This cache was set during a 4.2 mile (~2.5-3 hour) canoe trip down the Huron river between Argo and Gallup parks. If you need to rent watercraft or more information on the trip, check out the Ann Arbor Parks & Rec web site. NOW BETTER THAN EVER in 2012 - you can ride down the new "Cascades" in a kayak, either one or two person. Awesome fun!
General map of area.
The Cascades near Argo
Put your craft in at Argo park , or further upstream, and seek the first stage at the listed coordinates. You will be looking for 3" x 2" silver plates or slightly smaller gold plates with a letter on them, the kind of thing you might see stuck on someone's mailbox for their address number. You should not have to leave your boat until the final stage.
Using the chart below, add or subtract from your current stage location to find the next stage. The final stage is cammo painted lock-n-lock container. The final stage will be before the canoe pull-out at Gallup park.
Stage 3 is located near Island Park which is a great place for your expedition crew to stop for a picnic lunch (which you packed and brought with you of course). Picnic = N42 17.414 W83 43.776
The cache was initially stocked with some excellent trade items to properly reward the difficulty and time required to find the cache.
Ye Old Secret Offset Table:
A = (-.073) (-.668) F = (-.061) (-.137)
B = (+.061) (-.774) G = (-.446) (-.365)
C = (-.233) (-.176) H = (-.047) (-.135)
D = (-.310) (-.968) I = (-.031) (-.814)
E = (-.199) (-.133) J = (+.066) (-.356)
Add or subtract the first number from the decimal part of the minutes for latitude (N/S) and the second number from the longitude minutes (E/W) and you will have the coordinate for the next stage.
Example: Let's say at Stage 1 (N42 17.598 W83 44.656), you found the letter "J". The offsets would be J = (+.066) (-.356), you would take 17.598+.066=17.644 and 44.656-.356=44.300 This gives you the coordinated for the next stage.
Use the offsets from the stage coordinates you last calculated, not what your GPS says when you find a tag. They should be the same, but never are, and the error will build up as you go along.
If this doesn't make sense to you, drop us a line, don't try to figure it out on the trail.
Ol' Red Rose does not mind if you contact them before you go so you can make a lifeline call if you get stuck. The math is NOT meant to be complicated at all! Have Fun!
Please watch out for muggles! High visibility area.
Examine the cache away from the hiding site.
