Bear Scat Traditional Cache
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(small)
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I know this is an odd name for a cache, but, as you might expect, there’s a story:
While I was walking up the trail to find a suitable hide location, I encountered several fresh long black piles of post-digested sustenance. Yes, the fecal matter of Ursus americanus—the American Black Bear. In a rare moment of trepidation—fighting the sudden surge of cortisol and epinephrine surging through my system and impelling me to scream and run —I immediately did two things: First, I grabbed a big stick (in order to distract the bear with a game of “Fetch”, perhaps). And second, I began to sing “Amazing Grace” (in the hopes that the bear was Christian, and might better relate to me as an ally). In the end, though, I saw no bears. But the experience will stand out as one of my more memorable hides.
Upon my return to civilization I discovered this article, posted only week before my hike:
(visit link)
By the way, here are some safety tips when hiking in “bear country”:
-Make noise when hiking so as not to surprise a bear. (What if I am the one who’s surprised?)
-If you see a bear, leave the area. (Do they really have to tell us that?)
-Don't hike after dark. (Apparently that’s when bears like to hike)
-Consider carrying bear spray in areas known to have bears (Why? Can’t they buy their own?)
Oh, by the way, if a bear attacks you while you are looking for this cache, let me know, and I’ll raise the terrain rating. But a 5 is as high as I can go, so if you get eaten, you’re on your own.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Ybbx nobir gur qveg ebnq va n ebggvat snyyra fghzc