Name: Allosaurus (Greek for "different lizard"); pronounced al-oh-SORE-us
Habitat: Plains of North America
Historical Period: Late Jurassic 150 million years ago
Size and Weight: About 40 feet long and 3 tons
Diet: Other dinosaurs
Distinguishing Characteristics: Massive head; bony ridges over the eyes
About Allosaurus:
A bit like an earlier, scaled-down version of Tyrannosaurus Rex, Allosaurus was one of the most common predators of the Jurassic period, a fearsome creature with sharp teeth and a well-muscled body though it's unclear how fast it was able to run. This dinosaur had an especially prominent head, some of the anatomical features of which such as the distinctive ridges over the eyes may have been meant to attract the opposite sex and not to intimidate smaller dinosaurs.
As a sign of how common Allosaurus was in the plains and woodlands of modern-day North America, paleontologists have discovered dozens of fossils, more or less intact, many of them in a single quarry in Utah. It's likely that these unfortunate Allosaurus individuals were attracted by various herbivorous dinosaurs mired helplessly in the mud, and became trapped themselves when they stopped for a quick snack.
By the way, in late Jurassic North America, Allosaurus coexisted with another famous dinosaur, the spiked, plated Stegosaurus. While it's unlikely that a hungry Allosaurus adult would have dared to take on a full-grown Stegosaurus, such encounters must have occasionally transpired.
******** Note: This is also a supply stage for the rest of the series. In the container I placed extra Stamps and few Log Books, (I recommend bring your own log book and stamp and stamp pad) for anybody that don't already own one. You can take any stamp you want, there's quite a few to choose from. Plus you don't have to return it, it's yours to keep..********
THE DIRECTIONS
The cache is at the POSTED COORDINATES and there you'll find Allosaurus.
SOME THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING
1) For this series I will be using a "Pace" as a reference of distance on almost all the Letterboxes in this series. (According to Wikipedia a pace equals roughly 30 inches or an average step of a Roman Soldier)
2)While hunting for these Letterboxes follow the directions EXACTLY!!!!
3) Don't assume anything.
4) Most of the boxes will be just off a Path or Trail but a few will require some minor bushwhacking.
5) On the caches that require bushwacking. I placed a reference Tag within a few feet of where you should be standing after counting off the Paces or changing compass directions, if you don't see a tag confirm you counted correctly.
6) Remember this is a forest, trees are going to fall down and some may end up blocking your path. Just make sure you complete the necessary paces or special instruction.
7) DO NOT TAKE THE STAMP, STAMP PAD OR LOG BOOK FROM ANY CACHE.
8) All the stages are fairly short so if you get stuck. Go back to the last know position and re-evaluate the instructions.
9) The starting point for the clues is always at the posted coordinates. Not necessarily where the previous letterbox ended.
**** Please be prepared this area can be very muddy at certain times of the year****
****Remember to follow all directions EXACTLY****
****Bring bug spray****
****Good Boots****
****Compass****
****Water****
This cache is located within The Holliday Forest & Wildlife Preserve a part of the Wayne county park system. All caches are placed with permission. The Holliday Forest & Wildlife Preserve contains approximately 550 acres along the valley of what is known as Tonquish Creek in the northwest part of the County of Wayne.
This land was acquired by the County for the purpose of habitat preservation through the estate of Mr. Arthur J. Richardson, a Detroit Banker. Mr. Richardson, a philanthropist who died in 1938, stipulated in his will that the County establish a park in honor of his uncle William P. Holliday, who was a life long mentor.
It took over twenty years to assemble hundreds of little parcels that eventually became the Holliday Wildlife Preserve in 1958.
This three-mile section of the Tonquish Creek watershed is in its natural state, containing thickets, upland woods, wetlands and meadows. The foot trails that follow the streambed date back to the days of the Potowanami Indians who fished and trapped this rich land. Chief Tonquish was killed and buried on the lands within the preserve |