Cold Fire

Distance: 9,7 km.
Best time to start: the earlier the better.
Difference in elevation: 210 m.
Starting point: at elevation of 2000 m
Good shoes, adequate clothing, water and food supply are essential (no supply facilities along the way, no mobile phone coverage in the area).
A pocket calculator (or those in mobile phone devices) may save time.

This hike is one of Ku Su Co´s favourite tours on the island of Tenerife, leading through lava fields as well as forests, with views up to the Teide mountain and down to the sea (if there are no clouds). The cache is hidden on a small plateau opposite a volcano from which large amounts of molten lava erupted back in 1795. Today the fire has gone cold, but from the cache location you can see clearly the manifold traces it has left behind in the form of black lava streams - "COLD FIRE".

Starting point: car park Boca Tauce
N 28° 12,855' W 016° 40,700'

To WP 1
From parking lot Boca Tauce follow the road in direction Vilaflor/Granadilla to
N 28°12,838' W 016° 40,786'.

You will reach two traffic signs. The big one - at the mountain side - shows the numbers of two roads, TF ?? and TF ??.
Substract the smaller one from the bigger number, the result is = A

To WP 2
Continue to N 28° 12,809' W 016° 40,840', you will reach another sign on which a diploma is issued. There are two words written in capitals. Change the following letters into numbers according to their position in the alphabet:
The word above, first letter = B
same word , letter 7 = C

word below, first letter = D

To WP 3
N 28° ( A - B ) , ( B - C ) ( D + C ) ( D )
W 016° ( B ) ( C ) , (B * A + B + D ) ( C + D )

Opposite the sign, in direction of approximately 250° and at a distance of about 100 metres - right hand beside a building, construction work at present - you will find a footpath (belongs to Sendero 18) leading to WP 3. There you will find a small, green coloured sign with the word "Sendero" and a number. This number is = E

If you cannot find the sendero-sign: from the point where the path hits the roadway, is it possible

A to see the mountain Pico Viejo?
If you can put the number 3
if not put the number 9

B to see the sea?
If you can put the number 2
if not put the number 5

E then is AB

To WP 4
N 28° ( E - A - D ) , ( C ) ( E + E + A + D )
W 016° ( B ) ( C + C ) , ( B - C ) ( E )

Follow the road (do NOT descend to the "Sendero").

You will reach a red coloured steel structure, carrying a little red "house". There you will find a name painted in big letters. Take the first letter and turn it into a number in the same way you did at WP 2. This number is = F

To WP 5
N 28° ( C ) ( F + C ) , ( B + F ) (D - C - B ) ( C )
W 016° ( B ) ( F ) , ( F - C - C ) ( B - F - F ) ( B + D )

At the back of the house follow the path (a bit difficult to make out at first). About 200 metres before reaching WP 5 you have the opportunity of climbing up to the mountain peak (this is in addition to the cache riddle). Look out for green marks and stone figures on the right hand side. Difference in elevation: 105 m, terrain 3 to 4. A worthwhile and beautiful view!

At WP5 you will find a cave, it is said a hermit lived here in former times.
Only one of the following statements ist true:

The size of the cave would it make possible to park a car inside. = 2
The size of the cave would it make possible to park a motorbike inside. = 6
The cave is locked by iron bars. = 8
You can see some rests of a stove made by laid bricks. = 9
The correct result is = G

Follow the path further on until (after about 200 m) it divides into two, which is difficult to make out. Straight ahead you can descend to the Cañadas. You have to turn left - green and silver-white markings - to get to the cache.

N 28° ( G * F + C ) , ( G ) ( B + B ) ( C )
W 016° ( E + G ) , ( D * F - C ) ( G + F ) ( D + F )

You will find the cache at a small plateau on top of a rounded rocky hilltop (ideal for picnic).

Way back:
A) Go back to where the path divides into two as mentioned earlier. Turn left and descend to the Cañadas. Down there go to WP 3 and back to WP 1 or the car park respectively.

B) If you feel like it and if you have another hour to spare follow the path marked green and silver-white. It leads up and down to another viewpoint. From there you can descend to the Cañadas. Down there follow the way same as A).

Happy hunting
Ku Su Co