State Trees Walk Mystery Cache

This mystery/multi-cache takes you on the Mines of Spain’s America’s State Tree Woodland Walk. It has been hidden with the permission of the Iowa DNR. Please stay on the paved or mowed trails until the final calculated stage. Each stage will bring you to a planting of trees and a plaque with information about that type of tree.

You will need to answer questions at each of these stages to determine the final cache location. The answers will either be on the plaque or obtained by making observations of the trees themselves. You can perform the stages in any order, but following the given order will keep you on the trail and result in the least back-tracking. Expect about 0.6 miles of easy walking to visit all stages. Hopefully you will find this cache to be both fun and educational.

For more fun, bring paper and crayons. Each plaque has a raised area for creating a rubbing of the leaf and other tree features.

The final cache contains a logbook, pencil, and a few starting trade items. Please sign the log, trade fairly, and return the container to its original location and state of concealment for others’ enjoyment. The coordinates for this cache container are as follows:

N 42° 27.FGH’ W 090° AB.CDE’ where values for A, B, C, D, E, F, G, and H are determined by answering the following questions:

At stage A coordinates, this is an Oak: What kind of oak is the state tree for Iowa?

• If Bur Oak, then A=3
• If Northern Red Oak, then A=3
• If White Oak, then A=4
• If Live Oak, then A=4

At stage B coordinates, this is a Cottonwood: The cottonwood can live with it’s roots wet from floodwaters because unlike other trees, cottonwood roots can tolerate a lack of ______. Fill in the blank.

• If Hydrogen, then B=8
• If Oxygen, then B=9
• If Carbon Dioxide, then B=0
• If Nitrogen, then B=1

At stage C coordinates, this is a Tulip Poplar: What plant family does this tree belong to?

• If Tulip family , then C=7
• If Poplar family, then C=8
• If Magnolia family, then C=9
• If Linden family, then C=0

At stage D coordinates, this is a Pine: The number of needles in each cluster helps to identify the type of pine. How many needles are in each cluster on the pines planted here? Count them.

• If 5, then it is a White Pine and D=2
• If 3, then it is a Longleaf Pine and D=6
• If 2, then it is either a Pinyon, Bristlecone, or Red Pine and D=7
• If 2 to 4, then it is a Ponderosa Pine and D=8

At stage E coordinates, this is a Hemlock: What did native peoples use this tree for?

• If food, then E=1
• If sunscreen, then E=2
• If foot powder, then E=3
• If all of the above, then E=5

At stage F coordinates, this is a Pecan: Pecans are known as the “King of the _____”. Fill in the blank.

• If walnuts, then F=5
• If hickories, then F=6
• If filberts, then F=7
• If coconuts, then F=8

At stage G coordinates, this is a Flowering Dogwood: Some believe it gets it’s name because Europeans used its bark for ...

• ... birth control in female dogs, then G=3
• ... muscle-building in fighting, racing, and hunting dogs, then G=5
• ... a treatment for mange (a dog infliction), then G=7

At stage H coordinates, this is a White Birch: What is the wood of the white birch used to make?

• If popsicle sticks and plywood, then H=2
• If plywood and shingles, then H=4
• If popsicle sticks,and fence posts, then H=6
• If shingles and fence posts, then H=8