Burn Victim Traditional Cache
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(small)
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A Small Cache in an Urban Forest
This 107-hectare park, nestled in the rolling farmland of Saanich, has magnificent 500-year-old Douglas-fir trees, some of the tallest in the region.
Park Features include a nature centre, 11 kilometres of forest trails with wetland and creeks with connectors to Thetis Lake, The Elsie King interpretive trail (a cedar boardwalk accessible to people of all ages and abilities), delicate spring wildflower meadows, magnificent old-growth Douglas-fir trees (some of the tallest in the region), and LOTS OF GEOCACHES!!!
The forests and open spaces provided food and shelter to the Coast Salish People and inspired their rich culture. These First Peoples harvested plants such as horsetail sprouts, camas bulbs and salal berries. Elders knew which plants had healing properties; licorice fern was used for stomach troubles. Early pioneers also saw the richness of this land. James Francis purchased property on the east side of Munn Road in the 1840s, and except for minimal logging, preserved its natural beauty. The property on the west side was named Freeman King Park after an early conservationist, naturalist, and Scout Leader who inspired many young Victoria naturalists.
In spring the scented yellow blossoms of bigleaf maple appear overhead; at eye level, look for early blooming Indian-plum. At your feet, discover shooting star and white fawn lilies.
The rocky outcrops hold heat in summer, and carpets of lichens and mosses are crackle-dry. Hear crickets chirping, northwestern garter snakes moving through dry grasses, and Pacific tree frogs serenading each other in the swampy areas.
The delicate yellows and oranges of red alder and bigleaf maple slowly carpet the forest floor. Autumn rains break them down, and fungi appear: witch’s butter, elf’s saddle, dead man’s hand.
In winter, trees keep growing, mosses are rich green, and most animals never completely hibernate. Listen for winter wren or Steller’s jay.
This park has some very specific operating hours which change during winter... please check the parks website to find out the current operating hours.
Now for the details about the cache...
In the early 1950’s, a forest fire ripped through this area... 60 years later, you can still see the damage that this fire caused throughout the park. The thickness of the bark in the old growth Douglas-firs helped to keep the trees alive and limit the damage... while in this park, see some of the trees which are still alive but were damaged by this fire, including the famous hollow tree about 200m away from the cache... a great place for a picture. I know we took a family picture here!
Cache is a small black lock n lock with some small tradeables. The cache is located with the victim, so find the victim and find the cache. Please rehide as found!
CONGRATULATIONS TO ISLANDFINDERS FOR BEING FIRST TO FIND!
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
gurer.vafvqr.vg'f
Treasures
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