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Autopsy Mystery Cache

This cache has been archived.

TripCyclone: I went out today to do maintenance. I had reports that the first stage was gone and some gaps had developed in the trail of tacks. I arrived on scene to find Awhsom waiting for me. He stayed behind to wait for Mike while I went to confirm I had the right combination for the lock. Upon arriving at the final, I found two plastic containers, vinyl gloves all over the ground, and the lock for the chain used to chain the cache to the tree cut with bolt cutters.

The Autopsy final had been stolen.

The weird thing was that they left the lock for the chain but not the lock to the cache. So it would be presumed that they cut the lock to the chain and then took the cache and chain from the site. Yet, if that was true, why would the container for the slime, which was INSIDE the ammo can, be sitting on the ground empty with the micro and logsheet still inside? For that to happen, they had to open the cache. If they cut the lock, then why did they take that damaged lock and not the other one? Unless...unless they had the combination to the lock. Then, they got a perfectly good lock on top of the chain and cache container. Yet, for them to have the combination, they would either have to have found the three other stages or be skilled at picking the lock. If they could pick the lock, why not pick the other lock too? Plus, it would be weird for someone to have bolt cutters while walking through the woods. So that indicates they had to go home. This isn't something a random hiker would come across due to it's location. A biker could have passed it on the thin trail just above the hide, but the hide would be hard to see from that angle. So someone had to have seen the container and come back.

In the end, logic would suggest that the thief is a geocacher. I really hope I am wrong. I would feel a bit better if I knew I was wrong. I probably will never know.

This container had too much work and $$ put into it for me to try and build a second container. It also would not be the same cache if I put out a cheap replacement. I'm going to let this one go out on a high note and archive the listing. A thanks to awhsom and kcsmiths for helping me clean this one up. We gathered as many of the tacks as we could find and picked up stage 3. Stage 2 will be turned into a traditional. The hide is too nice not to. We got a lot of tacks picked up so I can reuse them sometime.

I hope everyone who went after this one remembers it. It was one of my favorite placements. I wish it could have lasted longer so that more people could see it. Thanks to everyone who favorited it. I know ALT Gates and I were both proud of how this one came out. Also a thanks to Kickrobo for helping with the placement of the stages and final.

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Hidden : 10/27/2011
Difficulty:
3 out of 5
Terrain:
3 out of 5

Size: Size:   not chosen (not chosen)

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Geocache Description:


IMPORTANT NOTES: THIS IS A NIGHT CACHE. THE COORDINATES PROVIDED ARE THE STARTING POINT. YOU WILL NEED A FLASHLIGHT TO COMPLETE THIS CACHE. THIS CACHE IS NOT YOUR TYPICAL NIGHT CACHE SO PLEASE READ THE INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY BEFORE ATTEMPTING THIS CACHE. ALSO, ONCE YOU FIND THE FINAL, PLEASE MAKE SURE THE AMMO CAN REMAINS UPRIGHT AT ALL TIMES, EVEN WHEN YOU REHIDE IT. READ THE INSTRUCTIONS INSIDE AND MAKE SURE EVERYTHING IS SEALED TIGHTLY BEFORE YOU LEAVE TO ENSURE THAT THE INTEGRITY OF THE FINAL IS MAINTAINED FOR THE NEXT PERSON. YOU'LL UNDERSTAND WHY WHEN YOU GET THERE. AS YOU WILL SEE, THIS CACHE IS NOTE DESIGNED TO HANDLE TRACKABLES. PLEASE DO NOT LEAVE ANY HERE. LOG A VISIT, NOT A DROP.

On October 31st, 2011, an alien invasion was planned. An attempt would be made to invade under the cover of Halloween, when the odd appearance of the invading force would be masked by the Halloween custom of wearing costumes.

But the aliens screwed up. They underestimated the intelligence of this planet's dominant species...US.

Based on some early warning signs of the impending invasion, efforts were made to coordinate an early strike against the growing threat. Organized militias around the globe made their attack on October 29th. The aliens were surprised.

It seems the CIA and FBI were aware of the problem before the militias formed. A group of feds from Kansas City made the only live capture of an alien. Upon capture, they soon realized that if they took their capture away from the invasion site, it would die and they would be unable to learn anything to give us an advantage if the aliens tried again. They also discovered that the brain was the primary organ responsible for this problem. Upon successful removal of the brain, the body could be removed from the area without a problem. The brain could stay alive on its own.

Working hastily, the feds built a containment unit to protect the brain. Hidden within the confines of Landahl Park, where the invasion’s base of operations was located, the locked containment unit was hidden. And the feds didn’t make it easy to find or open.

Alien Autopsy - Roswell UFO Museum

Standing at the starting coordinates, you will need to use a flashlight to find the reflective tacks that will guide you to the containment unit. However, the unit is locked. To determine the combination, you will need to keep your eyes peeled. At certain points, the reflective tacks will display an orange signal (in triplicate). While standing at the signal, you will need to scan your surroundings to find and follow the detour (marked by the orange signal tacks). Each detour leads to a small or micro sized cache that contains part of the combination to the lock. The location of these containers are marked by a single bright tack (the same as the main trail). There are three detours along the path. Make sure to record each part of the combination or else you will be unable to claim that you found the containment unit.

Once you make your way to the containment unit, it is imperative that you be gentle when handling the container to avoid damage to the brain inside. It has been anchored to its hiding spot via a chain. It is also important that you carefully read the instructions found inside the lid to the container. Just finding the containment unit is not enough to make a find. You must follow the instructions to be able to sign the logsheet.

After signing the logsheet, please take care to rehide the containment unit carefully in an upright position. If there is any problem, please inform the owner as soon as possible so that they can repair the unit before the brain becomes unusable.

When you are done, you can hike back the way you came if you desire. However, if you want the shorter way out, head back to the trail. Once on the trail, instead of turning back, keep going the way you were going until you reach a crossroads that have some signs. Standing at the crossroads, look to your right and you'll see two paths next to the one you are on. Take the far path (the one that appears to be going down). Follow that path and you will find yourself back out on the gravel road that connects the parking coordinates to the starting coordinates. Head to your left from there and you'll soon be at your car. Oh, and remember that you need the combination in the previous stages to open the final, in case anyone is now thinking of trying to bypass everything and go straight for the final. :)

**This cache is placed with permission from the Jackson County Parks and Recreation.**

**A huge thanks goes out to ALTGates for helping with designing the cache itself, and to Kickrobo and my GF for helping me map, tack, and place the parts of this cache.**

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