This cache is at Pope's Hill in Birds Hill Park. A park pass is needed to park at the trailhead. Note in the winter the parking area is closer to the road.
Pope's Hill was built on an escarpment to create a natural amphitheater. It also helped the security and police to be able to spot any problems quickly due to the large crowds expected for the Pope's visit.
I chose this location because it is one of my favorite places in the park. I've been going to folk fest since I was 19, and I always camped in festival camping. Its awesome seeing the hill so alive with the beat of the drum jams in the background
Erocks and I liked to come sit at the hill during quieter times too. You can often be the only person there. If its a little bit windy, you can watch the grass waving in the wind and it is very peaceful.
In June 2020, a month after Erocks died, I went to Birds Hill with friends for my first camping trip without him. On the way home, I stopped at the Hill and released some of his ashes there. It was the most beautiful day, sunny, with a bit of wind. He would have loved it.
At the posted coordinates there are some signs which will give you the answers to questions 1-3.
Signs are under repair for questions 1-3, for now what is the date on the bottom of the small plaque on the left pole?
You will have to walk down the trail to the Special Waypoint to get the answers to questions 4-5.
Please include a picture with you or your GPS at the location in your log.
Questions:
1. How many people came to Birds Hill for the Pope's visit?
2. When was the hill officially recognized as a geographic location called Pope John Paul II Hill?
3. How many satellites followed the Pope with CBC during his visit to Canada?
4. How many languages are on the monument at the Special Waypoint?
5. What was the date of the Pope's visit to the hill?
Virtual Rewards 2.0 - 2019/2020
This Virtual Cache is part of a limited release of Virtuals created between June 4, 2019 and June 4, 2020. Only 4,000 cache owners were given the opportunity to hide a Virtual Cache. Learn more about Virtual Rewards 2.0 on the Geocaching Blog.