As some of you know, I am an amateur astronomer. About 15 years ago
I was introduced to a rather quirky fellow at a monthly meeting of
my astronomy club.
Over the next few years we would meet occasionally to observe
and talk about astronomy. During those discussions, I noticed that
he had some strange names for some of the well know constellations
and stars. He always understood my names, but would then use his
own to describe the same object. I also noticed that he would
disappear for months on end, and would then pop back up and be
around all the time.
In 2001, while attending the Black Forrest Star Party, in PA, he
showed up out of the blue. He told me that we was getting ready to
leave and needed me to write some things down and keep them safe.
At least until he returned. I agreed and he told me one wild story
about aliens and pirates and space ships and all sorts of odd
things. I smiled and figured my friend was out of his mind.
When he was done weaving this tale, he had me write down some
coordinates. Not being a geocacher nor, at this time, even owning a
GPS...I really did not know what to make of them. But I wrote them
down along with a few other notes and he seemed satisfied. I put
the paper in some of my observing logs and wished him well on his
journey. He seemed a bit sad as he departed...but as I said...he
was a bit quirky.
I watched as he walked across the observing field and slipped
across the street into the darkness. A few minutes later I saw his
headlights head up the road to the North...towards
Coudersport...and then he was gone.
I went back to observing.
About 45 minutes later murmurs started to fill the observing
field. And as everyone watched one of the most spectacular auroras,
that anyone could remember, exploded across the sky. It was visible
as far south as Florida and Texas. The background (and gallery)
image is one I took of the event.
I never saw him again...and to be honest...I completely forgot
about the information he gave me until about a month ago.
I was looking through some of my old astronomy stuff and found
the notes I had jotted down along with the coordinates.
Now that I am deeply involved in Geocaching and I own several
GPSr's, the coordinates held some intrigue for me. Not only
that...the coordinates he had me write down seemed to be at key
points around Liberty reservoir and were close to my home.
So the other day I found myself wandering around Liberty
reservoir looking for what? I was not sure until I looked up and
there was my answer. A laminated card attached to a tree.
As it turns out...he is not quite as crazy as I might of first
thought. I am also starting to think that his stories might be
true. I just wonder if that aurora was related to him leaving.
Hmmm...still not sure.
But I digress...
The card on the tree was a picture of a constellation with one
star circled. Through a little detective work, I have figured out
that the information represents a number...but right now I am not
sure what this might mean or how I might use it.
I can only guess that at the other locations I will find
something similar.
Since my fellow geocachers love a good hunt, I decided to bring
you all along for the fun. But since I have the original
information, I get to find these things first.
He left me a total of 5 sets of coordinates.
As I find each site, locate whatever is there, and decipher it,
I will post it as a new cache. Since I am not sure if the original
coordinates have any bearing on this mystery...I am going to move
the caches to a nearby site and conceal it. That way, it should
remain safe, but is close enough that I will remember where the
original was located.
The coordinates for this cache are within 100 feet of the
coordinates he gave me.
Right now I am not sure if you need to find these in order or
not. The names of the caches are his notes that went along with
each set of coordinates (and apparently the clues).
Who knows what we might find at the end of this process...
I am not going to make you go through the hassle of figuring out
the puzzle he left at each site. I will just include the number
that I worked out in each cache. Make sure you write down the
number...it must be important.
These sites are spread out around Liberty Lake...so it may be 2
or 3 weeks before I get out to the next site. So keep an eye out
for each one. Hopefully by the end of the summer I will have found
them all and have figured out this mystery!
If you have the time and are not too worn out...when you are
done...go back to the fire road and continue until you come to
another road snaking back to your left...very obvious...follow this
and you will come right out at the dam. You will get to see the dam
from the less accessed side. Worth the short hike from the
cache!
Happy hunting.
Disclaimers:
1. Do not go after this in the dark. - First parking will be
illegal and second with the terrain at GZ it could be very
dangerous.
2. Be careful as you approach GZ...the area is unsteady and there
are steep climbs and falls.
3. The terrain is listed as a 4 for a reason...the hike in is long
(about 8/10ths of a mile one way), and the last 200 - 300 feet are
bushwhacking and steep in places, depending on your approach.
CONGRATULATIONS TO:
ZigZagMI
For FTF Honors on this one!
