Obscura
The Shadow Maze
This is a night cache, but not like one you're familiar with--this one's a maze with diverging paths, twists and turns, redirects, and dead ends.
What You'll Need
You'll need a flashlight (and maybe extra batteries), comfortable and sturdy footwear, your trusty GPS device, a few hours of time, and be able to walk a few miles. I'm going forward under the presumption you've done follow-the-trail type night caches before and won't need a refresher.
You'll also need to read this cache page and consider taking a copy of it (or your mobile device) with you. As I work tech support during the day, any calls, texts, DMs, or smoke signals asking questions already answered in this documentation will go unanswered.
About the Trail
The designated parking lot is available all night. The trailhead is at a gravel drive you can walk along to where the shadow maze begins. You won't need your flashlight until you're at the beginning so leave it off and enjoy the stroll--this cache is best enjoyed on a clear night when the moon is bright.
You're looking for white wing tacks, perhaps 1/2 inch tall, mounted on the sides of trees. Do not assume tacks are consistently spaced. I've made best efforts to ensure the next tack is visible from the current one (or within a few paces to the side) but this may not always be the case. Do not assume you can look back and see the previous tack from your current position.
This geocache is located in the wooded areas of Marion-Diehl Park (that isn't already occupied by GCA2BVZ), the greenway north of the park, and the wooded areas accessible from the greenways between Tyvola road and Archdale road. All these areas can be reached on foot.
Junction Points
When you reach a tree with a wing tack on either side, you've reached a junction point. If you look carefully, you'll see two trails of wing tacks branching (pun not intended) from this one (not including the one you came from). Choose one of these trails and see where it goes.
The wing tacks at some junction points may be off-center or not exactly the same height as each other. This can be disregarded.
Dead Ends
If you reach a white wing tack, and directly beneath it is a smaller orange flat tack, you've reached a dead end in the maze. These smaller tacks may be difficult to see relative to the white ones--you may want to examine up close. Retreat to the last junction point and pick another direction. You may need to backtrack multiple times.
Redirect Points
When you find a wing tack, and directly beneath it three orange tacks, you've reached a redirect point. Search the immediate area for a small container with coordinates to the next trail. Do not damage, remove, or even handle these small containers as it is not necessary to do so to get the coordinates.
Each container will have the GC identifier, the N and W coordinates (in that order) and a Greek letter indicating the name of the trail this redirects to. Don't put too much thought into the actual Greek letters used as they were selected arbitrarily.
There are multiple redirect points in the maze.
At or around these new coordinates you'll find another white wing tack signifying the beginning of another trail. Of course, this could lead to more dead ends you'll have to backtrack from.
The three orange tacks also mean you've found the cache.
Safety
Be careful. Mind your footing. Sweep your flashlight up and down as well as left and right. Leash your dog. Watch for roots, mud, rocks and changes in elevation. Considering going with a friend. While it will likely be a non-issue, respect others on the trail. The shortest distance between two tacks is a straight line but that isn't necessarily the safest route. Prioritize safety over saving a few steps.
This cache is recommended in fall or winter when the overgrowth isn't so thick. Watch the weather. If it's been raining give the trails a few days to dry out or watch for mud.
There will be bushwhacking. The trails do follow some pre-existing paths, but can diverge from and cross over these paths as well.
Please make sure the container is properly and securely closed. There's plenty of room for swag and trackables.
Summary and Tips
- There are multiple redirect points, each of which will send you to a different location.
- A single orange tack under a white wing tack means a dead-end.
- Two white wing tacks means look for two separate trails. The tacks don't necessarily "point" in the direction of the trails, though--they just indicate you should look for two.
- Trails may have turns up to 90 degrees but these occurrences have been minimized.
- When in doubt, follow the pre-existing trail you're on.
- If you're not certain which tack to approach, go for the closest one.
https://thegcgc.freeforums.net/