Excalibur: The Beginning Mystery Cache
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(regular)
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"The Beginning"
9 stages including the final - One mile hiking over rough terrain.
Allow a minimum of 2 hours for completion.
This mystery cache is the first in your quest to find the legendary sword Excalibur. The other mystery caches in this series are "Excalibur: The Journey of Lancelot" (GC4J03A) and "Excalibur: King Arthur's Quest" (GC4J03F). Even if you elect not to complete the other caches in this series, you will still receive a smiley if you succeed here. You will go on a journey to find eight markers - each with a clue you will need to find the final stage. The markers you seek are part of an established orienteering course at Starkey Wilderness Park.
"Orienteering" is the skill of navigating by using a compass. You will need a compass with degree markings so that you can determine the proper direction in your travels. Click HERE for more information about the sport of orienteering. At each orienteering marker, you will be given a direction of travel (heading) and distance to find the next marker in the course. You will know you are done when you arrive back at your starting point.
To find the start of the orienteering course, look for an orange and white marker on a pole at the south side of the parking lot by the corral - near N28 15.166 W082 38.432. This marker is identified as "AX", and instructions on the marker will tell you the path you should take for the next leg of your journey.
You will be following Course "A"
As you find each marker in the course, look on the bottom side for a clue that equates a letter to a number - and makes it possible for you to calculate the GPS coordinates for the final stage in the formula below. Once you find the final stage geocache container, it will also contain a clue that you will need to complete the remaining stages of "Excalibur".
When you arrive at the orienteering marker that directs you back to your starting point, it is time to take a break before heading home to marker AX - because you should now have all the clues that it takes to work your magic to find the final stage which will be within a short walk of your present position.
The final stage is located at
N28 15.FLC W082 38.NDG
The original "Excalibur" geocache in Starkey Park was placed in 2006 by Montu Rider, with help from Jodster and PuzzleLady44. It was a multi consisting of 14 ammo cans, and was based around the existing Starkey Park orienteering course. The orienteering course was created by Eagle Scout Chris Edgar in August of 2006. It fell into disrepair, and by 2012 was unusable - and the "Excalibur" geocache was archived soon afterward. In November of 2012, the course was restored by Eagle Scout Frankie Wamsley of Lowry Park Zoo Troop #47. The newly-renovated orienteering course forms the basis for this new series of "Excalibur" mystery caches.
Additional Hints
(No hints available.)