WARNING! At the final stage, be on the look out for this guy (or his friends!)
On the Eleventh Day of Christmas, mrGreen317 hid for me, a two-stage multi starting at a pretty, pond-side evergreen tree!
Welcome to the Twelve Multi(cache)s of Christmas (12 MoC). Each cache is a simple two-stage multi leading to a small-sized latching box in one of our fine PA state game lands (SGL).
While the retailers have pretty much packed away the Christmas wares for 2019, the traditional Christmas season actually runs from December 25 through January 5, the "Twelve Days of Christmas". (After today, you still have one more day of Christmas left to enjoy!) Here are some multi-caches hidden for the "Twelve Multis of Christmas" to grab this Christmas season or any other time of the year when geocaching is on the day's agenda.
For this cache series, be sure to note both the design on the stage one item as well as a printed code on the final stage logbook. These notes may come in handy for a future cache to be published.
This cache location is designed to provide a bit more of a hike (or drive) "past the gate" into SGL 108, even farther beyond two previously-hidden geocaches. This is a pretty pond-side location, which might be missed if caching in the dark... (But be careful if caching in lower lighting not to wind up in the pond...)
You may find outer parking near an early SGL Gate cache, GC7E842, just off PA-865. You may also be able to drive much closer to the cache location depending on the SGL road conditions, the capabilities of your vehicle, and the status of whether the SGL gate is open or not. If the gate is open, and you choose to drive in, a pull-off spot should be located pretty near a little path leading from the SGL road towards stage one. See the provided waypoint. The terrain rating was chosen as if doing a hike all the way in from the gate (which is a little over a half-mile).
Vegetation Note: Since these caches are hidden in SGL in the non-growing months, it is always possible that access may get more challenging during late spring and summer growth seasons. When considering hide locations, an attempt was made to minimize this potential issue as much as possible, but when searching in the late spring or summer, just keep this in mind. Good, sturdy hiking footwear and possibly long pants (not shorts) are a good suggestion. Always be on the lookout for wild animals and ticks in the game lands.
This cache is located in state game lands, so PLEASE observe all state game land rules and wear orange during hunting seasons. During the primary hunting season, finding this cache is recommended on Sunday only.
Since the final stage is under a rock, depending on the time of year, be aware of woodland critters in the vicinity, including the possibility of snakes. Always use caution when hiking in state game lands and when possible, hike with a partner or two.
Warmer weather could mean ticks are present, so please be watchful. Ticks pose a potential health risk, so please be sure to check that any ticks are removed from one's person after seeking the geocache.
Series Information of Note
- Each of the Twelve Multi-caches should have a stage one ornament hanging on a tree or similar object at the posted coordinates. To find stage two/final, replace the decimal portion of the north and west minutes with what you see affixed to the ornament at stage one. (See below for an example with this cache.)
- Each stage one has the numbers incorporated into the ornament hanging wire. This should be all the clues you need to find the final/stage two part of the cache.
- The log book in each final stage will have a code word, something that might relate with Christmas traditions. You will want to make a note of both the ornament design at stage one and this code word in stage two to get you the needed information for a future "final" geocache.
- FTF on each series cache: There is a small ornament for FTF that either matches stage one's ornament or is somehow thematically connected to it. Since not all FTF gifts exactly match the stage one ornaments, it is suggested that FTF cachers make note of the stage one ornaments for their records if seeking the series "final" cache. FTF will also have a different code word labeled on the FTF gift bag, a code that is different from the final stages's code word. This code is unique to the FTF gift and can be used to claim other additional prizes at the conclusion of the 12-days series. More information will be forthcoming.
Example for solving to stage two: For this cache, the posted coordinates for stage one is at: N 40 39.710' W 78 24.717', so to find the stage two, you would assume N 40 39.??? and W 078 24.???. To fill in the question marks, look for some numerical information at stage one, something that would give you three numbers to go with north and three numbers to go with west to replace those '?' in the previous coordinate formula.
A congratulations on FTF goes to r.e.s.t.seekers and ted28285. Merry Christmas to you and your family!
Merry Christmas from the Green-Hippo household!
(mrGreen317, Sage-Hippo, and littleEEE)