Smokey's Home Mystery Cache
Hidden : 6/8/2009
Difficulty:
2.5 out of 5
Terrain:
2 out of 5

Size: Size: small (small)

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Geocache Description:


This cache is in the Capitan Mountains of the Lincoln National Forest just a short walk off forest service road 56. It is here that Smokey Bear was found after being burned by a forest fire.



The cache was placed to introduce you to the beloved icon of America's forest fire prevention campaign. The cache is not at the given coordinates above. However I strongly encourage you to visit the location to enrich and complete this cache experience. The above coordinates place you at the Smokey Bear Museum and Park. In addition to finding the answers to all the questions below...Smokey Bear is buried at this peaceful location. I hope you enjoy this Smokey experience from the fire to the end.




There is a lot of mis-information on the web about Smokey's story. If you can't get an answer...the ultimate and accurate source is at the above posted coordinates. I was first introduced to this area in 2004 when I was working on the Peppin Fire. At the time the fire had not burned any of the mountain visible from this spot. It was neat to see the uniform stand of pine trees that had returned since the fire that burned Smokey. The Peppin fire later flared up and made a run through part of the area around the cache. However much of it did not burn. So now when you get to the cache you'll get to see both the growth and recovery progress the forest made in the 50+ years since Smokey' fire...and what it must have looked like 50 years ago after that fire had burned through.





Answer these questions to solve the puzzle:

1. In what year did the Smokey Bear poster campaign start? _ _ _ _ (add last two digits for answer)

2. Which National Forest was Smokey's home before the wildfire that made him a beloved national icon of fire prevention? (number of letters in the name).

3. Smokey, a North American black bear cub, was burned by a wildfire in New Mexico over 50 years ago. On what date was Smokey found? (day of month minus number of month)

4. A crew of firefighters fighting the fire that burned Smokey got trapped and narrowly escaped severe burns themselves. They ran to a rocky slope and lied face down while the flames passed. After the fire passed they found the badly singed Smokey clinging to a tree near where the cache has been hidden. They brought him back to camp after realizing he was orphaned. Where was this crew from?

5. The fire that burned Smokey also burned between 17,000 and 18,000 acres of the mountain's forests. Was this fire from a natural start or was it human caused? (0 for natural / 1 for human)

6. What was the name given the fire that Smokey was burned by (two words)? (number of letters in 2nd word)

7. How many pounds did Smokey weigh when he was found?

8. Who was the Game and Fish Ranger (warden) that first flew Smokey to Sante Fe for vetenarian treatment and then took him home for he and his family to take care of? (number of letters in his first name)

9. Smokey was flown to Sante Fe, NM to be cared for by a vetenarian. What was the name of the vetenarian that first treated Smokey's burns? (number of letters in his first name-short version)

10. Before Smokey was named "Smokey" the vetenarian originally named him something else. What was Smokey's original name? (number of words in the name)

11. Shortly after being found and nursed back to health Smokey made another flight. This time to his new home at the National Zoo in Washington D.C. He became so popular that in April of 1964 Smokey was given his own zip code due to overwhelming fan mail. What is it? (second digit)

12. Smokey was adored by the nation and become the most visited attraction at the National Zoo for 25 years. In 1975 he retired and was replaced by another orphaned cub named "Little Smokey". Sadly, Smokey died a short while later. What date did Smokey die on? (number of month minus day of month)

13. A black bear's normal life span is 20-25 years. How old was Smokey when he died? (add digits together)

14. In what village is Smokey buried in? (number of letters in name)

15. After his death Smokey was flown to Albuquerque, NM and then driven to his burial spot. There was a concern that Smokey's body would be stolen so he was buried in secrecy at an odd hour. Which hour of the day was Smokey buried where he now rests?

16. Smokey had a very famous forest fire prevention slogan. It was so well known that 95% of those surveyed could complete the quote it when prompted with: "Remember,............" (number of words in complete slogan plus one)

Solution:
N 6___ 8___ 15___ 2___ . 3___ 12___ 1___
W 5___ 11___ 7___ 9___ 16___ . 10___ 14___ 13___


CONGRATS to "ivanq" on the FTF!



Click here to check your answer

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Qrpba pbagnvare...gb or sbhaq whfg yvxr Fzbxrl jnf sbhaq.

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)


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