Caching through the National Parks Challenge Mystery Cache

This cache is temporarily unavailable.

COC_BeccaDay: Sounds like this one has melted in a fire but maybe bits of it are left. I will try and get out of there soon to replace it.

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Hidden : 1/19/2012
Difficulty:
5 out of 5
Terrain:
3 out of 5

Size: Size: regular (regular)

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Geocache Description:


This is a challenge cache. It is located at the posted coordinates but in order to claim a find on this cache you must meet the requirements of the challenge. If you just want to find the container but haven’t completed the challenge yet then please feel free to look for it, sign the log, and write a note on the cache page. If you don’t complete the challenge and claim it as “found” your log will be deleted. Please follow the rules; this is supposed to be fun! To be able to claim a “found it” log for this cache please include your qualifying GC #’s in your log, along with the date you found them and which space they’re for. Thanks! The hide itself is probably a 1 difficulty but I’m rating it at a 5 because of the difficulty of meeting the challenge.




About this challenge
In the past few years I have gotten a little obsessed with our National Parks. I grew up right next to Rocky Mountain National Park and visited it frequently as a child. Our family loved to travel and hike so we often included National Parks, Monuments, Forests, etc. in our travels. Now as an adult I find myself doing the same thing when planning our family vacations. Maybe you do too? This cache will challenge you to get out and explore this amazing country of ours.

To meet this challenge you must put in some time caching in our National Parks system. Physical caches are very rare in National Parks as it is extremely difficult to obtain permission. I have a feeling that many of the submissions will involve Earth Caches and Virtual Caches, which is fine by me. But physical caches just along the outside of a park would be permitted. I’m having a hard time setting a distance limit. If we’re talking a large park like Yellowstone then a physical cache within a few miles of the border would be acceptable. If we’re talking about a small monument, like a president’s home, then I would like it to be within a few blocks of the site. I will consider all submissions and if you have any questions, just ask. I mostly just am interested in seeing people explore our national treasures.

You may not use the same cache to qualify for different squares. However, if you found more than one different cache in one park/area then you can count them for different squares. They don't need to be current caches, archived caches would count too. On the squares when it says “Any type…” that means that any type of abbreviation qualifies: NP, NM, NHS, NR, NB, NMP, etc.

Here are some examples of acceptable caches for this challenge:

Glacier National Park, MT
There are several EarthCaches and Virtual Caches inside but GC2782P would count as well, being within a few miles of the entrance.

Herbert Hoover National Historic Site, IA
This Virtual Cache GC5E71 is on property or one just a few blocks away would qualify too: GC104R8.

Ten Chimneys National Historic Landmark, WI
There are several geocaches hidden on the grounds, including GC388HH.


I have decided to make one column a little easier for the locals to earn. The column under the “O” can all be completed right here in WI. In fact, this cache could count as one of the spots as it is located on the Ice Age Trail, a National Scenic Trail (NST). Wisconsin is home to 2 National Scenic Trails: the Ice Age Trail and the North Country Trail. We also have the Apostle Islands, a National Lakeshore (although the Indiana Dunes NL is closer to this cache). Wisconsin's St. Croix River is a National Scenic River (NSR). We are also home to 18 National Natural Landmarks and 40 National Historic Landmarks. There are also 2 National Forests (NF) in Wisconsin: Chequamegon National Forest and Nicolet National Forest.

Also, if you are the cache owner of any qualifying caches, that would also be acceptable to me and would earn a spot for you on the BINGO sheet.

Wildcards
I don’t want to make too many exceptions here but I will give you a space to replace any other space on the BINGO card if you manage to find a legal physical cache in a National Park (NP). Many think that this is illegal but the truth is that it is up to the manager of that National Park and it is extremely hard to get this approval. There may be more but I know of 2 in Washington’s North Cascade National Park: GC2CY9W and GC2CYA. There is also GC5F1 in Grand Canyon National Park. And thank you to jahnfamily for pointing out GC3EPH7 in Petrified Forest National Park.

Also, since I’m the CO and I can make up any rules that I want, selfish as they may be, if you manage to get a hold of my National Parks Passport travel bug (TB3MH3K) and move it along you get a free spot (as well as my gratitude). It went missing as soon as I sent it out into the wild. :-(

WINNERS!
If you get one BINGO you get to sign the log and claim this one as found and you’ll be rewarded with a smiley.
If you get two different BINGOs and you feel comfortable sharing your address with me I will mail you a little something from my travels from the National Park System. I’m talking something small like a magnet or a pen, I’m no Rockefeller!
If you manage to get a BINGO blackout I will make you something handmade. Not sure what it will be yet but I’ll figure out something. It’s always fun to have an excuse for me to be crafty.


About our National Park System
“Yellowstone National Park, the world’s first national park, was created more than 125 years ago. Today, we reflect on its significance and its effect on America’s conservation ideals. Since Yellowstone, 390 sites have become part of the National Park System. Some sites commemorate an influential person, event or place. Other sites preserve America’s wildlife and diverse beauty. Each site reminds us of the things we cherish – our history and environment.

America’s National Park service employs thousands of professionals dedicated to studying, preserving, and teaching about our national parks. Our National Park System has inspired countries around the world to preserve their precious resources, and today serves as a benchmark for preservation and education.”
-Eastern National

For more information on the National Parks system, go to www.nps.gov. Not only will you get to learn about our national treasures but you’ll find the necessary information to help you figure out if you can qualify to meet this challenge.

UNITED STATES REGIONS
North Atlantic Region: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island & Vermont Mid-Atlantic Region: Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia & West Virginia
National Capital Region: District of Columbia
Southeast Region: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee & Virgin Islands
Midwest Region: Illionois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio & Wisconsin
Southwest Region: Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma & Texas
Rocky Mountain Region: Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah & Wyoming
Western Region: American Samoa, Arizona, California, Guam, Hawaii & Nevada
Pacific Northwest & Alaska Region: Alaska, Idaho, Oregon & Washington

Of course posting photos is always optional but if you would like to post any photos of your team enjoying any of our National Parks that might be nice. Also, feel free to share any stories you may have from enjoying our National Park system in your log. Enjoy!

Congratulations to PolskaQueen on being the first to achieve BINGO blackout and Eye of the Pirate for being the second!

The Geocache Notification Form has been submitted to Ed Muzik, Property Manager of the Wisconsin DNR. Geocaches placed on Wisconsin Department of Natural Resource managed lands require permission by means of a notification form. Please print out a paper copy of the notification form, fill in all required information, then submit it to the land manager. The DNR Notification form and land manager information can be obtained at: (visit link)

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Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Ng gur onfr bs n gerr whfg bss gur Vpr Ntr Genvy.

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)


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