GCMZEV Go Nuts at Kirkwood! (Multi-cache) in California, United States created by 3-carver and Scoobert

This cache has been archived.

Scoobert: Sadly, packing this one in. Final container no where to be found. HUGE shout out to 3-carver on this one, he did all of the heavy lifting, I just listed it. 😉🙂 Lots of fun times on this one. Thanks to all who visited and rummaged through the treasure chest.

GCMZEV ▼

A cache by 3-carver and Scoobert Message this owner

Hidden : 2/26/2005

Difficulty:

Terrain:

Size: Size: large (large)

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Geocache Description:

A fun and well worth the effort multi cache at Kirkwood. Cache is accessible all four seasons.

Don’t let the 5 stages intimidate you; the coordinates for all five stages are already posted, you just need to gather simple clues at each stage to access the final cache stage. Once you arrive at each of the stages, you should have the information you need in just a few minutes and be able to complete the entire cache in less than a half hour. However, in most cases you will probably find yourself wanting to stay longer.
You can find these stages in any order you wish, but the most logical progression would be in order from one to four. It will be likely that you will drive between stages one, two and three but stages three, four and five are all within short and easy walking distance. Please note that the cache is inside but there is access 365 days a year during daylight hours.
Stage one is at the Kirkwood Inn. At this stage, you will find a plaque on the wall and record the year that the Inn was built (Year = WXYZ where X-Y-1 = A).
Stage two (N38 41.298 W120 4.448) is at a Lodge which is where you will find facilities for beginning skiers as well as the tubing hill and disc golf in the summer. At stage two, there is a large sign with a ski trail map. The number you need from this stage is the second number in the elevation of Thimble Peak (elevation = xBxx). Update 11/18/06 - this sign is missing due to construction. You can find the information on any Kirkwood trail map. There is a similar large sign if you are standing outside the final stage.
Stage three (N38 40.991 W120 4.005) takes you to the center of Kirkwood Village. At the posted coordinates, you should be able to see the entrance to two ski lifts. The number you want is the greater number of these two lifts (higher of the two lift numbers = C).
Stages four (N38 41.080 W120 03.927) and five (N38 41.085 W120 03.927) are at nearby Red Cliffs Lodge. The clue for stage four is the large sign on the building that reads Red Cliffs with two words (three letters plus five letters) following it. What number of the alphabet is the first letter of that first word? That number is the last number (D) of the lock combination. Just a few steps away you will find the cache box where you can access it with the code ABCD.
While Scoobert likes to go nuts on the slopes, 3-Carver went nuts building and stuffing the cache box with some really great stuff. I would feel comfortable saying this is probably the largest cache in El Dorado, Amador and Alpine counties and you’ll probably really enjoy browsing through it. It is very well stocked so feel free to take more than one item (but only one large item,please). The cache evens contains one of the seedling nutcases from Acorn's Nutcase (GCHCEQ) which was going to be used to conceal stage 3 but a last minute change of plans to have all of the stages “virtual” left this partial nutcase inside the cache. And if in the midst of five stages you forget to bring something to trade, feel free to take something anyway – we won’t tell. We just ask one favor – PLEASE DOUBLE CHECK TO MAKE SURE THE CACHE IS LOCKED BEFORE YOU LEAVE.
As for the first to find, there is an

ALL DAY LIFT TICKET

good for any day for the rest of the season

!
ENJOY!

BTW, while you are here you can log a few waymarks if you wish. The first and last are very easy and the middle will require either a hike in the summer or a ski run (intermediate skier or better) in the winter time.

Kirkwood Web Cam
Kirkwood Palindrome Coordinates
Kirkwood Ski Resort

Additional Hints ()

Qb lbh arrq gb hfr gur erfg ebbz? Xrrcf trggvat zbirq nebhaq va gur ybool ng gur onfr bs gur fgnvef.

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)