Locust Infestation Traditional Geocache
Smork 88: The loggers selected the same tree that I did. The cache is no longer available.
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(micro)
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You are searching for a micro in a great big forest. You must park and hike into the forest. Either of the suggested parking spots are available 24/7/12 while motorized travel on forest service roads is restricted from May 15 to December 15. Never, under any circumstance, trespass on private property without permission. Be responsible and respect the rights of others which will be a praise to the geocaching community.
The Black Hills of South Dakota is an extremely important National resource. Some of the richest mineral deposits in the country, highest point in the United States east of the Rockies, home to our National Shrine, largest wild herd of buffalo (bison), home to many native species, and one of the largest stands of Ponderosa pine are just a few of the important features of the Black Hills without mentioning tourism, agriculture, or picturesque homesteads. The Ponderosa pine is an important source of lumber for fine, pine wood lumber and also produces a canopy that captures sunlight before it can reach the surface. The effect of the captured sunlight is the lack of color as demonstrated from a distance for any viewer by appearing very dark to black. Now this forest is threatened!
Insects such as the pine beetle are destroying thousands of trees annually, and the number is increasing. The pine beetle isn’t doing the destruction by itself. Lately, the ipes beetle has joined forces with them by attacking lower portions of the tree. These 2 insects could bring an end to the ponderosa pine forest if they are ignored. Still other threats to the forest exist as well. Other insect such as spiders, grasshoppers, moths, and locust are doing their fair share. Man stomps young growth by vehicle and underfoot, and intentionally destroys standing trees. Animals pose a hazard as well. Deer enjoy the taste of new growth and nip the tops off young trees. The porcupine climb up to the nice, tender, younger, new bark and eat away leaving the bark stripped from around that portion of the tree which kills all the tree above the chomped area. Squirrels collect acorns and store them in old growth oak for now, but remember the squirrel in the movie “Ice Age.” Those little creatures are cute, but not to be trusted. And, by far the worst enemy is the tree shark. Just a few well-placed chomps and another tree falls. Other natural causes of destruction are draught, lightening, fire, heavy-wet snow, strong wind, heavy rain caused erosion, and hail. The absolute worst scenario is by man when the forest or a portion thereof is declared a wilderness area where-in no management can take place. Only by appropriate management will the forest survive.
FTF: 2layz2
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
QB ABG PEBFF cevingr ynaq gb npprff guvf pnpur. Cnex ng gur tvira pbbeqf. naq uvxr.