Please Do Not Pick the Mushrooms Multi-Cache
Mushroom Doom: Sorry folks, i'm out of the caching scene for the foreseeable future and will not be maintaining my old caches anymore. Archiving so the area can be used by someone else. I will be along shortly to remove all remnants of this cache.
Please Do Not Pick the Mushrooms
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(regular)
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This is my 1st cache so I hope you enjoy it! It's for all ages & experience levels but it can be challenging! All six stages are in Royal Roads south parkgrounds and have an educational mushroom theme. Allow yourself 2+hrs or multiple attempts to finish it. It's 3.5km round hike if you stay on course. Park at the GCP7GM waypoint or proceed directly to the STP7GM waypoint to begin. Follow the instructions in the long description from there to find stage-1.
I have been fascinated with mushrooms most of my life & have been picking wild mushrooms for about 10 years now. The diverse ecology of Vancouver island never ceases to amaze me!
Mushrooms are important but largely misunderstood players in our ecosystem. They recycle nutrients and form complex relationships with the surrounding flora & fauna that are essential to the survival of each!
When mushrooms are in season the CRD conveniently puts up handy little signs at trail heads that say: "PLEASE DO NOT PICK THE MUSHROOMS!..." to let you know. ;-)
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OK, so here’s how the cache hunt works…
The above co-ords are where it's legal & free to park the cache-mobile. It's rarely very busy (unless there’s soccer practice).
Proceed to & zero out at the starting co-ords:
(STP7GM waypoint)
N 048º 26.033'
W 123º 29.177'
From here, go into the park through gate in the fence that you should be standing closest to. Proceed to the middle of the dirt path junction directly in front of you. Take the trail on the right (heading south) for about 13 more meters, then start looking 2-3m off the trail on your right for stage 1.
ALL STAGES OF THIS CACHE ARE ON OR WITHIN A FEW METERS OF THE TRAIL.
Bushwacking = You are off course, follow the trails!
You won't have to spend much time at each stage. Just grab a card, rehide & move on. Beware of muggles/joggles/doggles that seem to come from out of nowhere!
The six clue stages are all 3"x2" Ziploc snaplid containers.
Maintaining this cache has taught me that these make poor cache containers over the long run so please seal things up as best you can.
Each stage should have multiple copies of a clue card featuring different wild mushrooms.
TAKE ONE & KEEP IT!
Most of the photos used were taken in the vicinity where the stage is hidden. The mushroom for each stage is also known to occur in that area when in season.
Each card has co-ords to the next stage in HDDDº MM.MMM’ form and a fragment of the Lat' or Lon' of the final cache. If you line up all six cards correctly when you are done, it is easy to read off the co-ords for the final cache.
This multi is subject to spotty reception in some areas but all the stages are near more open areas where you should be able to get an accurate positioning fix, then take a compass bearing from there (bring one if you have one).
To help you, each stage has an encrypted hint label in it for the location of the next stage, just in case you get stumped or can not get a signal close enough to the next stage to zero in on it. You should write down the hints as you go or you will have to backtrack if you have trouble with the next stage. ROT-13 decryption keys are also in each stage for your convenience.
I have an Epson studio printer that uses UltraChrome waterproof ink and I print everything on archival quality stock that is mildew & fade "resistant".
Hopefully the clue cards remain in good shape but I check them regularly anyway.
* The laminated "Last clue card" must be left in each stage so the cache can still be done if a stage needs restocking.
Please record the DATE & TIME of your visit to the final cache in the log book. SELECT A WEATHER ICON at the top of the log book page at the time of your find. The book came with them so I thought it would be neat to have everyone note what the weather was like for their hunt.
The final cache is a 4.5” x 7” cylindrical Lock&Lock.
Please carefully and fully rehide it from view.
Disclaimer type stuff ;-)
This cache is intended as a fun & educational way to get a glimpse into the weird world of mushrooms. It will also get you into some areas where you may actually see some if they're in season.
IT IS NOT INTENDED AS A GUIDE TO PICKING OR IDENTIFYING MUSHROOMS! DO NOT EAT ANY MUSHROOMS YOU FIND! CONSULT A CERTIFIED MYCOLOGIST OR SEASONED MUSHROOM HUNTER WHO CAN ID THEM! SOME MUSHROOMS ARE EDIBLE BUT SOME ARE POISONOUS!
ALL WILD MUSHROOMS SHOULD BE PROPERLY COOKED BEFORE EATEN.
Don't take any chances if you're unsure "hmm-kay" ;-)
Additional info:
If you ARE interested in mushrooms, consider joining the local mycological society. I am a member an volunteer dorector of SVIMS (South Vancouver Island Mycological Society).
All photos were taken by the cache owner or were used with permission from the author. Info given about mushrooms largely taken from "The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Mushrooms" 9th edition, © 1994 Chanticleer Press, Alfred A. Knopf
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
[Stage 1:] irel fznyy ubyybj fghzc zbfgyl haqre tebhaq
[Final cache:] ybbx abg va qrfcnve bs gur snyyra ohg va ubcr sbe jung fgvyy fgnaqf