In order to find ALL fifteen caches in one outing you are looking at at least a ten mile hike with two river crossings. The hike itself isn't all that hard -- there are one or two ascents that get a little steep for five minutes or so -- and it is a beautiful hike! You will go through a whole bunch of eco-systems, so the views will be constantly changing. Without stopping for caches you are looking at a 5-6 hour commitment, so plan on this taking longer than that with all the stopping to search and the signing of logs. (Including these 15 there are currently 28 caches along this route.) I will provide the trails you will want to follow, and the correct order of the trails. None of the hides are particularly devious, but tree cover may mean that you may need to expand the search zone. (Locals call this "the OzGuff Zone".) This series isn't about the numbers, but about the journey. Take a day to enjoy the great outdoors, see some awesome views, and find some geocaches!!
The listed coordinates for all 15 caches are incorrect so you will have to solve an easy puzzle in order to find the correct coordinates for each of the first 14 caches. Be aware that the puzzle for the 15th cache will require you to use information from each of the first 14, specifically the type of container used for each hide. (Each of the 15 caches in this series uses a different container -- nine of them pretty atypical. So please keep notes about each container as you hike from cache to cache. And since all of the logs are very pink, please bring a Sharpie with you. (Ink pens will work. Sort of.)
The correct answer to the following question will provide you with the correct coordinates for the physical container.
The third GeoWoodstock was held in:
A. Ulan Bator, Mongolia [N 35 09.000 W 082 37.000]
B. Berlin, Germany [N 35 10.000 W 082 37.000]
C. Jacksonville, Florida [N 35 10.019 W 082 37.555]
D. Quito, Ecuador [N 35 10.000 W 082 38.000]
You don't *have* to start at the Corn Mill Shoals parking lot, but it will make for a smoother cache-to-cache routing. You may want to consider clicking the Related Web Page link above and printing out or loading to your phone the detailed trail map. Trails in order from the Corn Mill Shoals parking lot: cross the main road and get started on the Corn Mill Shoals Trail (#19) -- ford the Little River -- take a right onto Shoals Trail (#69) -- take a right/keep straight onto Laurel Ridge Trail (#44) -- not long after take a hard right onto Cart Trail (#14) -- right onto Mine Mountain Trail (#49) -- right onto Fawn Lake Road (#23) -- restroom facilities at Fawn Lake parking lot -- cross Conservation Road (#18) and go straight onto Reasonover Creek Trail (#58) -- after a couple of miles take a right onto the short Lake View Loop (#43) [Optional, but great lake views AND a non-series geocache] -- straight onto Lake Julia Road (#42) -- take a right onto Conservation Road (#18) -- not long after take a left onto Shelter Rock Trail (#67) -- take a left onto Corn Mill Shoals Trail (#19) -- ford the Little River again -- continue back to the parking lot.
Don't forget to keep a record of each container used in the first 14 caches of the series. And make sure that you take plenty of water, some snacks, and possibly hiking poles to help with the river crossings. This is my favorite hike in DuPont State Forest, so please enjoy!
FTF HONORS GO TO benlorma07!!!
