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Please see the write-up of Methods and Generalities for the "QUADRANTS" series in a prior step (2) - "QUADRANTS - A sense of Albuquerque - Suburban", if you don't know what this is all about or why we did this!
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QUADRANTS - "Overlooks" - NW Wilderness - Winter
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We're assuming you've had enough of the Urban setting by now and you'd like to clear your head of the noise and the smells. Well, you're now really close to the culmination of this QUADRANT! Congratulations are in order if you've come this far! We hope you've enjoyed the trek.
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"Overlooks - NW Wilderness - Winter" cache is NOT at the Coordinates listed above!
To solve this cache you'll need:
1. A working GPSr unit (or for you purists out there a Map, Compass & Plotter)
2. The numbers that you wrote down from stage 2 at step 3: "A sense of Albuquerque - NW Urban".
3. The actual cache location as figured out by solving the problems below.
4. A Pen/Pencil and a nice day with clear skies.
5. Your Log sheet to keep track of all the numbers you'll need for each QUADRANT.
6. A pair of binoculars and a camera, but this time - just for fun - they're optional.
7. A high clearance vehicle or a 4wd (optional).
8. A sense of Freedom and relaxation - a meditative moment!
The above coordinates point to the North-West corner of New Mexico - Remember this! The previous 3 steps will have taken you in and around Albuquerque and finally TOWARDS (not TO) the above coordinates. You are now going to be leaving the "Heart of Albuquerque".
First though, a disclaimer:
YOU ARE GOING OUT INTO THE WILDERNESS, BE AWARE OF THE USUAL THINGS: SNAKES, BEARS, MOUNTAIN LIONS, BAD WEATHER, LIGHTHING STRIKES, DRESSING WARMLY, HAVING ENOUGH WATER AND STEEP DROP-OFFS. SOUNDS CONSIDERABLY MORE SAFE THAN BEING DOWNTOWN!
To solve the location of "Overlooks - NW Wilderness - Winter", you will need to figure out the following problems:
1. Upon solving the questions posed at Step 3 "A Sense of Albuquerque - NW Urban" but prior to taking a bus ride (you did ride the bus, didn't you?), you were probably able to figure out an exact bearing. You also wrote it down as suggested, right? NOW, you must use THAT bearing and calculate the RECIPROCAL bearing of it. From this number you must SUBTRACT the number listed at "A" as found at stage 2 of step 3: "NW Urban". The number you arrive at will be the Bearing (in true north format) to THIS Cache from the "Heart of Albuquerque"!
2. At the prior cache (step 3, stage 2) you also found a number listed at "B" - This number is the distance (in Miles), as the crow flies, to THIS Cache from the "Heart of Albuquerque".
3. At the prior cache (step 3, stage 2) you found a number listed at "C" - This number should be used to refine your latitude calculation and make it exact. IE, this number is the final 4 numbers after the decimal point when using the format NXXd XX.____m.
4. At the prior cache (step 3, stage 2) you found a number listed at "D" - This number should be used to refine your longitude calculation and make it exact. IE, this number is the final 4 numbers after the decimal point when using the format WXXd XX.____m.
Based on this information (and the interesting map bearing lines that you've drawn up) you will know with relative accuracy where this cache is. Now all you have to do is get there and claim the cache! Towards that end we'll give you some directions:
1. Take Interstate 25 north out of Albuquerque to the town of Bernalillo, exit on highway 550 West.
2. Follow highway 550 for 65-70 miles west to the town of Cuba.
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Some notes about this cache:
1. The cache container is a 50 caliber ammo box that is well stocked with goodies!
2. Notice the great geological strata and colors in the area!
3. You are in the furthest west portion of the Santa Fe National forest!
4. Take some pictures and use those binoculars!
6. You are standing at 7180' above sea level!
7. Write down the white word and numbers on the inside lid of the ammo box for the final step of this series!
8. This area is not well known, except with the locals, but is year round accessible for camping, hiking & exploring!
That's it! It is our hope that this NW "Winter" Wilderness cache will remain accessible and active all winter (and maybe even all year...), however you never can predict the weather in New Mexico. So, be aware that you might still end up having to search for this cache in the snow, but we hope not!
Upon completion of this you will have 1/4 of the information needed to get you to the final stop on this "QUADRANTS" trek: The "Heart of New Mexico"! Now all you've got to do is conquer all of the other quadrants in the series!
Good luck, thanks for making it this far and happy caching!
CHANGED RATING TO 5/5 SO CACHERS WILL ACTUALLY LOOK AT THE CACHE BEFORE TRYING TO MAKE A P&G OUT OF IT
NOTE TO NEWER GEOCACHERS: This QUADRANT series of geocaches was put out in 2004. At that time Geocaching did not have a muli-cache category so these have been grandfathered in as individual geocaches as originally published.