This cache comes in two versions. A short version if you are travelling down the Trans Canada Highway and want a short stop to stretch your legs. And a longer version (but still not very long) if you want to go for a longer walk and see a beautiful area along the Kananaskis River including a wetland and a beaver dam. The area is popular with bird lovers, too. The total distance, of the longer version, is just over 2 kilometres from (summer) parking, along the trail, to the cache, and then back to parking. The terrain is mostly flat with only small elevation changes along the way.
The Flowing Water Trail is located in Bow Valley Provincial Park, just off the Trans Canada Highway. Take Exit 114 onto Highway 1X north from the Trans Canada Highway and then turn east into Willow Rock Campground. In the winter you will have to park at the closed gate to the campground. You can also get to Highway 1X from Highway 1A if you want a more scenic drive from Calgary. Before driving out you can check out the Bow Valley Trail Report.
To find the cache location you will need to gather some information from signs along the way and place your answers in the following set of coordinates:
N 51° 05.0AB
W 115° 03.4CD
For both the short and longer version of the cache you will need to walk 400 metres from the posted coordinates along a path through a forested area of the Willow Rock Campground to the Flowing Water trail head. There is a sign at the posted coordinates to direct you. The coordinates for the trailhead are given in the extra waypoints.
The Short Version:
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There is a large sign at the trail head introducing visitors to the trail. On this sign you will find a map and two paragraphs of information. You will need to gather some information from this sign only and place your answers into the set of coordinates above to determine the final cache coordinates:
The first paragraph starts with the words "The Flowing Water Trail ...". This paragraph contains the length of the trail, in kilometres.
A = the first digit (found before the decimal place) of the length of the trail in kilometres.
B = the second digit (found after the decimal place) of the length of the trail in kilometres.
The second paragraph starts with the words "The banks of the ..."
C = the number of words in the first line of the second paragraph.
D = the number of words in the last line of the second paragraph.
Simply substitute your answers in the coordinates above and go find the cache!
The Longer (but still not very long) Version:
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You do not need any information from the big sign at the trail head. Rather, continue along the interpretive trail, keeping to the right, and gather information from signs along the way. Place the information you gather from these signs into the set of coordinates above to determine the final cache coordinates.
**** The signs do not appear in the order shown below so pay attention! ****
A = the first digit of the distance, in kilometres, to the Barrier Reservoir quoted on the sign titled "Raging Waters."
B = number of trees in the picture on the sign titled "How Much."
C = the number of words in the diagram (not in the paragraphs) on the sign titled "Making a River."
D = the number of animals, birds, and insects in the picture on the sign titled "A New Subdivision."
Now substitute your answers into the posted coordinates above and go find the cache.
If you are unsure of your answers, take a few minutes and do the short version of the cache at the trail head sign or use the solution checker provided.
You do not need to go off the trail to find the cache. The cache container is an ammo box filled with trading items, log book, pencil, and pencil sharpener. Please rehide the cache well so it is not visible to non geocachers and so it is "safe" (you'll understand when you find the cache).
And remember ... you're in the forest so your GPSr may need some time to settle down to find the final cache.
Happy Hunting!