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Not Lost Anymore... Multi-Cache

Hidden : 4/24/2008
Difficulty:
2 out of 5
Terrain:
3.5 out of 5

Size: Size:   small (small)

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Geocache Description:

This is a 2 stage multi hidden withing the Mt. Tom State Reservation. There is no need to bushwack, there are trails that will take you to within 60 feet of the cache. The trails start off flat and wide, but become steeper and narrower as you get closer to the final.

The Stages:

Stage 1: A small plastic container with the coords for the final stage.

The Final: A small lock and lock.

The Area: This adventure will take you along some trails that are near Bray Lake. They start off wide and well maintained, but as you get nearer the cache they become much narrower and rockier. All of the trails are well marked.

The Trek: Your trek from Bray Lake (if that is where you decide to start) to stage one will be along a heavily wooded area that consists of mostly hemlocks and oaks. Once you have reached stage 1 and are headed for the final you will enter an area that is called a Hickory Hop-Hornbeam forest.

The following is from massriverways.org

"Hickory-Hop Hornbeam forest communities are mixed hardwood forests with a sparse shrub layer and relatively species-rich herbaceous flora. They have a characteristic park-like appearance due to the absence of shrubs and a nearly continuous graminoid cover. They are called forest / woodlands because the trees are often short and the canopy cover, although variable, is often around 60%. Hickory-Hop Hornbeam associations are variants of central hardwood oak-hickory forests where hickories and few oaks occur.. Although hickories are a defining feature of the community, the composition of the tree layer is variable, and it is often easier to recognize the community by the absence rather than the presence of certain species. The tree species that are typically absent from Hickory-Hop Hornbeam forests include Hemlock (Tsuga canadensis), Beech (Fagus grandifolia), Basswood (Tilia americana), White Pine (Pinus strobus) and the birches (Betula spp.)."

It is a very interesting area and is worth checking out.

Also I should mention that I crossed paths, literally, with 2 black bears. They gave me the once over as I passed and I was definitely the one who was more spooked. Just be aware of your surroundings.

Congrats to gaboss for scoring the FTF!!

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

[Stage 1] Onfr bs gerr, whfg bss genvy [Final] Qbjarq gerr

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)