So, we’ve all done photo caches where one has to figure out where to stand so that some number of photos all line up in unison. Some cool local ones are Somewhere else in Dos Vientos, Breadcrumbs, Lost In The Conejo, Nice view to the south and Can you hear me now? Which, now that I think about it, is actually a pretty good sampling.
So allow me digress for a moment or two. It’s taken a number of years (decades, actually) but what was once a seemingly impossible vision, the end-to-end completion of the Backbone Trail from Will Rogers State Park through the Santa Monica mountains to Point Mugu, has finally come to fruition.
Which, of course, from a geocaching perspective, means we need to speak of Spinal Tap, the ultimate geocaching challenge for the Backbone Trail. To claim a find on this epic cache, one must log a Found It on every cache that is currently active on the BBT (around 260 at the moment). As a side-note, almost all of the caches on the BBT are Traditionals, with about a half dozen Multis tossed in for flavor.
So let’s get back on topic here. Since I’ve always wanted to do a photo puzzle, and the BBT has never had a Mystery…
Well, Spinal Tap now has its first Mystery cache, and it’s a warped photo puzzle (c’mon, whaddaya expect from qbee37?). And one might as well accept right now that it will not be possible to solve from the comforts of home.
From this point on, it is suggested that one read everything very carefully before heading into the field.
This cache will require a hike of at least of 4.6 miles. This is the length of the BBT trail segment that extends from the point the BBT crosses Yerba Buena Road at N 34 06.422 W 118 53.760 and where it crosses again at the parking lot for Mishe Mokwa trail access at N 34 6.859 W 118 55.093
But here’s the rub – The cache is not located at the point where some number of photos all line up. Rather, one will be working with two sets of photos (Vista Points, and Reference Photos) that are conveniently provided below.
Vista Point pictures are used to locate a specific spot on the trail. Note that the Vista Points are not presented in a linear manner; i.e., as one hikes the trail, the Vista Points will not be encountered in the sequence in which they are presented below.
Reference Photos are pictures that, while taken from the trail, were not taken from a Vista Point.
Upon reaching a Vista Point, one will be required to answer a question associated with that particular spot. The question may require some calculations, or require one to make observations with respect to one or more of the Reference Photos.
The correct answer to the associated question will correlate to a digit to be employed in the generation of the coordinates to the final container, which can be found at
N 34 6.ABC W 118 54.XYZ
With that said, here are your six Reference Photos:
Argyle Sweater Dog
What’s the frequency, Kenneth?
Ears of the cat
Lonely outhouse
Muffin Top
Tree on Pinocchio’s nose
And here are your Vista Points and questions:
Breccia Bench
Stand on the trail in front of the low bench and consult Reference Photos Lonely outhouse, Tree on Pinocchio’s Nose, Ear of the cat, and Argyle Sweater Dog. Which, if any, of the referenced photos can you see?
Lonely outhouse and Tree on Pinocchio’s Nose ... A = 1
Argyle Sweater Dog and Ears of the cat ............... A = 9
Lonely outhouse and Ears of the cat ..................... A = 7
Tree on Pinocchio’s Nose only .............................. A = 0
Ears of the cat and Tree on Pinocchio’s Nose ...... A = 6
Pointed Rock
Stand next to the pointed rock and scan your surroundings. What is the heading to the nearest visible paved road?
135° B = 0
155° B = 6
190° B = 5
205° B = 8
Eucalyptus
Scan your surroundings and consult Reference Photos What’s the frequency, Kenneth? and Muffin Top. Which, if any, of the referenced photos can you see?
What’s the frequency, Kenneth? and Muffin Top ................. C = 6
What’s the frequency, Kenneth? only .................................. C = 0
Muffin Top only .................................................................... C = 8
Neither What’s the frequency, Kenneth? nor Muffin Top .... C = 3
Lonely Tree
Stand on the trail and scan your surroundings. What is the heading to the lone tree on the ridge?
225° X = 7
135° X = 6
315° X = 9
45° X = 4
Compass Rock
The rock is pointing across the trail to a tree. What kind of tree are you looking at?
Scrub Oak ... Y = 3
Red Shank .. Y = 6
Sycamore .... Y = 8
Bay Laurel ... Y = 1
Big SPOR and Bush
Stand at the SPOR and scan your surroundings. What is the heading to the nearest visible paved road?
145° Z = 0
165° Z = 3
180° Z = 1
190° Z = 7
Qbee37 Signature® wheresgeorges (well, Abe, Tom, and George actually) for FTF, STF and TFT (assuming FTF and/or STF don't get greedy)
Also, courtesy of zdonb, there is an unregistered FTF trackable for the FTF
Congrats to fastflyer and ulimatefrisbee for the speedy First to Find
Standard Disclaimer
- BYOP
- A marine layer is not your friend
- Bring plenty of water.
- It is highly recommended that you carry copies of all photos with you