Baldpate Mountain is one of the many parks in Mercer County that participates in deer management programs. With this and any cache, always check trailheads for signs and heed posted rules.
"48115 Baldpate Mountain Trail" is a letterbox/field puzzle mystery cache with a twist. The final cache is a locked mailbox. In order to find and open the mailbox, you must first locate a Baldpate Letterbox Key travel bug. Posted coordinates mark the information sign, which you should consult before embarking, as well as parking. This cache is set up to take you on a moderate hike to one of my favorite sections of the park. You will stay along the trail until the very end (step 7). Difficulty is for the preparation required, field puzzles, and letterbox-style directions at the end (each bit is manageable on its own, don't let it intimidate you!) and terrain is for a moderate hike with variable terrain (my dogs did fine on the hike). Enjoy this challenge and hike!!
Letterbox keys currently in play:
Step 1: Prepare. Bring the following with you:
- A copy of the cache description -- paper may be desireable for notes.
- A Baldpate Letterbox Key TB. You will not be able to locate the final box, or open it to sign the log, without having the key in your posession.
- A way to measure your distance as you hike, not as the crow flies (this is optional: distances are not needed to find the cache, just to provide some guidance along the way)
- A way to measure your current coordinates
- A way to calculate and project waypoints
- Phone applications will be sufficient to achieve most of these. Feel free to ask for help if needed!
Step 2: Trailhead is marked on your TB's info sheet as [a] (N 40° 19.x’ W 74° 52.y'). Head down the trail and into the woods when it turns, in about 0.2 miles.
Step 3: As you hike through the woods, you'll come across a distinct structure to the right of the trail just shy of 0.35 miles into your hike. From this, count [ b ] as the number "n". Walk a few feet further down the trail until you find [c]. Take coordinates from this spot on the trail (Waypoint 1), then project Waypoint 2 from your current coordinates as specified by [d].
Step 4: Near your projected Waypoint 2, you will find a square trail blaze on a tree on the left side of the trail. What color is it? The number of letters in the name of the color is number "m" (for example, if it's a black square, m=5 (edit 3/6/22: "red" is what you're looking for. The trail marker is MIA). Standing by the trail blaze, record your coords then project Waypoint 3 by subtracting [e] from the last 3 digits of your North coordinates and subtracting [f] from the last 3 digits of your West coordinates.
Step 5: When you arrive to your projected Waypoint 3, you will find two birch (edit 3/6/22: beeches, not birches, for those who are better arborists than I) trees immediately to the right of the trail. To confirm these are the right birches (beeches, not birches), note that one of the birches (beeches) has 3 initials carved into it, with the latter two letters being the same. Note these 3 letters.
Step 6: OK, time to put the GPS down! Follow the trail as it curves for a little over 0.1 miles, then keep an eye out for [g]. Note the position of these items.
IGNORE [h] ON YOUR TB. These are outdated instructions. You should not pass any "No Trespassing"/"Private Property" signs on your way to the final. Note: if your TB says "V2" up top, there is no [h].
Step 7: Once you are at the item in [g], turn your back to the stream and head about 100 feet into the woods. You are looking for a large tree with two trunks, slightly uphill and to the left when your back is to the stream, with a smaller barkless tree growing in front of it. You will find the cache at its base.
Once you've found the cache, take a pressing of the stamp, and leave a mark of your own stamp, if you have one, in the logbook. An inkpad as well as a peice of felt is provided: please wipe off the stamp after using it so that ink doesn't get all over the inside of the cache. Please do not remove the logbook, pen, ink pad, stamp, or felt from inside the cache. Please lock back up and be sure to hide the cache well! Remember to place the key in a local cache or hand it off to another cacher. Be sure to log it properly online so other finders know where it is. The supply of replacement keys is not limitless, so please be confident in the security of the cache in which you choose to place it.
Feel free to reach out with questions! I want this to be a challenge, but I want it to be fun. Constructive criticism and feedback is welcomed.