You Be The Judge Multi-Cache
sleepyhollowsteve: Going to archive this cache. I'll consider doing a replacement sometime in the future.
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This is one of two caches I've placed within Matthews State Forest near Galax, VA. If you want to go for both caches, I highly recommend you do this one before you go for Matthews Cucumbertree, for reasons that will become obvious afterwards.
This multi-stage cache will take you on a tour of the State Forest. A short hike is required to the final coordinates. The cache itself is a magnetic key holder containing only a logbook and pencil. The property that now makes up Matthews State Forest was conveyed to the Virginia Department of Forestry by the late Judge Jack Matthews. Judge Matthews enjoyed all types of wildlife, gardening, what he called “old-time apples” and planting trees of any kind. When Judge Matthews conveyed his land to the DOF, he also conveyed his vision to create a state forest “to provide for the scientific, educational, and research needs for Southwest Virginia's children and the public, and to continue the work to bring back indigenous species such as the American chestnut”. Matthews State Forest now provides hiking, biking, wildlife watching, horseback riding, hunting, educational programs, and ongoing forestry management.
The listed coordinates are for Stage 1, and take you to the one of the State Forest parking lots. Here you will be searching for a small camouflaged match holder. Use the guide inside to derive the coordinates for Stage 2.
Stage 2 Coordinates: N Locust° Hemlock.Chestnut' W Hickory° Pine.Cherry'
Stage 2 has an informational sign telling the history of the state forest. Use this sign to answer the following questions, which will provide the coordinates to your final destination.
Q: How much land makes up Matthews State Forest?
___ ___ ___ acres
A B C
Q: In what century did the Nuckolls family settle on this property?
___ ___ ___ ___ 's
D E F G
Q: What year did Judge Matthews purchase the property?
___ ___ ___ ___ 's
H I J K
From Stage 2, proceed straight ahead to the trailhead parking area, which is located beside the cabin at the top of the hill. Stay on the designated trails to the cache (watch for Claire's Ridge Loop). No bushwhacking is necessary. The cache is located near ground level. No climbing is required.
Cache Coordinates: N 3B° 38.AEJ' W F8G° AE.ACJ'
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
[Stage 1:] Crevzrgre fgehpgher znqr sebz sberfg zngrevnyf.
[Stage 3:] Fgrc bire vg.
Treasures
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