The Larus Park Multicache consists of four stages. The first three are microcaches. The last is a variation of a military munitions container. The second stage can be difficult depending upon GPS reception. With good reception and luck, you should be able to complete all four in 45 minutes. This may not be a good cache for young kids. Wear boots!
BE SURE TO FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS AT THE FOURTH STAGE TO GET CREDIT FOR FINDING THE CACHE. IF YOU DO NOT POST THE REQUIRED INFORMATION WHEN YOU LOG THE FIND,YOUR LOG WILL BE DELETED.
In August 2004, the City of Richmond erected a sign for the Lewis G. Larus Park. Being on the lookout for a multicache location, I talked with the Richmond’s Parks & Recreation Department and learned that the park, one of Richmond’s Nature Preserve Parks, is open to the public.
The Larus Park multicache involves more than simply finding the fourth stage. Attached to the fourth stage container are detailed instructions describing how to get credit for the find using important clues. Each of the first three stages provides coordinates to the next cache and clues to solve the final “puzzle”.
The Nature Preserve Parks are parcels of undeveloped property that have recently been added to the inventory for Parks and Recreation. They exhibit the serenity of all natural, undeveloped greenspaces, wetlands, art forms and color in nature. The Lewis G. Larus Park, once part of the Stoney Point Plantation, covers 95 acres and features a topography of steep hills.
The park does not offer a parking area for vehicles. Coordinates are provided in the first stage cache for recommended parking and entry into the park. You are free to use other locations if you desire. This is a woodland park with no established trails. The park offers steep hills, creeks, marshy areas, briars, brush, and some areas with minimal undergrowth. At no time did I have to bushwack to get to any of the cache locations. I recommend that you wear boots.
When you find the fourth stage, be prepared to use some simple math and reasoning to solve the puzzle. Both the Princess and one of our tadpoles were able to solve it fairly quickly. If it takes you more than 10 minutes….stop and take a think break!!!
I visited the park four times and averaged the GPS readings. The tree canopy is thick so you can expect a lot of GPS bounce. Depending on the time of day and thickness of the tree canopy, I found coordinates to be off as much as 40 +/- 10 feet. Stage 2 offers the worst GPS reception. Do not be embarrassed to use the clues. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU FIND THE COORDINATES TO BE GROSSLY OFF.
There is a container of coins in the last cache. Please read the instructions CAREFULLY and do not take more than one coin.
There is enough trash in parts of the park to host a week long CITO event.
I used the “Rating” system for difficulty and terrain. Please let me know if they are not appropriate.
Each cache contains a log. Be sure to bring your on writing instrument for the micros. The final cache initially contained the following items:
Log
- $1 Where’s George Bills x 2
- Geocaching.Com compass keychain
- Pedometer
- TMNT Cards
- K-Mart Flashlight Keychains x 2
- IDT 20 minute Phone Card Keychains x 2
- Clips x 2
- Capital Bug Travel Bug