702100 mE 4268008 mN
As a bonus along the way between WP 4 and 5,
you can vist two of the hideouts.
This is not a clue and is optional.
Hideouts - 0702157 mE 4267615 mN
0702113 mE 4267755 mN
After the numbers are entered in the table above, substitute the numbers for the letters below for the location of the loot.
| 0 | 7 | 0 | | | | | mE Checksum=19
C C I H
| 4 | 2 | 6 | | | | | mN Checksum=29
J D B+C A+E
Now for the educational part....
The coordinates at the top of the page, in WGS84 Datum, is the suggested parking spot. Everything else is in UTM coordinates, meters, and NAD27(CONUS) Datum. This will give you a chance to learn about UTM on a Topo map and how to figure out where you are. The UTM coords of 0703000 E and 4267000 N is about 450 meters Southeast of the parking spot. This will provide you with a reference point. It would be best to have a topo map (NAD27 datum) with the UTM grid lines displayed, to help in your journey. Some of the WP's are near a trail and others are not. This would help in deciding whether to follow a trail, bushwack, or follow a stream. However, a map is not required to find the loot.
If you want to do an exercise with the map and UTM coordinates, pick something on the map that is easy to find, such as where two creeks meet. Caclulate the UTM coords of that intersection using a ruler or even something with tic marks to give you a indication of the number of meters from the grid lines. I use a dial caliper which gives good results. Proceed to the UTM coords that you calculated and if done correctly, you should be within 5-10 meters of that spot. In reverse, you can figure where you are on the topo map.
Below are several sites that offer good explanations about UTM and Topo maps.
UsingUTM
utm
factsheets
After you have found the loot, swap something if you want but at least let me know if everything is safe.
From the loot you can continue East to the main trail and then follow that South back to the parking spot.
Don't forget to reset your GPS to the default values.
| NOTICE:
Please be respectful of the posted park hours. If you enter the park
after hours you are trespassing. If you are stopped you can be ticketed
or arrested and will put the future of geocaching in the parks in
jeopardy. |