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Welcome to
Touch the Twilight. Do you like a challenge? Have you
been caching awhile and are you looking for something new?
Then this adventure is for you!
OVERVIEW
This is a multi cache consisting of four parts. The first part will
take you to a trail of reflectors leading up to an “activity
station.” The activity station contains a hands-on puzzle you must
solve. The puzzle is not a mathematical one nor a difficult brain
teaser, nor even a brain teaser-period. So don’t get nervous! (For
more about it...read on.)
The second part consists of
finding an oak tree marked by three reflectors by using the coords
you determined at the activity station.
The third part consists of
finding a film canister containing the next set of coords. (This
location is only 40 feet from the tree and also marked with
reflector(s.)
The fourth part consists of
using your GPS to locate the final cache spot (another 100 feet
away.)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF
TERRAIN
To get to the start point of the reflectors you will at first be
hiking along a very wide and well defined trail. Once your GPS
guides you to the first waypoint you will be crossing a field. Then
you will find the first reflector and then travel along a cow path
down to a creek. You will cross the creek (a very small one) and
travel up the other side using another cow path. The path will
disappear when you reach the edge of a meadow but you will continue
to follow the line of reflectors to the activity
station.
Once you have established
the second set of coords you will cross a meadow to an oak tree,
and from there you will locate the cache. The meadow is at a slight
angle and the ground is pocked with hoof prints from cows so watch
your footing.
No or little poison oak is
in this area, and you will not be hiking through any
shrubbery.(Mind you, I am highly allergic to poison oak so I am not
about to expose you to it.) Your path should be free and clear if
it is not, you are in the wrong place! No bushwacking is
involved.
RATINGS
EXPLAINED
Since this is a night cache, I am giving you as much detail on this
page to increase your odds at having a safe and fun journey. I gave
this cache a 3-1/2 star rating for difficulty since it involves an
activity. I also gave this cache a 4 star rating due to sloping
terrain, and having to traverse a small creek. In the daytime I
would rate this as a 2-1/2 star terrain, and 2 stars for
difficulty.
PREREQUISITES
If you have found
Wait Until Dark (the cache that inspired me to create this
one) you will be well prepared for this hunt. Wait Until
Dark is located in Danville, California.
TIME to complete the
cache hunt: One hour to two hours.
TOTAL LENGTH of hike
starting from the parking lot and back again is about 1.2
miles.
EQUIPMENT
REQUIRED
Headlamp or flash light, extra batteries, pen and paper, bug spray
(for mosquitoes--just in case), sturdy hiking boots, long pants, a
long sleeve shirt, an old fashioned compass, gardening
gloves (for removing the debris over the activity station) and this
geocache page. If you are a photo buff bring your camera.
PS:I would to love see photos.
WHO SHOULD NOT ATTEMPT
THIS
Children under the age of 10, people recovering from broken legs,
twisted ankles, people without a flashlight or head lamp, or people
who are in a big hurry. :-)
RECOMMENDATIONS
Go in a group (three or more!)Why? For safety, fun and to check
that everyone came up with the same answer you did at the activity
station. Also, learning how to use your backtrack feature would be
a plus.
PARK HOURS
Open 5AM until 10PM
PARK
MAP
MOON RISE and MOON SET
TABLE
PARKING
Park at N37° 30.267 W121° 54.505. If the parking is full you can
park on Vineyard at N37° 30.240 W121° 54.681. This additional
parking is on a residential street and is 800 feet away from the
main parking area. Be careful not to park on the dirt stretch
between two signs that say "No stopping at anytime on or off
pavement." Many people ignore this and have received tickets,
myself included.
DETAILED
INSTRUCTIONS
Part One
1. Hike the main trail from the parking lot for about .5 of a
mile. Along the way you will come to a fork. Take the high road. A
little later you will be crossing a green cattle guard.
2. Find the wooden fence post (N37° 30.387 W121°54.054). The fence
post is made of wood and is next to a metal fence post that is red
and white.(See photo below.) The post is off the trail about 200
feet but you do not have to bushwack at all to get to it.
3. When you locate the fence post marked by one reflector (if it
has not fallen off), head 45 degrees north for about 48 paces until
you find the next reflector. Reflectors may be located at eye level
or at the bottom of tree trunks so point your flashlight
accordingly. (I had to keep in mind new foliage was growing and I
didn’t want the new growth to obscure the reflectors.)
4. Follow the reflectors leading downhill. Stay on the cow path
for secure footing. Take your time when you cross the creek.
Continue to follow the reflectors uphill. The cow path will end at
the end of a meadow.
5. Head east. Continue to follow the reflectors.
6. Locate the activity station. Three reflectors in a vertical row
will mark its hiding place.
7. Remove the plastic bag from both ends of the activity station
to determine your final set of coords.
N 37° 30.3[A-2] [B+2]
W 121° 54.0 [C+4] 6
Solving the puzzle to
determine the coordinates involves guess what? "TOUCH" For those of
you with numb finger tips bring an angle mirror
;-)
Please stuff the plastic
bags into each end to keep bugs out.
Part Two
1. Mark a way point for this location so you can get back here
after you find the cache. You will want to return here to pick up
the trail of reflectors back to the start.
2. Use your GPS to find an oak tree marked with three reflectors.
As you cross the meadow stay on the crest for easier
footing. Cows have created a whole lots of holes by tromping around
in the mud in this area. When the ground is dry it is as hard as
cement and does not give way beneath your feet like regular dirt
ground would.
Part Three
1. You are now only 40 feet from the next location. Head at a
bearing of 260° I have marked the final cache location with one
reflector. Look for three boulders (about 20 inches tall) marking
the cache site. Underneath the fire tack (if hasn't fallen off) and
on the ground under some leaves you will find a film canister. Open
it to find your next set of coords. Leave the coords in the film
container for the next person. Cover it up with leaves.
2. Enter the coords you
found into your GPS.
Part
Four
1. Use your GPS to find the
final cache site. It is about 80 feet away. The cache is NOT down
by the creek. Regardless, please watch your step. Also, be aware
there are a few sprigs of poison oak around that may not be
apparent.
2. Sign the log book and
make your trade.
3. To get back, use your GPS to guide you to the way point you
marked at the activity station. Stay on the ridge.
IF YOU GET LOST but I
know you won't!
Locate the creek and hike along it toward the north. If you hike
south (in the direction of the parking lot) you will find yourself
caught behind barb wire fences when you come up the other side. So
head north until the creek appears to peeter out. You should be
able to see reflectors again by this point. I wouldn’t recommend
getting lost though because the terrain is rough down to the creek
and up the other side if you are not on a cow path!
LAST BUT NOT
LEAST
Relax, be careful, have fun, and enjoy the view.