Steps Tree Traditional Cache
ILReviewer: Since I haven't heard from the owner I'm reluctantly archiving this cache. If the owner wishes to reactivate this cache, please e-mail me at IllinoisGeocacher@yahoo.com and I'll unarchive it as soon as I can.
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(regular)
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BEES! BEES! BEES! DANGER! DANGER! USE EXTREME CAUTION! Bees have inhabited this tree. I have upped the terrain rating! THIS CACHE HAS BEEN COMPROMISED DO NOT LEAVE COINS OR TB. Camouflage peanut butter jar. Hidden where a squirrel might stash his nuts.
A nice suburban park setting. We named this one after Steps Beach in Rincon, Puerto Rico because the tree reminded my son of steps, and well, my son loves Puerto Rico. Rincón coral reefs are home to unique Elkhorn coral thickets. Elkhorn coral is a candidate for the Endangered Species Act.
Steps beach and Tres Palmas beach reefs are some of the best-developed fringing coral reefs found off the west coast of Puerto Rico. They are also some of the hottest surf beaches in the West when the swell is right. The coastline at Rincón is fringed by a narrow sandy beach, with beach rock at the waters edge. Tres Palmas and Steps Reefs are two hardground areas, separated by a channel 50-150 m wide. The reefs start immediately seaward of the beach rock and slope from 0.5m to 8-10 m depth. The reef extends out for less than 200 m before terminating in a shallow sand flat (8-10 m depth). In shallow water (0.5-3 m depth) the reef is dominated by Elkhorn with isolated brain, star and mustard hill corals. Elkhorn colonies form a dense stand that begins about 5 m offshore and extends seaward 20-30 m. The densest areas of Elkhorn growth are near Steps and Tres Palmas, and colonies also occur at a lower density from just north of the marina to Domes Beach. The deeper portion of the reefs (from 2-8 m) is dominated by Diploria strigosa, but many other massive and branching corals, sea fans, soft corals and other invertebrates also occur here.
A second reef begins from 250-400 m offshore. This reef is completely submerged, and slopes gradually seaward to about 70 feet. The whole area is designated a marine reserve and has awesome snorkeling just steps off shore.
Steps Beach is named after a set of concrete stairs which sit at the water line. The remains of some long gone structure.
Enjoy this bit of suburbia and go to Steps Beach next time you're in Puerto Rico.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
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