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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size:
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This is a letterbox hybrid. In the final cache you will find a stamp and inkpad. Please do not take these. Feel free to stamp your book.
12th century mathmetician
For the past 80 years, everything in the land of the giants was happy. These giants were so big that they didn’t want to be too crowded. So here and there throughout the land, small groups of giants made their abode. One particular band of giants liked each other well enough that about 600 of them lived all together. Now the ridge where these giants lived was broad and fertile. They grew and gained strength as their numbers multiplied. These were special giants, tall and straight, towering above all other beings living nearby. However, it was rumored that they had collected all their treasure in one place. Nobody living near the giants had ever seen the treasure, but wise old owl had heard - from a very reliable source – that it was camouflaged so no one could find it. And he heard that they kept it hidden deep within their ranks for utmost protection.
Now Wiley Coyote was a really sneaky sort of fellow. He never did tell the truth, and tried to steal from everyone that wasn’t watching their things. One day, Wiley thought to himself that he wanted to get the giant’s treasure. He was much too lazy to do it himself, so he made a plan to get others to do his work for him. He hired some little miners to dig their way into the giant’s skin and then burrow inside, killing them. I told you he was very mean. As things turned out, Wiley hired every little miner he could find for miles and miles around. They all came running, eager for a job. They worked and worked for months, and eventually the giants began to die. First one here, and then one there. Oh, for sure the giants battled with all they had. They scratched at the little minors, they swatted at them, they tried to bleed to stop them from getting under their skin, but it was a losing battle. They dug out bunkers and set out booby traps, but it did no good. Finally most of the giants were dead or dying.
During the battle, Wiley stole everything he could find to pay the minors, but couldn’t keep up with their demands. So he finally promised to share the treasure with them when they found it. As the giants died and fell, he searched the area intensely, hoping to find the fabled treasure. But no matter how hard he looked, he could never find it. Eventually the little minors became very unhappy and they all decided to leave. After one last final scouring, evil Wiley coyote found the last booby-trapped bunker. He was so sure the treasure was inside that he started to dig. He dug and dug until he was dead tired. But alas, there was nothing there, so he left empty-handed.
Peter Rabbit was a nosy little fellow, getting into more trouble than he should. He was watching Wiley but made sure to stay far away so Wiley couldn’t catch him. It was he that watched Wiley searching here and there, digging, and finally leaving defeated. It was he that could wiggle his way through the thickets, and search for the treasure himself. It was he that indeed found the treasure, but it was so big and heavy that he couldn’t even begin to try to move it. It was he that told the Wise Old Owl the clues that may lead you to the treasure too. (Of course, Wise Old Owl was much too smart to go gallivanting across the countryside in search of a dubious treasure.)
Your hunt will begin at a bend in the Picnic Trail (named before the battle), where one way it leads to “King Arthur’s Table” and in the other direction to “The Hill of the Enchanting Light”. This trail leads right through the battlefield. You, however, will head NW and skirt the battlefield (the sights are too horrible to look upon), and follow the line of bunkers thrown up during the fight. Don’t peer too long into the “Valley of No Return” on your left for some have never come back.
You will come upon the bunker that Wiley Coyote tried to dig out. Take special note of the curious inscriptions left on one fallen soldier that was trying to protect this bunker. Continue climbing upward along the line of bunkers about the length of 3 giants. As you avert your eyes from the disaster on your right, note the living guard standing in the middle of the valley on the left. It looks like a saguaro. Another curious inscription is written on his arm.
Measure the elevation where the guard’s arms split, and follow this elevation line SW and then N till you meet three fallen heroes. Although they were not kin to the giants, they lived next door, and did their best to help protect their friends. Among these three friends you will see the private fell first, giving his life for his superiors. Then the sergeant fell, protecting his captain. Finally, even the captain fell, unable to withstand the force of the battle waging uphill. As you stand on the feet of the private, you can look up toward the captain’s feet and see the Eyes of Nature watching you. Peer through these eyes to see a valiant trio. Two privates are carrying a fallen hero to his grave. He is broken at the waist, but was carrying a special message for the Captain below. At the last minute before he was severed in two, he gave the message to nearby friends (twins) who were also mightily wounded. This is the third strange inscription you should find.
To find the treasure these giants were guarding, stand at the broken soldier’s waist, look at the direction of his feet and travel about 90-95 human feet to the base of another splintered giant whose remains are only about 15 human feet high. Your travels have ended, but your frustration may just begin. All who find this deserve a gift, please take just one. Then continue your quest for a 5-5!!!! A word from Wise Old Owl is “Math holds all answers”.
Additional Hints
(No hints available.)