Does Altitude Count? Stromlo, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
By
Norkmeister on 18-May-10. Waypoint GA1939
Cache Details
| Difficulty: | |
| Terrain: | |
| Type: | Multi-cache |
| Container: | Regular |
| Coordinates: | S35° 22.399' E149° 0.562' (WGS 84) |
| 55H 682533E 6083702N (UTM) | |
| Elevation: | 583 m |
| Local Government Area: | Australian Capital Territory |
/149.009367,-35.373317,14/400x200?access_token=pk.eyJ1IjoiY2F1Z2h0YXR3b3JrIiwiYSI6ImNqa2l4ZzNzMDE5bjgzdm1sZGpuODF1Mm0ifQ.q8YMzVyzDJJlJHHV8EMjwQ)
Description
A lovely walk along well-maintained trail to a great view
The reason I name this cache "Does Altitude Count?" is that it is only 150 metres from a GC cache I found on the weekend, Murrumbidgee Meander. But when you take into account the 56 metres altitude difference then it is 206 metres away. I was going to try to finagle a GC cache here when it occurred to me that this would be a perfect spot for an anniversary GCA cache. So here it is.
Start your walk at the trailhead at S 35° 23.750 E 149° 00.730 and enjoy the walk along the well-maintained track from Kambah Pool that goes all the way to Casuarina Sands. When you get to the posted co-ordinates (about a 3km walk) have a seat on the provided bench and then make the following observations:
A = The number of logs making up the seat part of the bench (the part you put your bum on)
B = The number of logs making up the back rest of the bench
C = The number of logs parallel to, but behind the back rest
If the type of fastener is a Phillips head D = 1
If the type of fastener is a hex head D = 2
If the type of fastener is a bolt D = 3
There are two letters on each fastener head. E = The alphabet letter value of the of the larger one, where A=1, B=2 ... Z=26
Then find the cache using the following formula:
S35° 22.B(A+B)D'
E149° 0.CCE
Checksums: S24 E30
First to find: mtrax.
Please don't post photos of the bench in your logs!
As an added challenge, see if you can beat my time from trailhead to bench (walking!) of 34:49 and provide pictorial evidence in your log.
Hints
Va gur zvqqyr bs gur ebpx, evire fvqr, haqre fbzr synxrf. |
|
Decode |
Logs
This has been sitting in my GSAK for some time now, clearly since before it was archived... Arrived at WP1 with no inkling of anything amiss, did the sums and headed off to GZ where the cache was quickly found. All in good condition. Not sure why this one was archived but it's all good to go again if you want to re-enable! Thanks noikmeister 
Grabbed the info for this one with Tanso, SpecimenX and FurfacesLL, an interesting construction, did the calcs and wandered off to GZ for a quick find.
Thanks NM for the cache. I believe Altitude should count!
Thanks NM for the cache. I believe Altitude should count!
Out on the trail from Kambah Pool to Casaurina Sands with Boot65, Tanso and SpecimenX, we stopped by and collected this one along the way.
TFTC
TFTC
Rated: for Overall Experience
took a nice little seat up here boot65, specimenX & FurfacesLL
all done thank you
all done thank you
Rated: for Overall Experience
I did look down the hill a bit....obviously just not far enough....
Headed back out today to grab another new-ish GC cache and then continued to finish this one. Cache was found sitting nicely tucked away and I'm guessing it wont get washed again in a hurry.
Almost 2 hours car to car (with the other cache thrown in)...but at least it wasn't as hot as last week.
Thanks for the maintenance run NM. Enjoyed the walk and the spot.
Headed back out today to grab another new-ish GC cache and then continued to finish this one. Cache was found sitting nicely tucked away and I'm guessing it wont get washed again in a hurry.
Almost 2 hours car to car (with the other cache thrown in)...but at least it wasn't as hot as last week.
Thanks for the maintenance run NM. Enjoyed the walk and the spot.
Rated: for Overall Experience
Headed out to check on the cache and found it about 5 metres down the hill. All the paint was gone from the container, but the plastic and contents were fine. Not sure if it was an animal or water that washed it out, but I have changed the placement slightly and revised the hint.
Saw the new GC cache along this track and decided to kill two caches off with the one walk...
Arrived at the listed co-ords and grabbed the required info. Checked sums matched and I headed off to GZ. 30 minutes of searching...and nothing. Headed up the hill to be in phone range and rang the CO. Yep, GZ is right (as per checksums) and was given more details about the hide...but after another 15 minutes...still nothing. Had to head off, so it will be another trip to try again......and from what I've heard, that may be sooner rather than later.
Thanks for the help NM...I would be surprised if this has been muggled (although 3 and bit years since the last find, I guess anything is possible), so hopefully it was a case of not looking at the right angle.
I'll be back.....
Arrived at the listed co-ords and grabbed the required info. Checked sums matched and I headed off to GZ. 30 minutes of searching...and nothing. Headed up the hill to be in phone range and rang the CO. Yep, GZ is right (as per checksums) and was given more details about the hide...but after another 15 minutes...still nothing. Had to head off, so it will be another trip to try again......and from what I've heard, that may be sooner rather than later.
Thanks for the help NM...I would be surprised if this has been muggled (although 3 and bit years since the last find, I guess anything is possible), so hopefully it was a case of not looking at the right angle.
I'll be back.....
Rated: for Overall Experience
I got to enjoy some time on the seat enjoying the views and a snack while Albida (& mtrax) ventured down below to find Tankengine's MM cache. I didn't have any paper to do the calculations, so used a stick in the dirt which worked just fine! At GZ we were all distracted by the larger formation, but in the end the cache was uncovered.
TFTC - and a lovely spot to enjoy the rushing river below.
TFTC - and a lovely spot to enjoy the rushing river below.
Rated: for Overall Experience
On a day walking the river from Kambah to Cotter Mouth, this was the only GA cache available. So after checking the maths in the dirt we headed over to GZ and looked for longer than expected. Albida.
Rated: for Overall Experience
Found with McPhan on a very enjoyable day, 'messing about on the river' as they say. Unfortunately I was still coming up the cliff from the lower altitude cache so I missed the flame robin, but I was still able to make the 'smiley'. Nice views along here, thanks Norkmeister.
118. Found while doing the walk from Kambah Pool to Greenhills. The others headed down to do the nearby GC cache. I didn't as I'd done it (the low way 
with a son ) so carried on to rest the knee. I overshot by nearly 200m and then came back to rest.
Did the calculations and awaited Winglen for confirmation of the calcs. While waiting saw a very tame wallaby, a brilliant flame robin and then as the others approached an owl was scared out of it's roosting spot.
A quick find after taking in the views and resting - now that's special.
TFTC and the uppity.
with a son ) so carried on to rest the knee. I overshot by nearly 200m and then came back to rest.Did the calculations and awaited Winglen for confirmation of the calcs. While waiting saw a very tame wallaby, a brilliant flame robin and then as the others approached an owl was scared out of it's roosting spot.
A quick find after taking in the views and resting - now that's special.
TFTC and the uppity.
Rated: for Overall Experience
Second cache on the walk today between Kambah pool and Casurina Sands. The seat was easily found and was a welcome break. Solved the puzzle and plugged in the co-ords. Strange, it was only 16m away anway moved the 16m and looked. 10 minutes later still looking decided to use the hint... well thats no help at all so kept looking. Maybe the GPS is a bit out (after all I still don't fully trust the magellan at this stage however after today I do it was spot on). Search was widened no luck. Decided to check the coordinates oh that number there is a problem. Readjusted the coords and then battery died. Replaced the batteries and went back to the track. When we eventually got to the right area the cache was easily found. Well thats one way to spend half an hour. ONWARDS.
Found with Mr Roo.
We had a couple of detours on the way to this cache but enjoyed picking up the clues and the cache. TFTC
We had a couple of detours on the way to this cache but enjoyed picking up the clues and the cache. TFTC
Rated: for Overall Experience
After gathering the information made it to the gz for this one. After a dnf near to gz I was really keen to find this one. Made a great find and enjoyed the views TFTC
114+1901=2015
Thanks Norkmeister for a thoroughly delightful walk to a commanding location on the Murrumbidgee. The seat is a surprise and unexpected – thanks. Saw Tankengine on the way back, and also a huge eagle circling high above. The rapids were very loud below the walking trail.
Thanks Norkmeister for a thoroughly delightful walk to a commanding location on the Murrumbidgee. The seat is a surprise and unexpected – thanks. Saw Tankengine on the way back, and also a huge eagle circling high above. The rapids were very loud below the walking trail.
Rated: for Overall Experience
Great walk this morning! Fantastic view from the bench! Met Secret Squirrel along the way! Quick chat and continued on! Lovely walk, did it in 38 minutes from gate to bench. Thanks Norkmeister!
Rated: for Overall Experience
Left trailhead early in the foggy morning (Well, it was foggy along the river corridor), then walked just admiring the views as I went. Got to the bench in 42mins - steady, but not rushed walking.
Then after I took some macro pics of the required fasteners to send to Norkmeister, I made the calcs, adjusted for the correct letter, then off I went to find the cache.
Came back for more of the wonderful views at the bench. A TOP SPOT.
Thanks J for the effort and cache and location.
Then after I took some macro pics of the required fasteners to send to Norkmeister, I made the calcs, adjusted for the correct letter, then off I went to find the cache.
Came back for more of the wonderful views at the bench. A TOP SPOT.
Thanks J for the effort and cache and location.
Rated: for Overall Experience
From what I can tell the checksum is ok. I don't actually have the photographic proof of the value of letter E. If the next person who logs it could take a macro shot of it and send it to me I'd be grateful.
Took a long lunch for this one, probably not the normal lunch, I was going to attempt in the morning on bike but its out of action, so a window opened at lunch time.
A great walk, probably one of the better walks I've been on, pity I had to rush along as I had a deadline meeting after my "lunch", took about 35 mins to get to posted coords then sat briefly gathering my wits and clues.
Couldn't get the checksum to work so tried to reverse engineer from checksum... nope I'll stick with calculated coords.
after another short walk nearby and thankfully still up high, found the GZ .woot!/
Signed log and looked at watch.. its going to be tight for my 2pm meeting.
A great walk, probably one of the better walks I've been on, pity I had to rush along as I had a deadline meeting after my "lunch", took about 35 mins to get to posted coords then sat briefly gathering my wits and clues.
Couldn't get the checksum to work so tried to reverse engineer from checksum... nope I'll stick with calculated coords.
after another short walk nearby and thankfully still up high, found the GZ .woot!/
Signed log and looked at watch.. its going to be tight for my 2pm meeting.
