Mystic Mushroom Traditional Cache
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(micro)
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Welcome to Mystic Vale, one if the region's hidden gems, a land used for hundreds of years by the Coast and Straits Salish people for hunting, fishing and harvesting plants, on which 300-year-old trees provide a gentle canopy over the paths where students, neighbours and dog-walkers escape the otherwise residential surroundings.
Mystic Vale is home to more than 75 native plant and wildlife species, including Douglas firs, Indian plum, snowberries and the sword ferns that cover the slopes into the gully. Some species are rarely found anywhere else in the city, such as the rattlesnake plantain, stink currant and vanilla leaf.
A wide-array of mammals inhabit the ravine including black-tailed deer, raccoons, eastern cottontail rabbits, and bats. River otter tracks have been spotted along the creek bed and there was a rare cougar sighting in 2005. Birds found in Mystic Vale include the bald eagle, Cooper’s hawk, the great horned owl and woodpeckers.
One species in particular - not found anywhere else in the world - is the Mystic Mushroom. Unique to this ecosystem, mystic mushrooms have a distinctive orange cap, white spores, and pale gills and stipe. They can grow up to 7 cm (2.75 in) tall and 4 cm (1.5 in) wide.
Their preferred habitat is high ground, away from the watershed, protected from sunlight, and close to deer trails. Therefore, finding a mystic mushroom is not an easy task, but according to the legend, those who find one will be blessed with good fortune for many years to come.
No bushwhacking required, please respect this fragile environment and stay on designated trails and deer trails. Once signed, make sure to seal the cache properly and place it back exactly where and how you found it. A mushroom is supposed to be fixed to the ground, not lying on it. Thanks!
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
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