I think it best to approach from the posted coordinates, though correctly answering the questions below will reveal the precise location of the cache, which has some nifty SWAG. You can drive quite close to it by jumping the curb (not sure it legal) and driving south on the dirt road behind the school, and then taking the dirt road as it turns east. Remember all the desert cautions: water, attention to desert dwellers such as snakes, scorpions, tarantulas, humans. Tell someone where you’re going and when you’ll be back. Also, as a parent, I would prefer for junior (and perhaps even senior) cachers to go with someone. Good luck.
What smells? a. Bad Breath b. Swamp gas c. Cheese d. Your bum. All of the above plus dirty socks, body odor, vinegar, and many other unpleasant aromas have bacteria to thank.
Did you know that bacteria also aid in mining and digestion, and they form the basis for the food chain in many ecosystems? Decomposing dead organisms and other solid wastes as well as purifying sewage are other uses. Farmers use them for nitrogen fixation (turning the nitrogen in the atmosphere into nitrate, forms of nitrogen plants can use (think fertilizer and peanuts). They can be genetically modified to produce human vaccines like insulin, which is required for diabetic patients. The list goes on and on.
There are many more uses for bacteria than there are reasons to fear them, but fear them we do because there are a few that can be deadly. Botulism affects your nerves. Salmonella, Shigella, and E. coli are words that every chef knows well and avoids like the plague. They cause what we campers unaffectionately call “The Rocky Mountain Quick Step” or “The Backcountry Weight Loss Program,” aka diarrhea; sometimes quite severe and even fatal. Infections and food spoilage are usually brought about by the nemesis bacteria. Harmful toxins produced by some of these microorganisms are among the most deadly substances known to man. Botulinum (its trade name is Botox) is one of them. Yes, incredibly toxic substances can actually be useful in skilled hands.
The Quiz
A. At any given time you have about a billion bacteria on every tooth in your mouth.
3. True 4. False
B. Some scientists believe that, long ago, certain super tough bacteria may have hitched rides to Earth on meteorites.
6. True 7. False
C. Swamps produce terrible odors because owls shower them with nasty-smelling antibacterial sprays.
9. True 0. False
D. There are millions of species of bacteria that can make people ill.
8. True 9. False
E. People use bacteria to clean up after oil spills.
0. True 1. False
F. Bacteria don’t often reproduce.
7. True 8. False
G. Which of these is a bacteria shape?
1. Spiral 2. Rod 3. Sphere 4. all of these
H. The largest known bacteria is about the size of the period at the end of this sentence.
9. True 0. False
I. Bacteria are found in your intestines only when you are ill.
4. True 5. False
J. Which of these foods are made with bacteria?
4. Cheese 5. Pickles 6. Yogurt 7. All of these
N ___ ___ ___ ___. ___ ___ ___
A B C D E F G
W 115 00. ___ ___ ___
H I J