The cache is NOT at the posted coordinates! In order to discover the location of this cache, you will need to go to the posted coordinates and complete a three-zone Wherigo cartridge. At the final zone of this cartridge, you will find the cache itself. Both Columbia's Poster Trees and the cache are located along paved pathways near Lake Kittamaqundi. Expect a roughly 2.25 mile round-trip journey to find this cache.
Background of Columbia's Poster Trees
In the 1960s, Gail Holliday, a young California artist who had just finished college, was hired as an artist-in-residence to create posters to represent the various neighborhoods, villages, and areas in Columbia. At this time, Columbia had only begun development and the idea behind these posters was to capture Jim Rouse's vision for Columbia through art. The result of Holliday's work was a series of brightly colored silk screen prints. Some of the original screen prints are still around to this day, and are held at the Columbia Archives.
In addition to thes silk screen prints, Holliday was also asked to replicate some of them on metal. Each of these brightly-painted metal panels were affixed to "poster trees" and displayed as part of these trees outside the former Columbia Exhibit Center. Standing tall in their location, they served as a reminder of the vision of Columbia to all who saw them. These original poster trees remained in place at this location for over 25 years, until 1989.
Columbia celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2017. As part of the celebration, Holliday was asked to recreate her art used on the panels of the original poster trees so they could be displayed in a garden along Lake Kittamaqundi (part of downtown Columbia). Here they could be viewed by those walking along the lake and admired by a new generation of Columbia residents. Five of these trees were erected, each with five panels displaying Holiday's artwork.
Completing the Wheirgo Cartridge & Finding the Geocache
In order to find the coordinates of this geocache, you will first need to install the Wherigo app (or a Wherigo compatable app) on your smartphone. After its installation you will then need to download the Wherigo cartridge titled "Columbia's Poster Trees." The button below will take you to the website where this cartridge can be downloaded.
Next, upload and open this cartridge in the Wherigo app and proceed to the posted coordinates where you will find Columbia's Poster Trees. Upon your arrival, you will need to use Holliday's artwork on each of these five trees to answer a total of five multiple choice questions in the Wherigo cartridge. By successfully answering all five questions you will be given directions to an important intersection on the paved pathways. At this intersection you will receive coordinates to the final "zone" where the cache is hidden.
The D/T rating takes into consideration both completing the Wherigo cartridge and the hide. A writing instrument was left in the cache, but it's still a good idea to bring your own. The cache itself is hidden off a paved pathway similar to those the Poster Trees are located upon. It's a roughly 2.25 mile round trip from the parking coordinates to complete the Wherigo cartridge, find the cache, and arrive back at your vehicle. The entire route is flat and paved, which makes for an enjoyable walk (or bike ride) with plenty of scenic views of Lake Kittamaqundi. An unactivated FTF coin was left with the cache for the FTF.
As always: Don't be that guy! Please leave the cache as good as or better than you found it.