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Tail of the Dragon Mystery Cache

This cache has been archived.

DavidMac: Unfortunately I have to archive this one, because the national park has taken over the hiding area!

Several months ago I was at the park headquarters to attend a meeting, when I came across a very new map that showed the land surrounding the cache as park property. After a little investigation, I have found out that the park recently acquired several plots of Tapoco property, one being between the highway and the powerline which runs northwest from the 129 overlook toward Calderwood Lake and another one west of the highway and north of the Calderwood development. At this point, none of these new holdings are on any publicly released maps, but NPS signs have recently been installed along the new boundary. The problem is that the cache is clearly within one of these areas.

At the time that I hid this cache I knew someone whose father worked at one of the dams in this area. He was able to confirm which lands were national park, which were open to the public (and caching), and which were closed. The cache was in an area that was open to visitors and caching. Unfortunately I no longer have this contact and I have been told that there's no chance of the GRSM ever allowing physical caches in the park.

If any reviewers need more specifics on which lands in this area are NPS property, I might be able to get a copy of the latest map.

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Hidden : 5/11/2003
Difficulty:
3 out of 5
Terrain:
4 out of 5

Size: Size:   regular (regular)

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Geocache Description:


Poison Ivy Alert! Thorns Cache In - Trash Out! Long pants suggested Dangerous area - use caution No restrooms available Steep Hike Off-trail Hiking Required





DO NOT GO TO THE ABOVE COORDINATES!! This cache is not hidden in the middle of the lake!

So where is it? Yes, it is nearby, but to find out where exactly you will have to do one of two things: either visit Head of the Dragon, or locate the "CD Key." Look for this travel bug in a cache in the Knoxville area, take it home, and look on the CD for further instructions and coordinates. I have created a travel bug on 8/28/03 since copies of the CD disappeared from caches just as fast as I could make them. Don't worrry, the CD has been tested virus free, was created on a Mac and works with either Mac or one of those M$ operating systems. I only ask that, after you enjoy the CD, please place it back in another cache for others to find. Currently, there is only one copy of the CD out there. The trick is locating it before somebody else takes or moves it. And please, although it may be funny to put the CD back into this cache where others cannot find it, refrain from doing this...

I have listed the coordinates for this cache in the Head of the Dragon cache in case you are traveling from NC or elsewhere and can't access the CD.

I have given the cache a terrain rating of 4 ("Experienced outdoor enthusiasts only....very steep elevation requiring use of hands") because of the steep, loose rock that may reqire a little bouldering, the lack of a real trail, and the dropoff just feet from the cache. You may find it to be a little easier or harder, depending on how wisely you chose your path.

A few more details and hints as well as the final coordinates are given on the CD.

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Qb abg guvax gung, bapr lbh trg gur PQ, gur pnpur vf rnfl. V jbhyq abg erpbzzraq guvf pnpur sbe lbhat puvyqera be gubfr jvgu srne bs urvtugf, fanxrf, orrf, be cbvfba vil. Punaprf ner lbh jvyy pbzr npebff zbfg bs gurfr va gur frnepu, nf V qvq jura uvqvat gur pnpur. Ubj qbrf 200 srrg hc n 45 qrterr fybcr bs ybbfr synxl ebpx jvgu yvggyr irtvgngvba fbhaq? Sha? Tbbq yhpx.

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)