Headquarters Canyon Multi-Cache
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(regular)
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Check out a slot canyon 80’ high and so narrow you turn sideways a couple times, just to get through. On the east edge of Capitol Reef NP’s waterpocket fold, there are some fantastic sights.
This cache will require at least half a day and should only be attempted in good weather; this is flash flood country. The road south of route 24 is only paved a few miles, then it becomes a good gravel road—if no recent rains have spoiled the gullies. Check with the ranger in Capitol Reef’s Visitor Center for an update: 435-425-3791.
Park at N37 49.979 W110 58.899 and hike SW a half mile over flat desert on an easy trail. The entry to the slot is about N37 49.693 W110 59.386 and you’ll walk over 100’ before emerging into a more traditional canyon. Within about 100 yards the canyon opens up and you can get satellite readings again. (If anyone gets any readings in the slot canyon itself, I’ll be flabbergasted.) A little rock clambering is required, but nothing more than a typical 6-year-old does every day.
Go to high ground near N37 49.648 W110 59.566 and look back where you came. You’ll see a large stone formation that resembles a chair on its side. I hefted two white stones onto it. This reclining recliner has a base of X dimension from side to side (the horizontal width as you are looking at it). Measure this dimension to the nearest even number in feet (2, 4, 6 or 8). You can probably guestimate this from the creekbed and avoid trampling on the cryptobiotic soil.
Use the X number to calculate the final coordinates N37 49.ABC W 110 57.DEF for the cache. Use only the ones column for each answer (e.g. 8+7=15, use only the 5).
A = X + 2
B = X + 9
C = X + 9
D = X + 4
E = X + 3
F = X + 0
The cache is a 6x6x3 plastic tub, placed outside NP land, as we/they prohibit traditional caches on the people’s land.
On the hike in, waypoint the spot where the stake marks the entry via the wash: N37 49.685 W110 59.144. It’s very easy to miss the stake on the way out.
One bizarre event of the canyon created several grooves in the north wall near the entry, about ankle to waist in height. A small group of cows wandered into this canyon. The first cow got into the open area, turned around and started out. Face-to-face the cows met in the slot and neither backed up. They starved and died in the canyon. Ranchers used cables and winched out the carcasses. The grooves made by the cables are most visible at N37 49.684 W110 59.399.
Original contents of the cache include several toys, a geo-kitty and a Utah ARE-U-NUTS. Happy hunting.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Ebpx arfg oruvaq whavcre