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Needle in a Haystack Multi-Cache

Hidden : 8/6/2006
Difficulty:
2 out of 5
Terrain:
1.5 out of 5

Size: Size:   small (small)

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Geocache Description:

Information you need to locate the final has been glued to the top of a magnet tipped bolt that has been screwed into the lawn at WP2 (The exact location of WP2 is given below.) However finding it with only your GPS will be like finding a needle in a haystack.

Note 11/11/2018: WP1, which previously contained the instructions and tools needed to find WP2, has gone missing too many times. Therefore WP1 at the posted coordinates is not being replaced. Instead go directly to WP2. The instructions you need have been added to the listing below and searchers are now requested to bring there own tools.

Note 8/9/2019: I tried out a "Metal Detector" app for my iPhone and found it to be much better than using a compass to locate the magnet attached to bolt at WP2. Its free and also available for android phones. Amazing that when this cache was fist hidden there were no phone apps.

Note 9/15/2021: The original WP2 is under the construction of the new stage. WP2 was moved on 10/11,2021. That W2 turned out to be to close to another hide. So today W2 was moved again to N47 37.895 W122 18.829.

Note 11/11/2024: WP2 hide went missing and replaced a little bit south at N47 37.889 W122 18.839.
New WP2 finding instructions added to listing.


GO to WP2
----------------

Following the instructions below will make the search for WP2 much easier. Bringing a compass (or better yet, a "Metal Detector" App on your phone) and several toothpicks will greatly improve your chances of success.

Go to WP2 at N47 37.889 W122 18.829, locate L1, T1, T2, S1, S2, as described below.

OBJECTS AT WP2 YOU NEED TO LOCATE FIRST
------------------------------------------------------------------

L1) Light above the of the door of the Men's Room that abuts the conservatory.
S1) A sign saying "DOG AND OTHER PETS PROHIBITED" on the south side of the wading pool.
S2) A sign saying "WADING POOL ..." on the north side of the wading pool.
NOTE: Both Signs S1 and S2 sometimes come off the posts, but the remaining posts and can easily be lined up to fix your E-W position.

To find some particular trees, walk west on the foot path along the south side of E Highland drive.
Just before you pass the west end of the wading pool, take the smaller branching path to the left.
Quickly you will pass three tall pines on your left and soon after that another pine on your right.
T1) Is the northern most of the three tall pines. Fix it in your mind as it will be very important.
T2) The pine tree on your right of the branching path.

Once you see each of the objects above from your position at WP2, follow the instructions below:

INSTRUCTIONS TO LOCATE THE WP2 HIDE
--------------------------------------------------------------
1) You need to approach the WP2 hide from the south, so walk south until you are 20 feet south of T1.
NEXT: Adjust your E-W position by lining up with the S1 and S2 posts.
NEXT: Slowly walk north and watch for L1 that will often disappear behind trees.
Next: Stop when L1 appears between T1 and T2.
THEN: Adjust your N-S position so L1 just touches the north side of T1.
NOTE: When standing at this "touching spot", leaning backward makes L1 disappear.
OUTCOME: When you're on the L1-L2 line at the touching spot, the WP2 hide is at you're feet.

2) The alignments in instruction 1) should get you within a foot of the bolt.
To get closer, take out you compass (or metal detector app.) and pass it over the lawn at your feet. The compass should swing (or the metal detector beep) when touching the grass and passing over the magnetic. This should get you within an inch.

IMPORTANT: DO NOT USE THE COMPASS IN YOUR CELL PHONE AS IT WILL NOT DETECT A NEARBY MAGNET. INSTEAD USE A COMPASS WITH A MAGNETIC NEEDLE LIKE A BOY SCOUT COMPASS WHICH WILL SPIN AS YOU PASS IT OVER A STRONG MAGNET.

3) To get closer, take out a toothpick and gently probe where you think the bolt resides.

4) To get closer, carefully pull back a small flap of grass until the bold head is exposed. There may be a thin crust of dirt that will need to be scraped off to expose in information on the bolt head.


5) Do not pull out the grass as that will leave the the bolt head exposed.

6) Another way to locate the WP2 magnet is to buy a large Titan ceramic magnet (available at most auto parts stores) and when standing at the touching spot, dangle it on a string above the space between you feet. It will wiggle as you pass over the bolt head and, if you let it lie flat on the wiggle spot, will grab the bolt head. This is a way to avoid the need for a metal detector app or a compass.

INFORMATION TO LOCATE THE FINAL HIDE
--------------------------------------------------------------
1) Use the information found on the bolt head to calculate the final coordinates.
The bolt head information is magnetically attached so it can be easily removed and replaced.

The bolt head information is formatted as Nabc and Wdef.

The Final hide coordinates:
N 47 degrees 37.123 + 0.abc minutes.
W 122 degrees 18.966 + 0.def minutes.

2) Finally, put back the bolt head information adjust the grass near the bolt so it is out of sight.

3) Now you are ready to go search for the final hide at the calculated coordinates.

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

JC2: N zntargvp abgr vf nggnpurq gb n zntargvp obyq uvqqra haqre gur tenff. Erghea abgr nf sbhaq. Svany: Xrrc pnpur pbagnvare haqre yrnirf naq fgvpxf. Xrrc ybt qel ol pybfvat mvc ybpxrq ont.

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)