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Exploring Prairie Wolf Park Letterbox Hybrid

This cache has been archived.

duttonchristian: This cache, unfortunately, did not survive the winter.

Everything inside is blue, including things only temporarily inside...like my hands.

Thanks to all who took the time to find this one.

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Hidden : 2/29/2012
Difficulty:
2 out of 5
Terrain:
2.5 out of 5

Size: Size:   regular (regular)

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Geocache Description:

WARNING - The Letterbox is NOT at the posted coordinates. You must follow the instructions below to find the letterbox.


The 2012
Dutton Christian Middle School
Geocaching Exploratory Class

Class of 2012
Presents:

Exploring Prairie Wolf Park


Our class would like to thank all of the local geocachers that have placed so many caches for us to find. We've had a lot of fun this year and the weather has been terrific (unlike some of the other years...)

With this in mind we would like to give back to the community by way of this letterbox hybrid cache. It will take you on a tour of Prairie Wolf Park with the added benefit of taking you past the other four caches in the park.

You will walk a considerable distance (about 1.5 miles) while finding this letterbox, following both paved and unpaved trails, with some off-trail hiking as well. So make sure you have decent footwear.

If you are ready, let's go!

Stop 1: Bottle Rocket (GC2R4HR)

We start our tour at the posted coordinates which place us in the parking lot. Nearby, you will find the first stage of the closest geocache - "Bottle Rocket" . This is a clever cache hidden by "vaguest_eye_deer". Once you find the first stage piece, enter the coordinates into your GPSr and head down the paved trail.

Once you have arrived at the location of the second and final stage, take a few moments (or more than a few) to find and log the cache. Once you have done that, do the following:

If you found the cache on the ground, follow the path to the left. If not, follow the path to the right.

If you have made the correct choice, you should soon arrive at your next stop. If not, you will still get there (so long as you stay on the paved trail) - it'll just take a bit longer.

Stop 2: Square Root (GC2VVYC)

This tricky multi-cache (also by by "vaguest_eye_deer") may have you scratching your head for a while - even after you find the first stage. Once you manage, follow the path toward a lower elevation. At some point you will leave the paved trail. Continue on this path, choosing the path on the right whenever you have a choice until you reach the final location of "Square Root".

The hide on this cache is not nearly as difficult as "Bottle Rocket", but you really don't want to come here at the height of the mosquito season. Thankfully, our class meets in February so we don't have to deal with it.

Stop 3: Wish Bone (GC2VVW2)

Yet another cache by "vaguest_eye_deer" (he seems to have claimed this park). Unlike his others, this is an easy traditional cache. When you have found it, continue along the outer path until you reach...

Stop 4: Wolf at the Door

Currently, the oldest cache in this park. However, the owner ("Blkmax5") does not appear to be an active geocacher anymore. Our volunteer geocaching leader, "Mr. F." has replaced this cache with a new container and logbook since the old one has come up missing.

Stop 5: Our Letterbox (You may start here if you have already found all the caches in this park)

When you have finished with "Wolf at the Door", return to the path on the North side of the woods. You should be near a post in the ground. Go to this post.

Take five paces toward the sunset and then look toward the bluebird house in the field. You should see a large tree behind it. Go to the spot on the path closest to this tree along the line you are sighting. The shortest route is across the field, but there are mowed paths that will lead you there.

When you come near to that tree, there should be another stake beside some smaller trees that are covered with grape vines. Follow Horace Greeley's advice and walk down the path until you see a single tree which is almost completely covered with vines. Behind it there is another tree that has lost the battle.

Now, the question:

Are we naughty?
or are we nice?
Naughty
Nice

If you think we are naughty, take a bearing from the still-standing tree of 347° True and walk 80 feet. You will find the letterbox in a mess of rose bushes and broken limbs - hopefully not your own. Wink

If you think we are nice, take instead a bearing of 296° True and walk 90 feet. You will find the leterbox by a fallen branch near a large, two-trunked tree.

Once you have signed the logbook and used the stamp, you get to play...if you are feeling naughty, go ahead and place (or leave) the letterbox at the "Naughty Spot". If you want to be nice, move it to (or leave it at) the "Nice Spot". Please DO NOT remove the "Naughty" or "Nice" markers so others will know where to leave it.

When you log this cache online, please don't mention where you left it. Let's keep it a mystey for the next finder.

Difficulty/Terrain rating is from "clayjar's" Geocache Rating System. I find that it does tend to overstate the terrain, but it is a standard most people can live with.

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Fbeel, gung jbhyq or gryyvat.

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)