This Letterbox Hybrid cache's name comes because I was scouting the area for some future hides and I let my feet wander off the beaten path and encountered some unexpected things. This is a multiple stop (You're surprised by this?) walking trip that will take approximately 30-45 minutes to complete and involves paved trail, dirt trail, and in the case of high water, mud and wading. There's ONE location that warrants me to use the attribute "Not Recommended for Kids" but if they're older (8 +) and follow directions well, they should still be fine with parental supervision.Please use the provided instructions to find your way to the final location, as well as to be able to access the log within the cache, as there's a lock, hopefully to deter its muggling. DO NOT TAKE THE STAMP OR INK PAD. THEY ARE NOT SWAG
You'll need the following information to figure out how to get to the final location.
N 39° AB.CDE W 086° FG.HJK
Start out at the posted coordinates, use your GPSr and project a waypoint with a bearing of 060° and a distance of 420 feet.
If you've driven around Carmel and used a GPS, you've undoubtedly heard this next phrase. "Take the second exit of the roundabout." Please assume you're driving a car in America and NOT in the United Kingdom.
Continue north, past the fence on your right and then stop just before you reach the Hagan-Burke Trail sign. Look for a somewhat obvious remnant of a trail that heads east (on your right for those of you directionally challenged!). Follow that until you encounter an abandoned station. It won't make sense just reading it here, but it will once you arrive. There's a sign that provides you the name of this abandoned station. There's something that you can monkey around on. You'll need to count how many are above you.
The tally is B
Continue heading east until you reach a bridge that is no longer a bridge. Make your way up to the precipice. Now jump to the other side!
Just kidding. Turn around to head back toward the paved trail but don't leave the top just yet. Look ahead of you (and slightly to your left). You should see another manmade item that's a bit taller than the bridge that's no longer a bridge. Count the number of circles you see facing you.
The tally is E
Return back to the paved trail you just detoured from to continue.
Keep wandering north along the paved trail until it comes to an actual pedestrian bridge that IS a bridge. On the SW abutment you should see a small "plaque" for a BIG R bridge. You're going to need a number off of this to determine the final location.
The last number of the 1-800 number is H
After writing this number down (or whatever method it is you're using), you're going to cross the pedestrian bridge, turn left and cross the road to get to the other side. You know, just like the chicken did. If you need a good place to take a quick break, I suggest the large rock on the west side of the trail.
Now that you're rested, you'll either need to create a waypoint here or guesstimate your distance. From this rock you'll go about 415 feet to get to the next turn off, which will be on your left (or on the west side). There will be a small opening leading toward the creek that you will using. If you're guesstimating, this might help a bit as well. Along the east side of the trail you'll find mostly grass bordering the paved trail. Once you see the beginning of shrubs and trees lining the trail, you should be looking for the offroad portion you'll need to be on.
Now that you're under the trees and on a dirt trail, continue following it west, hop over the log and then follow it north (right for those of you directionally challenged) for a bit until you see an abandoned station that has a sign that provides the name of the station. Let's assume you're a beginner. Look for the number in that section. It's a double digit number.
The second number is F
Stay on the dirt trail and continue north. Keep your eyes toward the west as you're on this remnant of a trail and you'll see yet another abandoned station. This one is a bit farther off the trail than the last one but still visible from where you'll be walking. Let's assume you're in the intermediate group for this one.
The only number you should see at that level is K
Once again, head back to the dirt trail and continue north. You'll need to "vault" a couple downed trees to get close to the next abandoned station, This time on your right/east. This one is also just a bit off the trail but harder to see if the summer growth is in. Find the number of the most you can do and the number of the least you can do.
The difference between the two is C
Fight your way back to the trail and just a little bit farther north and on your left/west you'll find yet another abandoned station. There's no real need to do what they tell you to do, but you DO need to know what the name of this abandoned station is. Count the number of letters in the FIRST word of the name of this abandoned station, as it appears under the picture of this station.
The tally is G
I'm sure you're tired of this already, but stay on the dirt trail and continue north for a short bit. You'll come to a T, a white pole, and another abandoned station. You don't need to do anything at this station, but you will need to use the last station's name to help you cross the creek, as you'll need to head west to the other side. Yep - on THAT. Take your time here because when it's wet, it's slick. You'll also need to know that there's a tool somewhere on this thing you're using to get to the other side because without it, you'll never be able to unlock the final.
If you haven't found the tool, the rest of the walk won't matter. You will need to leave the thing (NOT in the middle but before or after) in order to locate the tool you need. Find it before progressing any farther. Once you've crossed and reached dry land, you'll find a white pole to your immediate right. You'll need to use the tool to retrieve the information to unlock the final. There is a "natural" tool you can use or a manmade one (easier to use) that you should find near the cement columns, up and under. It should be somewhat evident where you'll find that information, based on the tool you have to use, as well as the fact that I've told you in this little paragraph where it's located. Once you have everything done here, please return the container to its hiding spot, return the tool to its hiding spot, and then return to the white pole and look south. I realize it may take some extra time, but it's the only way to guarantee that high water won't drag it away.
You might be hearing some dogs barking nearby. It's not a wild pack of dogs. It's just a local business and they're fenced in, so don't worry. You'll want to go south from this white pole (not west, as that will take you to the dogs) until you reach another white pole, this one on your right. You'll see yet another abandoned station nearby, just off the trail and into the woods a bit. You'll probably actually use this station name to help clear a path to the station. We'll assume you're a beginner at this location.
The only number you should see at that level is A
Back to the dirt trail you go and head south until you reach the next white pole. You'll see yet another abandoned station here, but slightly behind the pole to your right, which means you walked past it a bit to get to the white pole. It doesn't matter what level you are at this station. You're looking for the first word (repeated 3 times) that tells you what to do in order to get to the next station.
The number of letters in that word is D
Fight your way back to the trail and head south once again. You'll come to another crossing, this one probably easier than the one requiring some balance and caution on your part. Once you cross, you'll see a small fence section to your right, which is the property boundary that you shouldn't cross. Looking south, you'll see a wide green plastic "sign" stuck into the ground. Head that way, but if you reach it, you've gone too far.
As you're wandering south on this open stretch of the trail, you'll want to keep your eyes to the east (amid the trees) to spot, you guessed it, another white pole. This one will be harder to find when the summer growth is in. Just south of that pole is the last abandoned station you'll need to visit. This one you'll have to wade through some growth to get to it, but you're going to need to in order to get the last number for the final location. Let's assume you're at the intermediate level at this station.
The number you see LESS one is J
Last time, I promise. Head back to the grassy stretch of the trail and head south until you reach the clearing. There will be a volleyball court to your right and at this point in time, you should be able to head to the final location to claim the find on this letterbox of mine. Your checksum for A-E = 24 and your checksum for F-K = 25. Good luck!