What are Snipes?
Legend has it that warriors of local native tribes would tell stories to younger males about bravery and honor. To become a warrior, snipes would test the young men in a fight to the death to gain their right of passage into adulthood. To find them, they would have to find their glowing eyes; confront the vicious creatures and defeat them in battle. The boys would be blindfolded led in to the Ozark Mountains and then be left to test their bravery alone in the night against the unknown. Those that came back to the tribe with a trophy would then go through a right of passage ceremony and become new warriors of the tribe. Those that didn't come back were devoured by the snipes and their lost spirits would become snipes themselves.
What you need to know before you start.
As you may have noticed this is a night cache (letter box) only. There are three levels to this geocache:
Expert: As the cache was intended, a 1 mile hike in the dark guided by Snipes (fire tacks) and 1 mile back without Snipes.
Intermediate: Route starts as the same as the expert level, but the return trip is easier to navigate and quicker.
*Beginner: Designed for kids and the weak of heart where the cache location is less than 1,000 feet from starting location.
*(In order to get access to Beginner level you must complete the expert or intermediate level first. I make this requirement so that people actually run the course at its intended level to be awarded the D/T rating. If you complete the course you will know where to take children for a fun night time adventure with out the "long scary trip".)
Are you afraid of the dark?
Expert Level:
Please be prepared for this journey, it is about a 2 mile round trip. Bring plenty of flashlights, (I recommend at least one headlamp) batteries, reflective vests would come highly recommended and fluids. I do not recommend going on this trip alone, although it can be done, the dangers of twisting an ankle at night in the forest can have some really negative effects. Go in groups, make it an adventure!
All levels start the same, there will be two snipes(fire tack markers) on either side of the trail marking the entrance. (The only difference is that Beginners start at about 1000 feet from the cache where the other levels actually start at the dam of Lake Britney) This Trail is safe, if for any reason you get hurt, the trail is next to a road to get help. With that in mind, I warn you: Snipes will lead you in, but they will not lead you out. I repeat: SNIPES WILL LEAD YOU IN, BUT THEY WILL NOT LEAD YOU OUT.
Something following you?
Intermediate Level:
So you are okay as long as you have a way to mark your trail, but on the return trip there is that odd feeling that something is following you, or the hairs are standing on the back of your neck getting the best of you! Well, that is part of the fun, but if you need to escape you do have a simple way out. On the return trip from Expert level there is a possible alternative in which getting back to your car is quicker and more direct. Upon crossing the road back, to your left is a nice smooth dirt road that will take you all the way back to the dam. It is not lit, and it may be muddy in some places as you travel closer to the creek on the trail, but it is easier to navigate and more direct in getting back. At the end of the road you may go back on trail (which I recommend) or you can walk across the spillway rocks and climb the steep grade of the dam. (I did this just to test it out, and it is a workout).
Just for the kids
(and that macho guy in school who is really afraid of the dark)
Beginner Level:
Start at the road you crossed, (take a screen shot of your gps coordinates from your expert adventure and place them in your notes to revisit the beginner course) you will see there is plenty of parking off road to bring the kiddos for a fun adventure of night caching. There will be snipes on either side of the trail welcoming them to the adventure!!
About the cache!
This Cache is a Letter Box!
The cache is located at the snipe nest by the cliff. If you go past a 5 diamond Snipe guard you will have walked pasted the cache! The letterbox is an ammo can, and it is filled with Chemlights to help you on your way back. Please consider only putting night caching swag back in the container to keep other adventures safe on their travels back. As always, please don't take the stamp, ink-pad or log book as swag. They are meant as a function for the letterbox. Use my stamp to stamp your album, and your stamp to stamp the log book. I have provided an ink-pad, but they do dry out from time to time and it is always smart to just bring your own. Please re-hide the cache carefully. It may look hidden in the dark, but it may be seen in daylight. Make sure it is WELL hidden.
A Special Thank You
This cache was inspired by the Snipe caches created by the magnificent geocaching team Sanders_Sooners. Please make sure to check out their night Caches: Snipe Hunt-Night Cache! GC530E5 and Revenge of the Snipe - Night Cache! GC5YAN1 for night time adventures!
Stay safe, be careful and good luck!
(because you're going to need it)
