This cache is a bonus cache for the Adventure Lab - https://adventurelab.page.link/fg8B
The Adventure Lab follows the trail from the exit of Mt Linton to the Otautau-Tuatapere Highway.
Are you brave enough (... fit enough ...crazy enough ...) to walk part or all of it? ... to tackle Bald Hill?
A local cacher has spent 4 months walking the trail SOBO (south bound) from Cape Reinga. He has walked, jetboated and cycled his way south, met some awesome people, walked with some interesting ones and seen parts of New Zealand that we will likely never see. His photos, sent through when he has coverage, are stunning.
This cache (and AdLab) is for him - but he powered though the last 2 weeks and I missed his ETA for the start of the Ad Lab...
By the time you reach this cache (or adlab) you have just one big hill to climb if travelling Southbound, and have just completed the first (big) hill northbound. (Update - there is another hill just before reaching the end at Bluff, but Bluff Hill is a mere 265m high - "just a bump" for those who have reached here SOBO)
Bald Hill - Elevation 805. The trail enters the forest at about elevation 160m. Forgot to get a pic of the DOC Sign at the top, but something like 4-5 hours for the average fit person. On a fine day the view from the top is pretty good.
With bad weather threatening, our local cacher powered through from the end of Merivale Road to Colac Bay in just one day!)
All you need to do for this cache is visit the 5 Ad Lab locations, collect the values for A to J from your logbook (they will be there after each stage) and work out where the final coordinates are. Somewhere within 3.2 km of the posted coords ....
The AdLab can be done without walking the trail - each of the AdLab location is where trail meets road. Will the final be the same? Or will you need to walk some of the trail?
Will you walk between some of the AdLab locations? (If you do, take note of some sections which require you to phone ahead to let the landowners know.)
Will you be SOBO or NOBO?
Once you have completed the Adventure Lab and collected vaues for A thru J, you'll find the container at:
S46 0E.CHF E167 FC.AAI
Location 4 and Final location updated 28 Dec 2021.