Daniel Boone's Graffiti Traditional Geocache
Mountain Climber: We have been asked by Eagle Creek to archive all caches on there property. If you wish to have this cache unarchived please go to the park office and get permission. The want to have all caches go through the park office before they get submitted.
Please Remove the cache from the property.
Regards
Mountain Climber
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Size: 
(regular)
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In the early 1800's, according to the Eagle Creek Park office and Nature Center, Daniel Boone carved his name in this beech tree.
The inscription is nearly gone now, owing to this tree's surrender to rot and weather. But with a little imagination, you can still make out the 'D Boo-' and the outline of a bear's foot carved within a circle. The Nature Center told me there was once a plaque here, but that it (depending upon which person you talk to) was either stolen or simply fell off. One person said that it originally said 'Daniel Boone kilt a b'ar here.' Another said that it was just his initials, and the shape of a bear's paw inside the circle. The legend is that he killed a black bear at this spot, and then carved the tree to warn other travelers that there were bears in the area. No longer a threat today. Too bad.
Whether it was really Daniel Boone's inscription is debatable among those who debate such things. Some Boone buffs say it's too far north for him to have done it, and that the tree is too young, not nearly the 200+ years old that it would need to be. Others say that Boone definately walked this region, and that the tree is plenty old enough. Come and see for yourself.
The cache IS NOT in the Boone tree. The tree is distressed enough, and I didn't want alot of people digging around in its rotting base. The cache, a 1 qt thermos jug, is nearby. Please keep it well covered, as it is quite near a busy trail.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Nobhg fvkgl srrg oruvaq gur gerr, haqre qrnqsnyy.