Smokey Bear Traditional Cache

This cache has been archived.

Sharpee: Time to retire, property has been purchased by a private party. Thanks to all who visited!

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Hidden : 5/29/2006
Difficulty:
2 out of 5
Terrain:
2 out of 5

Size: Size: regular (regular)

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Geocache Description:

Short hike through Bearcamp Memorial Forest.


SMOKEY BEAR

We recently returned form a trip to Capitan New Mexico, which is home to Smokey Bear. We thought that New Hampshire needed a cache dedicated to this little bear who has done so much to help prevent wildfires.
This cache has been placed in Bearcamp Memorial Forest, which is owned by the New England Forestry Foundation, with their permission. Please respect the forest. Cache is loaded with Smokey Bear items collected on our trip.


"One spring day in 1950 in the Capitan Mountains of New Mexico, an operator in one of the fire towers to the north of the Capitans spotted smoke and called the location into the nearest ranger station. The first crew discovered a major fire being swept along the ground between the trees, driven by a strong wind. Word spread rapidly and more crews reported to help. Forest Rangers, army soldiers, men from the New Mexico State Game Department, and civilian volunteers worked together to gain control of the raging fire. As soon as they contained the fire to one spot, the wind would push it across the lines. During one of the lulls in firefighting, a report of a lonely bear cub who had been seen wandering near the fireline was reported. The men left him alone because they thought the mother bear might come for him.
Several soldiers were caught directly in the path of the fire storm, barely escaping by laying face down on a rockslide for over an hour until the fire had burned past them. In spite of the experience, the firefighters were safe except for a few scorches and some burned holes in their clothes."

"Nearby, the little cub had been caught in the path of the same fire and had not fared as well. He had taken refuge in a tree that was now nothing but a charred smoking snag. His climb had saved his life but left him badly burned on the paws and hind legs. The soldiers removed the little bear cub from the burned tree, but they did not know what to do with him. A rancher, who had been helping the firefighters, agreed to take the cub home. A New Mexico Department of Game and Fish Ranger heard about the cub when he returned to the fire camp and drove to the rancher's home to get the bear. The cub needed veterinary aid and was flown in a small plane to Santa Fe where the burns were treated and bandaged."

"The news about the little bear spread swiftly throughout New Mexico. Soon the United Press and Associated Press picked up the story and broadcast it nationwide. Many people wrote or called to inquire about the little bear's progress. The State Game Warden wrote an official letter to the Chief of the Forest Service, presenting the cub to the agency with the understanding that the small bear would be dedicated to a publicity program of fire prevention and conservation. The go-ahead was given to send the bear to Washington, DC, where he found a home at the National Zoo, becoming the living symbol of Smokey Bear".


Smokey Bear Article quoted from SmokeyBear.com

Now onto the cache. Parking is off Route 16 in Ossipee NH across from the Mt. Whitter Hotel beside the fire department. There is space for about two cars. Follow the main trail until you come to a small footpath that turns hard right. Don’t turn off too early, you will pass about 3 footpaths before you come to the right one. If you found the right path you should come to a nice view of Patch Pond on your left. Keep an eye out for the enormous beavers who live in this area. Only a 100ft or so of bushwhacking off the path. Cache is hidden in typical fashion. See pic for spoiler. Don't forget to find the two other caches hidden in these woods!

More Information on Smokey Bear



More Information on NEFF


lilsharpee

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Haqre gur oenapurf bs n ynetr snyyra gerr.

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)


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