TRIBUTES17 : Dork-O-Naut 1 : Rooster (of Doom) Mystery Cache

Click to see a bookmark list of the original Toponaut Caches. Meet the original Toponaut creator : Serrabou aka Dorky Rooster.

Each cache in the TRIBUTES17 series can be found individually, but make sure you collect the clue inside. You'll need it to find the TRIBUTES17 BONUS!
Each 3 character clue is hidden in plain sight in each container and is in the format 'Z = A1!'.
Details can be found on the BONUS cache page : GC7CXFE.

There is nothing hidden at the posted coordinates. This is the first of a three-cache series where you will not really use a hand-drawn topographical map, but still flail about certain features in the woods. There are trails to get you close and bushwhacking is minimal. Please try to stay on the trail as much as possible. The total mileage will vary depending on your interpretation of my interpretation.

Dork-O-Naut 1 : Rooster (of Doom)

Inside this cache, you will find a clue needed to search for Dork-O-Naut 2 : Legend.

The code for TRIBUTES17 is located in Dork-O-Naut 3 : Supreme Dork of All Time & Space.

This series needs to be done in sequence to retrieve clues to continue. I'll probably give you more guidance than you got during Toponaut because then I would have to care about topo maps, stars and precision.

NEEDFUL THINGS :

• A color printout of the topo map can be found in the Gallery. Each cache page has a zoomed-in portion of the big map but they won't help much. It'll give you a general idea but everything you need will be handed to you. These three Dork-O-Naut caches bleed into each other.
• A SmartPhone with internet access and the ability to scan a QR code
• The knowledge of how to project a waypoint using your GPS device
• Nimble friends if you are uneasy with climbing and balance
• Dorky paraphernalia

TO BEGIN :

Navigate to the red star. You will find an item with details for your first projection.

.

Primer (intended directions since red star placement is iffy)

1. At parking coordinates, proceed north on the Blue Trail.
2. Take an immediate left on the first side trail that you see.
3. Meander and imagine you know what the sguiggly lines on the topo map mean.
4. Throw compass / crush map.
5. Text Serrabou a rude picture.
6. Start paying attention to the trail and your surroundings again.
7. Keep looking to your right. Eventually you'll spot a fallen tree that needs climbing.
8. It is approximately 880 ft. as the crow flies from the posted parking coordinates.
9. It's just off the trail and there's a small pond with a ropes course downhill on the right side.
10. If you still feel uneasy, here is a link to MAP who'll help you out!
11. Start climbing and looking for the mystery object.
12. Project.
13. Replace object.
14. Now you're on your own.

Some other notes:

• For all three Dork-O-Nauts, the stages are a mix of projections, straight-up coordinates or simple puzzles.
• At the final of Dork-O-Naut 1, be sure to scan the tag but DON'T take it with you! You'll need to follow the tag's directions in order to proceed to Dork-O-Naut 2 : Legend. Here is the gone-too-far point for the tag directions : N 39 02.489 W 77 18.595.
• Please replace everything as found or better. I live pretty far away and I'll probably have to pester 4EverYoungs to fix things up if I can't get over there and then buy him beer every time he spruces something up.
• I will bill you for his beer. And my beer too.
• Whatevs. Jack up my cache. 4EY and I are going out on your dime.
• Ramble On