This is a mystery cache at Natural Chimneys Regional Park in Mt. Solon, Virginia. This series has been placed with the permission of park officials.
Day use access to the park is free. The park is open from dawn until dusk unless you are camping (fees apply) at the park.
It's hard to imagine, but the Shenandoah Valley was once the floor of a great inland sea. Centuries ago, as that sea receded, the forces of nature carefully etched out an awe-inspiring formation of solid rock. The seven Natural Chimneys tower as much as 120 feet above the pastoral terrain of the Shenandoah Valley, offering onlookers a sight unrivaled in majesty.
Viewed from one angle, the formations resemble enormous chimneys standing in bleak contrast to the greenery of the Valley. Take a few steps, though, and the chimneys are transformed into the massive turrets of a foreboding medieval castle.
Natural Chimneys Park in Mt. Solon, Virginia offers more than simply the splendor of towering limestone formations. Both day visitors and those who choose to stay overnight in the seasonal campground find plenty of space and opportunities for recreation, relaxation, and fellowship.
This cache series is a project cmanymoos and MK17Fan chose to do because "The Chimneys" is very special to us. We both grew up in this area and spend a great deal of time at this location camping, swimming, hiking etc. We hope you enjoy "The Chimneys" as much as we do.
The coordinates given are merely a parking lot for starting purposes.
The following is based on a true story. The persons depicted in this story may or may not be factual. The events may or may not be realistic. The true story has been disguised to protect the innocent.
On June 1, 2012, there was a birthday party for my GeoBuddy, Tim. He was turning the big 4-0. The invitation is as follows;
What: 40th Birthday Party
When: June 1, 2012 @ 6pm
Where: That’s what the mystery is. You must figure out where his party was held.
Tim was turning 40, and I wanted to throw him a birthday party. I wanted it to be a surprise, but I needed help to know who to invite from his family. His mom and dad helped me by inviting his family, and I invited his friends. The big surprise was that his only brother was coming in from VA Beach. Tim doesn’t get the opportunity to see his brother often so this was going to be a real treat. The plan was to have a party at Natural Chimneys Park. We were camping for the entire weekend. His mom and dad came. His two sons were there. His only brother and his two sisters came. They brought his four nieces and one nephew. His grandma came. One aunt and one uncle came as well as numerous friends. We prepared 16 hot dogs, and 24 hamburgers. The other guests brought a combination of salads and chips. We had soda and tea to drink, and cake for dessert. We ate and sang happy birthday. He then opened his presents. He got three pair of shorts, three pair of jeans, two gift cards, one 40th birthday glass, and ten birthday cards with money in them. After this “family friendly” party concluded, the real party started, and that is where this story ends. J
Final coordinates: North AB CD.EFG West HI JK.LMN
A – 3
B – 8
C – How many of Tim’s sisters came to the party?
D – How many of Tim’s brothers came to the party?
E – How many of Tim's nieces came to the party?
F – How many shorts, jeans, and glasses did he get?
G – How many steaks did we cook?
H – 07
I – 9
J – Multiply the number of cards he received by the number of shirts he received.
K – Add the number of his children to the number of aunts, uncles that attended.
L – Subtract the number of hot dogs from the number of hamburgers and add the number of desserts.
M – How many different kinds of drinks did we have?
N – What time did the party start? (1 digit)
Once you have answered all of these questions, you will have the coordinates for the final cache location. At certain times, this will be impossible due to muggle activity. Please replace the cache as it was found. You may complete the puzzle prior to visiting the park. Please feel free to look at the many other caches in this area as well.
Happy Birthday Tim!!!