West Portal -- JMNSB #9 Mystery Cache

This cache is part of the
Jemez Mountain National Scenic Byway Series (JMNSB)

The Jemez Mountains form the southernmost tip of the Rocky Mountains and are quite arguably the most beautiful area in the entire state of New Mexico. Jemez consists of mostly undisturbed forested wilderness with rocky peaks, meadows, mountain streams, lakes and waterfalls, and only occasional houses and villages. Past volcanic activity has resulted in some interesting geological formations such as multiple hot springs, sulphurous vents and a picturesque caldera (a ring of hills comprising the remains of several long-extinct volcanoes).

Much of the region is now a National Recreation Area with many opportunities for hiking, fishing, camping, cross-country skiing, or visiting a natural hot springs. This mountain trail takes travelers from Albuquerque to Santa Fe via Bernalillo, past the remainders of the area's logging, mining and ranching heritage, a variety of Spanish and Indian ruins, the Coronado and Jemez State Monuments, Los Alamos and neighboring city of White Rock, and the Bandelier National Monument.

All the caches that we have placed along the JMNSB are at areas that DO NOT require a day use fee. Additional waypoints have been added to certain cache descriptions where extra help might be required to find parking, a trailhead, etc. There are bathrooms along the entire scenic byway, some of which are in day fee areas. Use of the toilet facilities does not require you to pay, but if you are planning to stay longer, then the noted fees will apply. Please keep in mind that you will find both forest and desert environments along this trip. You may encounter the typical animals, poisonous plants, and insects that make these habitats their home. Please come properly dressed and prepared. For maps and additional information on this scenic byway, visit The Jemez Mountain National Scenic Byway Website.

West Portal
Purpose of this Cache: Learn some history of Los Alamos and the National Lab!

The listed coordinates are NOT where you will find the cache. To find the cache, answer the questions below and follow the given instructions.

1. Uranium - __ (__) (__) is the rare isotope used to make the bomb named the “Little Boy”.
2. The first test of the atomic bomb at the Trinity Site in Alamogordo, NM was on July16, __ __ __ (__).
3. The first bomb designed at the Los Alamos National Lab was nicknamed the __ __ __ __ __ (__).
4. The bomb that was used to attack the Japanese city of Nagasaki was named __ __ (__) __ __ __.
5. The “Little Boy” bomb was used to attack the city of (__) __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __.
6. (__) __ __ __ __ surrendered on August 15, 1945, ending World War II.
7. The “Little Boy” bomb was dropped from a B-29 bomber named the __ __ __ __ (__) Gay.
8. The secret name for the development of the first atomic bomb was called the __ __ __ __ __ (__) __ __ __ project.
9. The director of the project to develop the first A-bomb was J. Robert __ (__) __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __.
10. The element used to make the bomb that was used to attack Nagasaki was made with Plutonium- (__) __ __.
11. The address that appears on the birth certificates of children born in Los Alamos during World War II is P.O. Box (__) (__) (__) (__).

To obtain the coordinates for the cache, enter the numbers in parenthesis from the answers above (if it is a letter, use the table below to obtain the correct number) into the grid below. The coordinates are in order in the answers above.

N _ _ -- _ _._ _ _
W _ _ _ -- _ _._ _ _