Seven years ago I placed a geocache (Three Trail Trek: my 2nd) using this very same trail system. This cache will follow the same route with one significant difference. Each stage will emulate cache stages placed by other geocachers in this area. If you have completed the caches referred to, you will know exactly what you're looking for. That's why I haven't given any hints for the stages. If you have not completed the caches, two are still active and you might want to attempt them first. As for the inactive one or if you would just like hints for all stages contact me a few days before you plan to do this cache.
To begin, you have the choice of two parking areas. The first is a gravel lot across the road from the south end of the lake. If you park here, the Big Foot Trailhead will be a little ways to your right. Make sure you look for the Big Foot Trailsplit when you reach the top of the hill. There is another path that leads down to the lake that you do not want to take. The second parking area is located at the parking area for Shelter 1 and Miniature Golf and the Big Foot Trailhead is directly across the road from the entrance. This lot does close seasonally although I am not sure of the exact date. If you complete the entire cache, you will loop back to an area very close to your parking spot.
Stay on the trail until you must leave it to find the actual cache placement and then return to the trail before attempting the next stage. Trust me, the hillsides you will be on are laced with ravines and your hike will be much harder if you attempt a shortcut between stages.
Stage 1 emulates the first stage of COOL COAL CACHE and is on the first leg of your journey, the Big Foot trail, blazed red diamonds with a white border. COOL COAL CACHE was placed by skyraider, who introduced me to geocaching in 2007. The caches he has placed either have some historical significance or are challenging hides. All require a hike to complete and are some of the best caches in this area, which can make other geocaches seem disappointing. As pafarmboy once told him, "I thought all geocaches were like this." It took me three tries to find Stage 1 of COOL COAL CACHE: this is My 2nd Log
Return to the Big Foot trail and proceed until you come to the Half King Trail, which is blazed with yellow diamonds. Stage 2 will be located along this trail and is modeled after Stage 3 of bill roy's Panhandle Trail Bicycle Cache. This is the only hide ever placed by bill roy and has been archived. If you never had a chance to complete it and would like a hint , contact me a few days before you go. For those of you that did complete the Panhandle Trail Bicycle Cache I will tell you that while the container is the same you won't find it lying on the ground and it is a different color.
Return to the trail and follow it until you come to the junction with the Poe Trail, which is blazed with white diamonds. Take the trail to the right and you will eventually come to the Andrew Poe General Store which is open from Memorial Day to Labor Day. The campground is open April 1st to October 31st. Proceed through the parking lot until you come to the Poe Trailhead which is located near the entrance to the Big Foot section of the Wyandot Campground. The final of this cache is hidden in a similar manner to the second portion of Stage 1 of pafarmboy's THE POES BATTLE BIGFOOT. This cache is still available to Premium Members and is being maintained by the tweetybugs. If you are not a Premium Member and would like to complete it before attempting my cache they have graciously agreed to provide the coordinates to the first stage along with a screen shot of the cache page for THE POES BATTLE BIGFOOT. If you have never completed one of pafarmboy's caches you don't know what you're missing. Not necessarily the toughest finds, his hides were all about the story behind them. The intricate puzzles always made for a great day of geocaching, even if you got only one smiley for the entire day!