***DO NOT go to the posted coordinates! They are fake!!!***
You must first solve the puzzle in order to obtain the correct coordinates.
This cache is placed as part of a geo-art series that I will be placing throughout the year of 2015. By the end of 2015, I will have signed the largest log book ever,
GOOGLE MAPS!!!
NOW, about the cache.
This is a cache that I found by accident while I was out exploring with a group of campers. I was astonished to find an unactivated geocache from 2007 lying around, hidden from site of anyone else. What surprised me even more was that group of 12-13 year old boys found it by mistake. I decided that this cache should be listed under the names inside of the cache, under the same title as it was originally intended, and the original date it was hidden. I've spent a number of years (2-3) trying to gain permission and finally managed to obtain it. However, I somehow forgot to write down the actual coordinates for where I found it. Silly me! I cannot seem to figure out what my gibberish means. Can you?
My Journal entry: April 7th
"The day was a sunny day. There was not a cloud in sight and the temperature was absolutely incredible. For this rare April day, I was in for an adventure. I was in charge of leading a hike of 60 people from The Gorge overlook all the way to the Mohican lodge. I was scheduled to meet at the Gorge overlook at 9 am. For the first time ever, I decided to make sure I was there early. I found myself arriving at 8:47 am exactly and was excited to see the bus full of people arrive directly behind me. A head count was taken and one by one, everyone climbed off the bus. I guided everyone to take a moment to stretch, and then challenged everyone to a moment of silence as we all took in the view. This being one of my favorite spots, I quickly became lost in my imagination and found myself lost in the natural beauty of the spot. After about forty seven second, I snapped out of it and determined it was time to move on. Calling everyone over, I quickly took a head count. I counted 56 people. Figuring that a few people must have stayed behind, we started out hike to the Fire tower. This is a spot that really tends to challenge everyone. In small groups,everyone climbed up the tower. When it was my turn to climb, I raced toward the top, looked down, and again took a head count. 56. Great. Still have everyone! I raced back downward and told everyone we were off to the wood. We crossed the road as we started into the woods. Still excited and hopped up on coffee, I started leading the group at a solid pace through the wood. Finally spotting a giant sassafras tree, I stopped the group and explained just how awesome the tree was. I even convinced a number of people to taste a piece. I looked around, counted all 53 people, and headed onward. Climbing up hill, down hill, twisting left and right, we came to a White pine tree. I decided that since I showed everyone the Sassafras, I might as well share another tree that can be made into tea. I explained how it is recognized, counted all 46 people in our group, and continued onward. Before we knew it, the group of us were climbing straight downward into the ravine, crossing over bridge after bridge.We arrived at the covered bridge and I decided to stop the group and explain what Geo-caching was. There was a small bison tube hanging in a tree and thought this was my chance to teach them about caching. As the group searched around, I took another head count. We still had 45. Seeing that we had the entire group with us, I took this opportunity to ask if anyone needed to use the bathroom. Heading over to the outhouses, I pointed the restroom out as I went to the swing set. I sat there watching the river as I became mesmerized with the river rushing across the rocks. I noticed my group was growing restless, so I took a quick head count. We had all 38 people, so we headed back towards the covered bridge and crossed. We pushed through this section of the trail, but it was not easy. The path was narrow causing the group to move at a slower pace. We found a spot to head down to the rive. Pushing the entire group to skip rocks and rejoin together, I decided I have better do another head count. Yup, have all 31 people. We can move on. We started up the carriage trail. The trail was fairly wide and made for an easy adventure. When we reached the the tiny stream, I explained to everyone we were detouring to a little hidden waterfall. I instructed everyone to follow the stream as we bushwhacked our way through. We crossed the bridle trail and climbed back into the little spot tucked away in the woods. I looked around and took a head count. 31 people. Yup, everyone is still with us. After listening to the soft trickle of water, I turned everyone around.
We raced back to the main trail, and turned left heading straight toward Big Lions Falls. The water was just spilling over the top on this rare day and I was ecstatic to show it off. As everyone explored, searching for salamanders, I climbed the stairs and took another head count. All 23 people in our group were playing in the water here. Such a rare thing to be able to do in April. I encouraged everyone to climb the stairs and continue following me. After a short mile hike, we found ourselves at the top of Little Lions falls. The group was a bit tired from our big day, so I encouraged them all to head down to the bottom of Little Lions and explore a little bit. We had an intense game of basketball and decided it was time to move on. I took a head count of the 21 people in our group. Still having the whole group with us, we climbed back up top and followed the trail as it continued to weave around. When we reached the dam, I decided it was time for lunch. We sat down and unpacked our lunches. Having some chill time, I took a small nap while others in my group explored the dam. When I awoke, I took a head count of all 20 people in our group and decided we had better get moving. The next spot was Fern Hollow. This place is such a unique area and I was pumped to share it. The group loved looking at all the different ferns in this area. As we were a bit behind our schedule, I decided I had better take another head count so that we could move on. I counted all 11 people in our group and told them the next stop was going to be a real treat. After a very brisk walk through the mud uphill and downhill, we reached the beach. I tried to encourage people to go for a swim here in the lake, but nobody seemed interested. The 4 people in my group seemed rather irritated and I decided that we had better just head back to the Mohican Lodge. As we climbed the hill upwards, I decided to take one last detour. We stopped at the gazebo overlook of the lake. Watching the boats speed around, I took another head count. 1. Yup. Good enough for me. We took the short hike up to the lodge. Once we got there, I decided I was ready to relax near the pool. I looked around and took a headcount.... 0.... uh oh... I decided there was only one thing to do. I pulled out my cell phone and made the call. ' Hi, I wanted to call about the hike today. I waited all day. Out of the 60 people who were suppose to go hiking with me today, nobody showed up.'
I learned a valuable lesson today. Either I cannot count, or I am not very observant. On a side note, all 60 people made it back to the lodge and nobody was lost or hurt in my guidance. They all just... became redirected and decided to take detours on their hike back!"
This is a purely fictional adventure. I have not lost one person while hiking. Not one!
***FTF HONORS GO TO: captphil and 1st_mate