Itchen to Go Georienteering Again! Multi-Cache

This cache has been archived.

thebuttonmushroom: It’s been nearly eight years and I felt it was right to archive this as the orienteering markers aren’t always in place and I don’t want it treated like a traditional as it loses some of its purpose but after a lengthy search, I couldn’t find the cache at GZ! It may have gone missing but if you are reading this and wish to find it, please go ahead. I would appreciate it if you could then remove the container and let me know. Thanks!

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Hidden : 7/19/2014
Difficulty:
2 out of 5
Terrain:
2 out of 5

Size: Size: regular (regular)

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Geocache Description:

This is the long-overdue sequel to Let's Go Georienteering on Southampton Common.

DUE TO THE POOR STATE OF THE COURSE, THE FINAL COORDINATES ARE GIVEN BELOW. I WILL REMOVE THE CACHE IN MARCH. Itchen Valley Country Park (IVCP) is home to lots of lovely wildlife and is ideal for a range of activities including cycling, horse riding and orienteering amongst many others! (There's a certain tree-top adventure I strongly recommend too!) There is plenty of parking available but a charge to do so (£1 for up to one hour, £2.30 for 1-4 hours and £3.40 for 4+ hours). The ticket machines accept change and cards.

Orienteering is a sport which pre-dates geocaching by centuries but the concept of it is similar. It's all about navigating with a map and compass in order to find and reach markers called "controls" where you will see the international orienteering symbol of a square divided diagonally with the colours white and orange/red. At the same location is proof of your visit. For temporary courses which are set up for competitive sport you would normally then mark your presence by means of an electronic device attached to your finger, but with permanent courses like the one in IVCP there is a letter and a number. The number should match up with your orienteering map and then you need to write the letter down to confirm your visit.

To find this multi cache you will need to write down the letters found on some of the controls in IVCP and then work out the coordinates from these letters. All is explained below! Unlike competitive orienteering, you don't need to worry about the speed at which you complete the course!

You'll need to start at the visitor centre (coordinates listed above and opening times on the Related Web Page). The staff here are able to provide you with an orienteering map for only £1. A much more basic one is provided free below courtesy of OS OpenSpace but I strongly recommend forking out for the official map as it's not only colour coded but contains a huge amount of very useful detail required for effective navigating and gives some helpful advice too. A compass may help but is not essential.

Go outside and get your bearings. You're at the place where a triangle (meaning Start) is intersected by a double circle (Finish). As a tip, try to keep the map orientated, i.e. pointing the way you're facing. This will mean that the writing is sometimes upside down, but at least the paths, landmarks and vegetation should be easier to locate as the map will show them where they actually are in relation to you.

You do not need to visit each and every control to get the answers needed to find the cache but of course you are welcome to do so. For this multi, I would recommend taking the following route which will take you in a circuit and bring you back to the visitor centre:

START - 16 - 15 - 14 - 13 - 23 - 12 - 11 - 6 - 10 - 9 - 22 - 8 - 5 - 17 - 4 - 3 - 25 - 7 - 2 - 1 - CACHE.

Some of these controls you'll spot straight away; others might be a bit trickier but they're all on posts or benches and are not hidden like geocaches are. When you get to a control, be sure to write down the letter that matches the number. 11 is currently missing - it's O; and 25 is X There's a space for you to do this on the back of the map. Please be aware that if you have completed the course a little while ago and still have your answers, they might not be correct any more as the course has recently been expanded and refurbished!

Once you've completed the course, you'll need to work out the cache's coordinates using the formula below:

N 50° (H + I) (X - Q + C) . (Y - N) (U - T - T) (O - V)
W 001° (K - P + I) (D - V - Y) . (R - A) (L - E) (S - B)

Use your GPSr (and your map) to find the correct route to the cache and the container will be a few feet off the path. I'd intended the spray paint to have a mottled camouflage effect but in reality it just looks like I'm incompetent with a spray can. There are a few small trinkets in there to start with so please, if you or one of your kids takes something, please trade up or trade even. Thanks.



If you enjoyed this course and haven't yet tried my other course on Southampton Common (GC2MABX), then please do so! There are a few other permanent courses nearby you could try such as one in Royal Victoria Country Park or Staunton Country Park. If you want to get to know some local orienteers where you can attend special events with temporary courses of ranging difficulties to try your hand at, you'll find local clubs dotted about all over the country (and world!) but the nearest to here being Southampton (SOC), Basingstoke and Andover (BADO) and the Isle of Wight (WIGHTO).

"Itchen to Go Georienteering Again!" was placed in Itchen Valley Country Park with the kind permission of the visitor centre. Many thanks.

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Fghzcrq?

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)


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