-
Difficulty:
-
-
Terrain:
-
Size: 
(other)
Please note Use of geocaching.com services is subject to the terms and conditions
in our disclaimer.
Multi-virtual cache done by vehicle using some of the 1600 monuments in the Gettysburg National Militairy Park.
The woods and rolling green fields of Gettysburg National Military Park are populated every year by hundreds of thousands of visitors who come to try and imagine what occurred nearly 140 years ago on the site. The park affords a unique opportunity for virtual caching with 1600 monuments scattered over nearly 6,000 acres. Enjoy yourself, but please maintain respect for those who made their sacrifices on these grounds long ago.
This is a multi-virtual cache in which the given coordinates are for the first of three monuments you must locate on the battlefield. Each monument will provide the information to find the next, with the third and final monument providing information necessary to log the find. Simple enough? Well, what makes this more challenging is the configuration of roads within the park. While some are two-way, many are one-way. Attempting this cache will be like driving through a maze…the monuments were selected not so much for their historical significance as for their location in relation to the road system and the resulting difficulty in getting from point A to B to C. My dry run (with the knowledge of which road would be best to take) took 50 minutes over 11 miles of roads. My rough guess is that it would take most people 1 to 2 hours to complete this cache. The battlefield is closed from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.
The search is intended to be traversed by vehicle. Each virtual is a monument along the roadside, no more than a short walk from the pavement. There may be a few spots where you get close enough to want to walk a short-cut (traversing a road) to your goal. In this instance, I would consider this cheating. The aim is to navigate your car to the closest possible parking spot and only then inspect the monument on foot.
For the greatest challenge, do it the Guy’s Way: no maps. Just follow your GPSr and your instincts. This should yield the most satisfaction with a successful find.
Slightly less difficult (but potentially more educational) would be to start at the park Visitor Center and pick up a park map. This shows the park roads, although it is not always clear which way you can travel on them. I would still suggest you only use the map to the extent you need an assist or want to learn about the battle.
CAUTION: There are many people walking around, and traffic can be heavy in spots. If you do not have a navigator riding shotgun, please park before consulting your instruments. In most places you can simply pull to the right side of the road and stop your car.
Solve the digits for each letter cipher.
The given coordinates mark a monument honoring a famous brigade reputed to have suffered the heaviest losses of any others in the war (in proportion to their numbers). It was comprised of soldiers from the 2nd, Ath, and 7th Wisconsin, the BCth Indiana, and 2Dth Michigan Volunteers. The BCth Indiana consolidated with the Eth and 20th Indiana on October 18, 1864.
The second monument’s coordinates are N 39 DE.ECD W 77 BD.EA5
The second monument commemorates a regiment that fought on this line on July 2, 1863 from 4 until 6 p.m. Total listed enrollment was FGH5, losses of 6JH men. The regiment was mustered Oct. KG, 1861, re-enlisted Jan. G, 1864, and mustered out June KL, 1865.
The third monuments’ coordinates are N 39 G9.JJG W 77 FK.LLH
The final monument is visible from the road, but requires a short walk. The monument takes the form of a piece of soldiery equipment, and reposes in a quiet spot. To take credit for your find, email me the number and state of the regiment (i.e., the ____th ______ Infantry) and the times listed for their deployment on July 2.
Upon receipt of your submission, I will send more detailed information about the regiments commemorated by these memorials. Please do not post the answers in your log. Thanks are extended to Zinnware for constructive suggestions.
If the weather has been unusually wet (rains, spring thaw, etc.) be advised that the third monument, which is in a low-lying area, may have a lot of mud and/or water in the vicinity. Normally this will not be a problem. If the water is a problem, just email me a description of the monument--viewable from a distance--and don't worry about the details.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
[On your own for first two, but if you are running out of gas, time or patience the coords for beginning of road to third monument are at] A39 49.frirasbhefrira, J77 13.sviravarfvk. Tb onpx vagb gbja gb trg gurer.