The cache will take you around the valley of Black Snake Creek, which sounds quite sinister, but is actually a breathtakingly beautiful place, although I would not advise trying this one on days of extreme bushfire risk.
The whole cache would probably take an entire day to do with the aid of a car, or if you’re feeling fit, a bike. Alternatively, if you’re feeling very fit, take a few days off work and go for a hike! If you do choose the hiking options, make sure you carry in plenty of fresh water and I advise camping the night at the philosophy waypoint. Also, if you are hiking, keep in mind that the weather in this area can turn on you very quickly, so pack for all occasions.
The terrain rating of 1.5 is for those who drive it. If you are hiking it, rate it as a terrain 5. You will be hiking in excess of 20kms from the published co-ordinates to GZ in order to do this cache. The roads involved for this cache are generally pretty good. After a lot of rain, they can get a bit slippery, in which case I would recommend at least an AWD car. For the rest of the year, a 2WD car is quite adequate. Watch out for pot-holes, some of them can get quite large, but the roads are generally wide enough to drive around them. High ground clearance is not necessary.
A couple of the waypoint containers are located a short way off the road, however they are still accessible via a short walk along a walking track. These walking tracks are generally pretty decent, but can also become very slippery in the wet.
As always, watch out for local wildlife. Snakes can be particularly dangerous during the summer months. Five of the ten most venomous snakes in the world live in this valley! Snakes love to hide under rocks, and many of these containers are hidden under rocks, to protect them from the regular burn offs that are performed frequently in the area. Moving a pile of rocks in the Australian bush, during the summer, should always be done with extreme care and a long stick. Also please keep in mind that the 6th most dangerous spider in the world, the red-back spider, frequents this bush, so be careful where you stick your hands. Also, if you are driving, keep at a sensible speed, as kangaroos and wombats can cause a lot of damage to a vehicle.
A word of warning - there is no mobile phone coverage. This means two things. 1 If you get in trouble, it’s a long hike to get out. 2 There is no phone-a-friend option and your “smart” phone isn’t so smart here!
Muggles are occasionally an issue, although you will hear the ones on bikes and in cars coming from miles away. Remember, the age old trick of pretending to be on your phone won’t work here - you will have to come up with something else!
On a side note, while creating this cache I came across quite a lot of native wild life, but one particular specimen stood out from the rest! I actually met a real-life swagman! I was leaving the scrub after hiding one of the containers, and suddenly there was an older gentleman walking along the track. He had tattered, muddy clothes and a large canvas sack tied on the end of a long stick that was slung over his shoulders. It was like I had stepped out of time for a moment. I think we startled each other equally! After an awkward silence, he asked me where the nearest town was. I pointed him in the direction of Gembrook and off he trotted!
Each waypoint container should prove to be a pretty easy find. At times, the GPS signal can be a bit dodgy so I have given detailed descriptions of each waypoint hide to make it as easy as possible to find the container. As many of these containers are placed in such a way as to protect them from small fires, please make sure that each container is replaced exactly as you found it. Please do not write on the papers inside the containers or leave behind any clues to what the answers may be.
At the listed co-ordinates, you will find the history way-point container…
HISTORY The history container is a 1200ml Clip-top container, painted black. It is in the base of a tree, on the low side of the road, covered in rocks. This first container does contain a log book for all those starting the Black Snake Valley High adventure to sign. Finding this container and signing this log does NOT constitute a find of the Black Snake Valley High cache. Because completing this cache may take several visits over a long period of time, the log book in this first container is merely to keep a record of all those who have begun the journey. The GPS did bounce around a bit at this location, but once in the vicinity it should be pretty obvious where the hide is. Choose the correct option (0 to 9) of the history question inside the container. Let A be the answer to this question.
The physics container is at S37 56.254, E145 36.3A7
PHYSICS The physics container is a 400ml Clip-top container, painted black. It is hidden in a stump, covered in rocks. Choose the correct option (0 to 9) of the physics question inside the container. Let B be the answer to this question.
The global politics container is at S37 56.568, E145 38.1B8
GLOBAL POLITICS The global politics container is a 400ml Clip-top container, painted black. It is hidden in the hollow base of a large tree, covered in rocks. Choose the correct option (0 to 9) of the global politics question inside the container. Let C be the answer to this question.
The Australian politics container is at S37 56.C66, E145 39.100
AUSTRALIAN POLITICS The Australian politics container is a 400ml Clip-top container, painted black. It is hidden at the base of a forked tree, covered in rocks Choose the correct option (0 to 9) of the Australian politics question inside the container. Let D be the answer to this question.
The chemistry container is at S37 56.A57, E145 41.D7B
CHEMISTRY The chemistry container is a 400ml Clip-top container, painted black. It is hidden at the base of a tree, covered in rocks and bark It involves an easy creek crossing. The GPS bounced around a lot here so the additional clue is that on the west side of the track there are two larger trees, it is behind the one that is furthest from the track. This track can be very slippery after rain. Choose the correct option (0 to 9) of the chemistry question inside the container. Let E be the answer to this question.
The philosophy container is at S37 56.857 E145 40.E66
PHILOSOPHY The philosophy container is a 400ml Clip-top container, painted black. It is hidden at the base of a tree, covered in rocks and bark. If you are driving or riding a bike, this way-point is a good option for a picnic lunch. If you are doing the hiking option, this way-point makes a good camping spot! Choose the correct option (0 to 9) of the philosophy question inside the container. Let F be the answer to this question.
The legal studies container is at S37 56.81A E145 3A.F52
LEGAL STUDIES The legal studies container is a 400ml Clip-top container, painted black. It is hidden at the base of a tree, covered in rocks Choose the correct option (0 to 9) of the legal studies question inside the container. Let G be the answer to this question.
The art container is at S37 56.CG8 E145 38.BAG
ART The art container is a 400ml Clip-top container, painted black. It is hidden inside the base of a dead tree approximately 20 meters from the track. This track can be very slippery after rain. Choose the correct option (0 to 9) of the art question inside the container. Let H be the answer to this question.
The geography container is at S37 56.HA2 E145 38.2GD
GEOGRAPHY The geography container is a 200ml Clip-top container, painted black. It is hidden in the fork of a tree underneath some bark and sticks. Choose the correct option (0 to 9) of the geography question inside the container. Let J be the answer to this question.
The mathematics container is at S37 56.JAJ E145 3C.JDG
MATHEMATICS The mathematics container is a 200ml Clip-top container, painted black. It is hidden underneath leaves, sticks and a rock, behind a tree. K is the correct answer to the mathematics question.
The music container is at S37 56.J26 E145 3H.KF8
MUSIC The music container is a 200ml Clip-top container, painted black. It is hidden under a pile of rocks, behind a tree on the high side of the road. Choose the correct option (0 to 9) of the music question inside the container. Let L be the answer to this question.
The cache is at S37 56.DKE E145 3H.LL5 It is a 2lt camouflaged clip-top container at the base of a large tree, just off the low side of the road, underneath some logs.