Starting on July 4th, the Magellan website gradually released
clues in fictional journal entries. The clues were designed to
progressively narrow the location from a state down to a part of
the park:
Journal Entry 1
Prison Reform
June 28, 2005: I was practicing yoga on the virgin mountain and
observing Luna when I received the call; Stella DeCache had just
escaped “the big house.” Apparently recent prison system reforms
were not enough to hold her. Stella DeCache is back and no doubt in
search of gold, silver and a way to process it.
After capturing DeCache last summer, along with the help of
Magellan Detective Agency operatives from across the U.S. I was
promoted to Special Agent. I’ve spent the past several months
dismantling DeCache’s Organization X and keeping tabs on her
progress in prison. She seems to have become increasingly
fascinated with the forgotten treasures of the Order of
Magellan.
Special Agent Hitha Mark,
MDA
Journal Entry 2
Black & white
My time in the Magellan Detective Agency has taught me many
things. Among them is that nothing is black and white. Well, almost
nothing.
Using a hidden GPS device attached to DeCaches vehicle, I have
been tracking her position. She has spent several days searching
the riparian chapparal. She seems to be studying grapes, black
volcanic glass and other seemingly innocuous things along the
premier appellation.
I’m not Buying it. Whatever she is up to, I’m sure it’s no
good.
Special Agent Hitha Mark,
MDA
Journal Entry 3
Obsession
Stella DeCache’s new obsession with the treasures now under the
protection of the Magellan League has caused me to begin my own
research into the subject. Given her current location, I have found
one piece of information I believe to be relevant.
In 1852 Etienne Theé left the Old World and ventured to America.
It is believed that he transplanted a forgotten treasure here. I
believe that this is what Stella DeCache is after. I am determined
to BE THERE first.
Special Agent Hitha Mark,
MDA
Journal Entry 4
Turning up the heat
DeCache has been in contact with some mysterious stranger. She
has been attempting to charm, captivate and mesmerize him to compel
some information with her hypnotic allure. It’s fascinating how she
has always been able to use her irresistible charisma to draw
whatever she wants to her.
She clearly had me at a disadvantage.
However, watching the birth of the new Magellan League and
following the adventures of Paul Affetta and his family had
prompted me to look into my own family heritage.
As the son of the master, I believe my father also had some
attraction to the Order of Magellan. This curiosity made me wonder
if it may hold the secret to beating Stella DeCache in the race to
the forgotten treasure. Suddenly I realized that it was indeed the
secret to the location of the treasure!
With her temperature rising, I was determined to be faster than
Stella and beat her to the treasure. I located the cache and stood
waiting for her to show herself as I processed everything that had
once again led me to this confrontation.
She appeared at the location of the treasure just as I had
predicted. I stepped up behind her and slapped on the shining cuffs
in a lightning motion.
Stella DeCache is back in custody and her way back to the “big
house!”
There was also a clue available from kiosks at REI stores:
REI Bonus Clue
It may be too hot to sail, sell and steal.
The fictional Paul Afetta also posted an important clue during
the contest:
Posted on July 8, 2005 14:11 by Paul
Afetta
Keep looking toward Luna and you'll find the
treasure.
On July 9th at 8:18 am, the coordinates were posted on the
Magellan website. My wife (mjleelim) relayed the coordinates and I
(ltleelim) was the first to find the cache at 8:32 am.
However, it was only 55 feet away from a stage of a popular
multi-cache, so the Adventure 21 cache could not be listed on
Geocaching.com. Magellan later gave me permission to adopt, move,
and list this cache.
We have moved the cache 575 feet uphill to its current location.
The current location still has a view of the concrete dust bins
from the old Scott Furnace Plant, just like the original location.
The original hide was simple, yet surprisingly hard to find. The
cache is currently hidden in a similar way, but is easier to find
because there is less ground cover at the current location. Please
rehide it the same way you found it.
To preserve the history of this cache, we have invited the
previous finders to transfer their logs, with the original dates,
from the Magellan website.
Almaden Quicksilver County Park is open from 8 am until sunset.
You could encounter ticks going to the original location and you
can encounter ticks going to the current location. Please wear
pants and examine yourself for ticks.
Since some experienced geocachers have taken bad routes to this
cache, please be aware that you will need to use basic pathfinding
skills along the way. See the Additional Waypoints below for the
recommended route. The current location is uphill from the original
location. When in doubt, just head uphill. The definition for a 3
star Terrain rating includes off-trail terrain. After you leave the
Senador Mine Trail, there is no official trail to the cache.
However, the entire recommended route is open ground. You do not
need to whack through any bushes. There is no poison oak anywhere
along the recommended route. It is not really that hard. Just use
common sense when choosing your path.
(If anyone knows who was the original hider, please let us know
so we can give the appropriate credit on this page.)