Aura Raines is the topmost commander and pilot of the Clarian space fleet (not to be confused with Aura Rhanes from Clarion, who was the first alien to be named as a respondent in a divorce proceeding). Aura is a friend to geocachers all and is on the lookout for any of the 57 species of aliens who have visited this planet.
You can help Aura by logging 13 caches or adventure labs that focus on aliens (ET) that have contacted earth or alien craft. The caches used on Aura’s web page will help identify what Aura is seeking.
In completing this challenge, please keep the following things in mind:
- Clarians avoid redundancy. Therefore each cache must be unique. The caches you find must not be part of the same series or placed by the same cacher. Thus, you may go to the extraterrestrial highway and log in 1500 E.T., Alien Head, and UFO caches, but only one will count for this challenge.
- Aura is looking for themes rather than words. No specific words have to be in the title, but a cache with the word "alien" in it does not necessarily count - "Alien Barf", for instance, has nothing to do with aliens other than its name and would not be what Aura is seeking. Similarly, caches with the word "Martian" may not be about UFOs or Martians. A cache named solely to qualify for a challenge does not count. It should be something that interests a UAP researcher.
- Caches in places associated with the phenomena count. For example, Soccoro, Giant Rock, and Aurora are among the sites clearly identified for the lore, but the cache description should identify a ufo event. Only one cache per location counts to this challenge — a area such as Roswell might have several caches but only one should be used for your list.
- The UFO phenomenon varies greatly, with different kinds of contact and different ideas about what it means. Your list should reflect this by including at least six caches that are not traditional. Of course, there are no date restrictions so any qualifying cache that you have found can be included in your list.
- Aura seeks aliens and craft that have visited earth, not highways or science fiction. Caches about the "E.T. Highway" do not count unless the cache description makes clear that there is something more than containers to be found there. Star Trek, Star Wars, and Superman might have stories about aliens but they are ultimately very terrestrial and not something in Aura's line of work. The caches Aura seeks should be something included in standard ufology.
- Any cache or adventure lab that Aura has visited may be counted even if it might otherwise be off topic or would not qualify for any of the reasons above. Aura’s bookmarks lists these caches. New caches are regularly added to this list depending on where Aura has gone
When you complete the challenge, please include the names of the caches in your log, along with the GC code, the date found, the type of qualifying icon, and the cache owner. Not every cache listed in logs may meet current standards. If you are uncertain about whether a cache qualifies, please contact us beforehand. Aura will make the final determination.
The Usual Warnings
The quest for aliens and craft should be fun, but Aura recommends that you avoid actual contact — things have not been the same since reptilians and grays moved into the neighborhood. Chocolate will usually satisfy raptors and similar species.
As for the "praying mantis" types, let's just say that you should not let your child go out on a date with them. Avoid encounters with Men in Black, since they have been known to make you forget this cache or be too afraid to mention it in public
Hypnosis should not be used to determine if you encountered aliens at a cache location — it has its uses but retrieving memories or determining actual experience is not among them. Clarians do not abduct and are not responsible if another species violates the Exeter Extrastellar Treaty.
This Cache
The general location is visible from the road. You do not have to go deep into the woods and a trail takes you close. The terrain is accurate but the difficulty reflects the challenge rather than the hide. The cache itself can be seen before it is retrieved. As usual, take care with the cache container and leave it as you found it (or better).
