A Letterbox Hybrid hidden less than 300 feet from posted coordinates (see directions below). In addition to the normal logbook and trade items, it also contains a letterbox stamp, inkpad, and stamp book. Please do not remove the stamp, ink pad, or stamp book. THEY ARE NOT TRADE ITEMS!
To find Vilya, park way off the shoulder of northbound Highway 87 at the designated coordinates, which marks a small trail to begin your climb to the summit. There is no trail, and bushwhacking will be required. Hike the 800-900 feet to the posted coordinates, and negotiate the Elven Barrier. True letterboxers will make their way southeast to the high point of the hill, where the letterbox is hidden. Techno-geocachers will do a waypoint projection of 257 feet at 131 degrees (true north). Mathophilic geocachers will subtract 28 from the North coordinate, and 38 from the West coordinate. In reality, most geocachers are OCD and will do all three.
Celebrimbor, grandson of Feanor, king of the Noldor, forged the three elven rings of power. Designed to heal and preserve, they were free of the influence of Sauron. Celebrimbor gavethe rings to Ereinion Gil-galad, Galadriel, and Cirdan the Shipright. Much of the power of the elves in the second and third age was revealed to come from these rings. Once the "One Ring" was destroyed, the three rings also lost their power, and all that was made or preserved by them faded.
Vilya is the greatest of the three rings of power. Set in a gold band with a blue stone (curiously referred to 'emerald'), it likely had the power to heal and to preserve, and also had some minor control over the elements (such as allowing Elrond to save Frodo by releasing the power of the river). It was the Ring of Air, forged in honor of Manwë , the King of the Valar. Vilya was given by Gil-Galad to Elrond of Rivendell, who carried it West across the sea to the Undying Lands.
Vilya-Elrond is the second Vilya letterbox hidden, to assist in the obtaining of Silmarilli. Vilya-Gil-Galad was so remote from the rest of the series as to be over an hour away, Celebrimbor allowed a second letterbox with the appropriate clue to be placed in a more southerly location. Vilya-Elrond is just under a mile from Silmarilli, and is the easiest of the series to reach, being a 10-15 minute hike from parking for most. Both Vilya-Gil-Galad and Vilya-Elrond have the same clue, so only one is required to complete the quest.
Vilya is key to finding Silmarilli. Remember to be prepared with parchment to imprint the stamp from these letterboxes. Do not publish, upload photos, or otherwise reveal the secrets you find, lest you suffer the wrath of the Noldor!
This is a letterbox hybrid. In addition to the normal logbook and trade items, it also contains a letterbox stamp, inkpad, and stamp book. Please do not remove the stamp, ink pad, or stamp book. THEY ARE NOT TRADE ITEMS!