NOTE: Please do not attempt this
cache series during hunting season, except on Sundays (so long as
Sundays remain off limits to hunting in North Carolina), and even
then, take caution. This is an extremely popular area with
hunters.
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Keep
it Secret: We charge the Fellowship of the Ring
with this mission; do not reveal the hides through spoiler
clues.
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Keep
it Safe: Completing this series means accepting real risk
of life and limb. Please read the disclaimer below.
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Disclaimer:
There is no need for anyone to do any of these caches, or to
complete them once started. Those who choose to undertake this
series do so at their own risk. The terrain in the area of these
caches is extremely rocky and steep. Please be careful. But even
with care, falling from great heights and other serious,
potentially fatal risks remain. Please do not undertake this series
if you are not in good physical shape, comfortable with rock
climbing, and completely willing to accept the risks associated
with this activity.
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Welcome to
Rivendell
To begin,
the coordinates above are not correct, not at all. This is a secret
place, known to but a few, and we hope you'll agree that it is best
kept that way. To assure that this place remains known only to
those with the wisdom to respect it, we have encrypted the
coordinates as follows:
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STAGE 1 - the
Parking:
IANBNCNDNN=4=4=4=4UE0E0E0E0T63636363M89898484106560757780608767S05350737:4;2;4;2.
In the
spirit of this cache, bear in mind the powers of three.
Find the center of the square described by the decrypted code, and
you'll have the parking coordinates. Not far from these coordinates
you will find this sign:
NOTE: If anyone abuses
this invitation by driving down the private drive -- even to do a
drop-off -- We will have to archive this cache, and the entire
series of caches. You've got to walk, folks. If you're not up to
that, you certainly won't be up for what comes after in this
series.
We have
obscured the part of this sign which includes the name of this
place, the place where The Lord of the Rings caches are located, to
keep it secret from those who lack the wisdom to find it. You must
cross private property to reach the forested realm of the caches,
and as the sign indicates, the property owners have graciously
granted permission for those visiting this place to cross their
property. Please reciprocate their graciousness and cross their
land with respect. Come during daytime hours only, be quiet, don't
litter, and be kind to the animals. You will pass a "Beware of
Bull" sign -- take this seriously. If you encounter the landowners,
simply let them know you are headed to visit
[PLACENAME].
STAGE 2 -- the
Gate:
You will veer
right at a fork in the dirt driveway. After the first gate (the one
with the "Beware of Bull" sign), you will come to a second gate,
marking the end of the pasture and the start of the ATV trail. This
second gate can serve as an intermediate waypoint on your journey.
To find it:
Subtract
0.018 MINUTES from the parking latitude.
Add 0.532 MINUTES to the parking longitude.
STAGE 3 -- the
Cache:
The gate from the
pasture to the ATV trail is closed, but you can get around it. From
here, the trail will lead up to the area where the caches are
located. To find "Three Rings for the Elven Kings," you'll need to
find the center of another encrypted square -- but, since this is
solved in the exact same way as the parking coordinates, this
should be easy now:
IANBNCNDNN=4=4=4=4UE0E0E0E0T63636363M79897484197479949773537050S33633565:6;4;6;4.
This is a
regular-sized cache, an ammo box in fact, and it should contain a
variety of trade items. Initial contents include geocaching
Bookcrossing copies of
The Fellowship of the Ring, and
The Two Towers.
In addition, in the vicinity of this cache, you will find six
runes that will guide you to the next cache in The Lord of the
Rings Series, "Seven for the Dwarf Lords." See that cache page for
more details, and happy hunting!
