The Etch-O-Sketch Night Cache
-
Difficulty:
-
-
Terrain:
-
Size: 
(regular)
Related Web Page
Please note Use of geocaching.com services is subject to the terms and conditions
in our disclaimer.
The cache is not located at the above coordinates. Those coordinates represent the suggested parking for this cache. You seek a camouflaged ammo can.
Good evening, and welcome to the North Lake Jessup Conservation Area. This cache combines the best aspects of a night cache, a multi-cache, an offset cache and a puzzle cache. The successful completion of this quest will require some specialized equipment, (flashlights, skeeter spray, GPSr with track log, spare everything), hence the inflated difficulty rating, and during the rainy season, areas of the “trail” can be up to knee deep in water, hence the inflated terrain rating. Personally, I'd call it a 2/3, but the Geocaching rating calculator spit out a 4/5. I'll let y'all be the judge. The night time portion of this quest is about 1.5 miles in length, however, for the less robust, such as myself, it is set up so it can be completed in two jaunts of roughly .7 miles each.
I’ve named this cache after one of my all time favorite toys as a kid, my venerable Etch-O-Sketch. The reason for this name is because, you will be turning your GPSr into an Etch-O-Sketch. As you hike along the reflector “trail”, the track log function of your GPSr will be drawing lines. If you’ve followed the “trail”, and didn’t succumb to taking shortcuts, these lines will form a picture of two giant numbers, not unlike the Nazca Lines, located in the Pampa region of Peru. You’ll need these numbers to complete the offset portion of the cache. If you’ve ever hiked these woods before, with your GPSr, you should delete your track log to avoid confusion.
When you leave the parking area, travel through the pedestrian gate, ensuring that it closes behind you. This gate keeps the free range cattle who call this area home, from wandering outside the fence line. Watch your step during this quest, as the cattle have done what they do best, throughout these woods. After closing the gate, follow the trail to your right (south) about .07 miles, then right (west) roughly .14 miles. You should stick to this trail until you are within 20’ of the beginning of the night cache markers, located at N28*44.389, W-081*14.805. The starting marker will be three white reflectors set in a triangle shape.
From this point, you’ll follow reflectors, as with most night caches. You’ll continue down the “trail”, until you find another tree marked with three white reflectors set in a triangle shape. Affixed to this tree will be a soda bottle preform. Inside this container you’ll find a second set of coordinates. Turn off your tracklog, then proceed to these coordinates. Once at the start of the second number, (also marked by a triangle of reflectors), turn on your tracklog again. At the end of this second phase, you’ll find another soda bottle preform, with instructions detailing how to use the giant numbers drawn on your GPSr to locate the final cache. For those geocachers without a track log function on their GPSr, read the hint on the cache page. At certain points in this quest, your trail will make a sharp turn, making the hunt for the next reflector difficult. At some of these turns, I've placed two reflectors, which will hopefully clue you in that a sharp turn is at hand.
This cache was placed by permission of the St John’s River Water Management District. A hearty thank you to Jo Anna Baber for her approval. Jo Anna can be reached at (407) 349-4970 or jbaber@sjrwmd.com for any questions concerning the placement of this cache or the use of this conservation area. This conservation area is open 24 hours a day, so your presence out here at night is legal. However, I strongly recommend that you carry a printout of this page to use if you should have to explain your presence to any of the Seminole County Deputies who patrol this area.
I strongly recommend you bring a hiking staff with you to knock down spider webs & move snakes as needed, and bring a buddy. This is not a good place to be injured, on your own. Critters I've encountered whils't setting up this cache include feral cattle, wild hogs, venomous snakes, huge mosquitoes & spiders of all sizes.
Good luck and happy caching!
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Qhr gb gur snpg gung TCFe erprcgvba vf fbzrgvzrf “fxrgpul” bhg urer, V gubhtug lbh pbhyq hfr fbzr uvagf:
Ahzoref: Tbbtyr gur cuenfr "Gur Nafjre gb Yvsr, gur Havirefr naq Rirelguvat"
Svany: Fghssrq va n yvtugavat fzbgr gerr gehax nobhg svir srrg bss gur tebhaq.