EDIT to the description added June, 2020. I mention that poison ivy is an issue in many spots here. Well, the good news is that it is no longer much of an issue, although there is definitely some. But the tarp probably isn't needed. The MUCH larger issue (now, for the bad news) is the invasive Japanese wisteria. This area is completely overrun with it. It is killing everything around it as it slowly encircles and girdles the trees. The vines are blocking the way--even on areas that were formerly paved. If this area had been like this when we were placing this cache, we would never have done it. I'm very serious about that. It won't hurt you, but it won't be fun. I would up the terrain about 1.5 if it could go higher than 5. But I won't changed the D/T on a long-established cache. Anyway--cache at your own risk.
We searched around this area and found some really cool things and started scheming an evil multi-cache. All stages are pretty close. Please pay attention to the attributes. There is at least one specific tool that you will need. It would suck a LOT if you found that stage but didn't have the tool. When flaffle checked out the spot, I kept hearing her cuss. "Holy mother, that hurts!" was one of the last things I heard. We almost decided to name it that . . .
This area used to be some really rough apartments. Across the street, where the main part of the park is, used to be some rough apartments as well. I told flaffle that on the other side, you were likely to get knifed. But on this side, you were likely to get shot.
As a teenager, I usually strayed away from trouble but one night, when I was much younger, my brother, who looked older than he was, bought us some beer at the liquor store that you probably will park by. I remember, it was two six packs of Molson Golden Ale. We decided to walk through the apartments on our way home. How bad could it be? Suffice it to say that we made it out of there with only 5 beers and a bloody lip. Rumor was that the guy that hit me is doing life for murder. Guess I was lucky to only have gotten a bloody lip. I can still remember the taste of Molson and blood.
How things have changed over the years! You can still see a bit of infrastructure around. The first stage is one of my favorites. So is the final.
This area is part of "The Fields at Renaissance Park" Baltimore County Park. Park is closed at dusk and opened at dawn. The parking lot at the condos next door is clearly marked as private property. There are a couple of street parking spots on the other side of Old Eastern Avenue and there's parking at the liquor store across the street. If there's room (there usually is on weekends), there's also parking in the lot at Mt. Carmel.
This is designed to be a satisfyingly difficult cache. Sometimes the difficulty will be with the hide, or the placement, or both. Your success will depend on your experience, physical strength, and maybe a little luck at some of the stages.
Oh, and SueCat came up with the field puzzle. She thought it was too easy, but she always does. You're looking for a four letter word that you will need to open the final container.
Feel free to post smiling faces, but don't post any photos that show the area around the physical stages (other than stage 1). We don't want the pictures to spoil subsequent stages for future finders. Don't you want everyone to have as much fun as you did when they search for it?
Also, I placed the first stage back in March. I had no idea it would be a poison ivy jungle. You might consider bringing a tarp to place over that section of the ground. You will definitely want to wear long pants for this one. The second stage, you will get wet. It's a crawl but the water is about 5-6 inches deep through some of it. Flaffle wore chest waders and stayed dry. You'd probably stay dry with hip waders.
Good luck. I hope you have fun. I believe it's definitely a 5/4. Maybe 5/4.5. But you don't need any special gear for the terrain so it's not quite a 5.
