Temporarily Warning
Values of unknown A and B are temporarily inserted into waypoints until physical stage 1 is physically checked. Cache is in place and it is possible to find it on the top of Tripylos.
Cedar Valley
I would like to invite you to one of the many forgotten valleys in Troodos- to Cyprus Cedar Valley -near Tripylos Mountain.
Fergus Murray in his blog says:" Since I'd read about the Troodos, 'Cedar Valley' had held a special attraction for me. I had pleasant visions of a broad valley filled with the resinous smell and deep, satisfying shade of Cedars of Lebanon".In fact, this place is much more appealing and captivating than any idea, especially when you begin to climb out of the valley towards Tripylos.
The whole valley seems like we are transferred into the plot of the book by Jean Giono-Man Who Planted Trees (L'Homme qui plantait des Arbres). And even though it is not oaks, birches and beeches but cedars, well you expect to meet here somewhere Elzéard Bouffier .......
For local miracle may paradoxically British. In ancient times, the island of Cyprus a single deposit of copper ore (name of the island derives from the name of the element - Cuprum). Its melting was used huge amounts of charcoal, so the entire island was for several centuries almost deforested. Cedar of Lebanon was at the end of the 19th century on the brink of extinction, leaving the last several trees. Fortunately, the British (the island was under British rule from 1878 until 1960) founded in 1879 Chief Forestry Office (Forestry Department), which oversaw the artificial planting of cedar.
The species was rescued, currently on the territory of Cedar valley grows about 200 000 trees and most of the trees are Cedars (Cedrus brevifolia) which are very close relatives of the Lebanon cedars. The Cedrus brevifolia is an endemic species that can reach 30 metres high. The mature trees have horizontal branches and they can live up to 500 years. They have small needle shaped leaves and very resistant wood that cannot be infected by insects. It is a protected species with high ecological value. The whole valley is classified as a Special Protection Area, not only for the cedars but also for its important fauna.
Coordinates in the header will take you to a quiet place in the middle of the Cedar valley, there is a small picnic site. Don't forget to bring some bits of bread for the resident Jays..
From here take the marked wide path which goes off on the left - this becomes a track after a while and then commences to climb up towards Tripylos. The views get even better with the Troodos mountains in the background and different varieties of trees visible everywhere. Just over 2.6kms from the picnic site you arrive at the top of Tripylos and the fire lookout post. There are picnic tables here and excellent views of seemingly everywhere - mountains, valleys, more trees and also closer by several resident Jays also hoping to share your food with you. Here you can count final coordinations, too.
Hikers who continues along E4-long distance marked path in direction Stavros-Paphos(as we) must from the fireman's lookout post return back down the track a short distance and then turn right - now follow this track as it winds back down the mountain to eventually reach the road junction marked "Cedar Valley 10kms" on the road Stavros-Kykkos, where is fortunately very little traffic on the road .
Endemic Cedrus brevifolia
Tree 15–20m, d.b.h. 1–1.2m, older trees flat-topped. Bark pale greyish-brown, fissured; branches spreading and forming distinctive horizontal layers.
Leaves on long shoots spirally arranged, radially spreading; short shoots emerging in leaf axils, leaves densely crowed in false whorls 20-35, often distinctly incurved, apices shortly acute to bluntish, 15–20 x 1.5–2mm, light or dark green but more often glaucous.
Male pollen-cones terminal, borne on short shoots, erect, 4–5cm long, cylindrical, curved pale broiwn when mature. Female seed-cones 8 x 5cm, terminal, borne on short shoots, erect, sessile, taking two years to mature when they become woody, ovoid oblong or barrel-shaped, ripening grey-brown. Seeds 10–14 x 4–6mm, winged, brown.
Closely related to Cedrus libani with which it is sometime included as a subspecies. It differs in having shorter leaves which are shorter (mostly less tha 15mm x 1.5–2mm, and are often distictly incurved with shortly acute apices. Cones are usually less than 8 x 5cm. 
Restricted to the Tripylos area in Paphos State Forest in the Troodos Mountains in western Cyprus. The population occurs in five natural stands (Tripylos, Mauroi Kremoi, Sellae tis Ellias, Throni and Exo Milos). The majority of the trees occur in the location of Tripylos which has an area of occupancy of 1.99km⊃2;.
Sometimes in pure forests, especially on the mountain tops but often associated with Pinus brutia and Quercus alnifolia and mixed forest with Platanus orientalis. The substrate is of igneous formations. Good seed crops are typically produced once every five to seven years with a 50–60% seed viability.
The wood of this cedar used to be used for the construction of wooden artefacts In old churches. Because of its resistant to decay and infestation by insects and fungi local people used to put pieces of cedar wood inside their lockers in order to protect the clothes from insects.
How to get the cache?
Of course, not by bulldozer, like is on the picture.You can meet it in the middle of the forests. Forest Department uses it for the creation of firebreaks-which are actually existing path. To cache up to Tripylos you have to really walk alone by foot
First, however, have good look around at the starting coordinates (stage1). You can see a small picnic area with a source of drinking water, above which there is an information sign with several pictograms , iron barrier and across cobblestone paved road several wooden benches.(Only benches along and across the road, not in the picnic site!)
Number of wooden benches = A
(single-digit odd number)
Number of pictograms on board = B
(single-digit even number)
Also note the color of the barrier-it will be letter C
-if the barrier is green- C = 5
-if the barrier is yellow-and-black striped- C = 3
-if the barrier is rasty red- C = 8
N 34° 59.(A) (B+2) (C) E 032° 40.(A) (B-4) (B+C)
Finding values substitute into the formula and you can go on stage 2. Below you will find information boards, dealing with local endemics.
Stage 2-Tripylos 1362m
Don’t miss- the highlight at Cedar Valley has to be the short hike up to the top of Tripylos Mountain. It takes around 50 minutes to walk and the views at the top are nothing short of spectacular – you will reach a fire station look out point at the summit (alt 1362metres) from which you can see the whole of the Paphos Mountain range, and even Morphou Bay on a clear day.
Stage 2 is near the path but not on the top and if you are standing near sign board, you are right.On this board you will learn something about local endemics and we will be interested in altitudinal range extension of cedar, and the height they reach the local cedars.
First digit of the lower limit spread of this local cedars = D
(second article of english description.....It is restricted to Tripylos wider area, at altitude from D00 to 1400m.)
First digit in the specified height of cedar = E
FINAL FORMULA-N 34° 59.(C+E) (B-E) (D-C) E 032° 40.(D-E) (B+C) (A-2)
Checksum:A+B+C+D+E=28
Final stage
Once you have identified all your search numbers can be removed to a place of rest summit of Tripilos near fire lookout station. Here you can put the numbers into the formula. Cache is really close. Good luck finding a lot of wonderful experiences from this unusual trip- wishes Skeptik 013
Special thanks to local geocacher Piliwitz for excellent betatest and occasional maintenance and Andrea Kynigou,University of Derby,United Kingdom, for provide video. And so to Fergus Murray for his blog- inspiring and interesting in all aspects
Who would like to be more informed about the nature of Cyprus visit
Cyprus Virtual Fieldtripsor
Cyprus Cedar Valley
