Terrace Tree Tour Number One Multi-Cache
myshoes: Time to wrap this one up.
Terrace Tree Tour Number One
-
Difficulty:
-
-
Terrain:
-
Size: 
(regular)
Please note Use of geocaching.com services is subject to the terms and conditions
in our disclaimer.
Park at Terrace Creek Park @N47.47.232 W122 17.867, about 3/4 mile total hike.
Above coordinates are not the final cache! They are to the first waypoint.
I recognition of the CITO event at this park, and to reward all of the willing volunteers this cache is now open for everyone to enjoy.
This cache is intended to reward you for your knowledge about different types of trees, or in the absence of said knowledge to teach you about a few different types of trees. You will need to identify some different tree types. Six out of the following list of 9 trees will be used to get the coordinates to the final cache.
Ginkgo
Deodar Cedar
Douglas Fir
Cottonwood
English Holly
Big Leaf Maple
Black Oak
Western Hemlock
Giant Sequoia
Go to the coordinates listed and find the particular tree referred to. It will be clear from the additional notes which tree is intended. The predominant tree in this park is Red Alder, and that is not one of the choices.
Once you have identified which tree is your target you need to identify the type of tree it is. I purposely picked trees which are not easily confused with each other, and which are readily identifiable (for example, Deodar Cedars and Atlas Cedars are different, but similar, so only one type is included. Likewise Mountain Hemlock and Western Hemlock, etc.).
There are plenty of "clues" available to identify the tree. There are leaves and needles (both on the tree, and last year's on the ground), cones and cone scales, the size and shape of the tree, the bark, fruit (berries) and sometimes even the smell.
Convert the required letter according to the the following numerical equivalent: A=0, B=1, C=2, D=3, etc.
The Final Cache is at N47 47.ABC W122 18.DEF.
You can park your car and walk from tree to tree and find the cache without ever leaving the regular, established trails. No bushwhacking at all is required. As reception directly under a tree is spotty I've gotten you close with the coordinates, use the directions to hone in on the exact tree intended. Good Luck.
Go to N47 47.322 W122 17.876. Find the tree 25' NW of the 4th northern post. Use the second letter and convert it to the numerical equivalent. This is "A" of ABC.
Go to N47 47.517 W122 18.066. It's 15' ESE down the hill from the multi-trunked stump and the tallest tree around. Use the first letter and convert it to the numerical equivalent. This is "B" of ABC.
Go to N47 47.409 W122 17.958. It's the tallest tree for 100' in any direction, just north of the trail. Use the first letter and convert it to the numerical equivalent. This is "C" of ABC.
Go to N47 47.395 W122 17.915. It's 30' NW of the frisbee tree. Use the third letter and convert it to the numerical equivalent. This is "D" of DEF.
Go to N47 47.518 W122 18.160. The tree where the two trails meet, 8' S of pole. Use the second letter and convert to the numerical equivalent. Then subtract 3 from this number and you have "E" of DEF.
Go to N47 47.517 W122 18.108. It's 22' W of green access plate in trail with an 8" diameter trunk, 10' SSW of trail. Use the third letter and convert to the numerical equivalent. Then subtract 6 from this number and you have "F" of DEF.
That's all there is. Try the National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Trees. There are also lots of other tree books, and there is always Google.
You are looking for an ammo can. There are lots of muggles and frisbee golf fanatics around. Please exercise extreme caution when retrieving and replacing the cache. Cover completely with local available detritus.
This is a nice park with a great playground for the kids. However, there are no bathrooms.
July 21, 2005 Update: Reduced the number of trees from which to choose from 14 to 9 to simplify this cache.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Gur svany pnpur vf arne gur znva genvy. Ab ohfujunpxvat vf erdhverq ng nal bs gur JC'f be gur svany.