I have a new email friend whom I call “KT”. That’s not his/her (H/H) actual name, but it will do. KT emailed me that he/she is an excellent navigator. Of course effective navigation requires multifaceted skills, including knowing where to find and how to use salient map and other resources needed to determine possible routes to a destination--and from these options to chose the optimal route plus the tools needed to achieve the destination. Recent episodes suggest that KT could benefit by refining H/H navigational skills, so I have developed several scenarios that can serve as cumulative checkpoints in establishing an appropriate portfolio of expertise. This is the second scenario. It is followed by other scenarios employing additional navigational requirements. The cache descriptions are not “instructional”; instead, they provide opportunities for the cache seeker to explore navigational solutions to attain success in getting to the GZ points. For those seekers who already possess the basic skills, developing a plan to reach each of the three caches should be straight forward.

 

This cache is located somewhere on Green Ridge, a Ranked Peak that’s south of Shadow Mountain Reservoir .  It has a summit elevation of 9,012 feet.  A fairly large area that includes the peak’s highest point is essentially flat, so finding the “exact” summit is impractical.  In fact, two sources that are usually reliable ones for establishing coordinates of high points provide differing coordinates for the summit of Green Ridge! The cache is NOT located on this flat “summit” area, but is somewhere else on this peak.  It’s a small container wrapped in black tape and is hidden at the root end of a long, fallen tree—tucked against the tree and covered with several small sticks.  Look at the spoiler photo if you would like help once you reach the correct vicinity.

 

You will need to calculate the coordinates of the cache using the following information on two Benchmarks.  You do NOT need to visit the two Benchmarks in order to determine the location of this cache on Green Ridge. A Benchmark designated as “SHADOW” is 4.346 km north of the cache, and the cache is 8.907 km west of a Benchmark designated as “CRAIG”. Determine the coordinates of the cache using the above reference points and information.  Then, use your maps and related resources to choose the logical place to park, and to determine an appropriate hiking route to the cache location.  Finally, enjoy your hike along Green Ridge and your find of the cache.  Expect a roundtrip hike of about 5 miles.  Most of the hike traverses areas of past fire burns having monotonous young and medium-sized Lodgepole Pines regenerating the area. Lots of old, fallen trees litter the ground, but if you keep on track little or no bushwhacking is required.  Views from the cache area are not memorable, but once you’ve done the navigational exercises and made the hike, finding and logging the cache should be memorable.

 

In your cache log, don’t post coordinates for parking or interim points.  The cache is a navigational challenge, and the Difficulty rating reflects the difficulty of determining the coordinates and how to approach the cache. The Terrain rating reflects the challenge of reaching the cache location and descending back to your parking spot. Enjoy determining a good route to follow up Green Ridge; enjoy your hike to the cache location; and enjoy finding the cache!