The info (Beacon) you find at STAGE 1 is ONLY available AFTER SUNSET - Good eyesight required
Use the WEBPAGE below to determine SUNSET for the NIGHT that you will attempt this cache:
http://aa.usno.navy.mil/data/docs/mrst.php
Just enter Arizona for state, Cottonwood for City and 1000 meters for height.
SO... for instance on September 22nd, 2019 sunset is at 18:25
The beacon should come on at about 6:25PM
Best visibility is about 30 minutes later…
BEACON turns OFF about 2 ½ Hours AFTER SUNSET
The flashing lights you see form a sequence of 2 different 4-digit numbers:
Y.YYY
X.XXX
This is the INFO that you’ll use, along with some math to figure out how far STAGE 2 is OFFSET from STAGE 1
One number is ADDED to STAGE 1 LATITUDE to give you STAGE 2 LATITUDE
One number is SUBTRACTED from STAGE 1 LONGITUDE to give you STAGE 2 LONGITUDE
Here is a worksheet:
|
Latitude
|
|
Longitude
|
|
Stage 1
|
34
|
43.820
|
|
Stage 1
|
111
|
58.783
|
|
ADD
|
00
|
Y.YYY
|
|
SUBTRACT
|
000
|
X.XXX
|
|
Stage 2
|
34
|
|
|
Stage 2
|
111
|
|
LOOK carefully at the worksheet…
Plan on seeking STAGE 2 in DAYLIGHT and be prepared to bushwhack at least 1/2 mile.
There are NO TRAILS to STAGE 2 (FINAL).
STAGE 2 is a small container with a log and pencil.