Thunder & Lightening at Sugarpine Multi-cache
Thunder & Lightening at Sugarpine
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(small)
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This is a two-part multicache starting with a regular small cache with items to exchange and ending with a phenomenal act of nature. There is a paved steep hill to climb for the first stage. Stage one is about 1 mile from stage 2.
The first stage of this multi-cache starts at the site of a beautiful picnic area used in the 1800s by the local families. They brought blocks of ice and servants to this location for their summer picnics. The cache is well hidden but easy for an experienced geo-cacher. It contains the following items: Coordinates to the second stage of this multicache. To get to the second stage, you can take a long beautiful nature walk or drive there. The second stage started several years ago. Kolly Wobbels and I watched and listened to a thunderstorm from our tent camper at campsite #127. We made a sound audio recording of the event. Suddenly, there was an enormous crack in the sky, followed closely by a huge crash of thunder. We checked out the lightening strike while the tree was still sizzling. These second stage coordinates now point to that tree. You can still see the continuous path of the lightening strike on the tree from the very top, traveling down and around the tree and into the ground. You can tell that this is a Sugarpine tree by the supersized long pine cones that often can be seen in the highest branches. TTO LOG THIS VIRTUAL STAGE of the multicache, either post a photo of yourself and/or your gps receiver with the tree, or email to me (Don't post the answer) the approximate compass direction (north, south, southwest, etc.) of the side of the tree where the lightening struck the ground. For an extra challenge, see if you can count how many times the lightening strike circled the tree. You can log that. UPDATE: The tree has been hit by lightening two more times since this cache was established Huge chucks of the tree have been knocked off the tree. Therefore the lightening strike path is much shorter than before Step softly. Respect our environment. If you are not familiar with the area, check with the local ranger stations. During the first stage, make sure you walk up the steep hill and see the Erhman Mansion, beach and dock on beautiful Lake Tahoe. They just had their 100th anniversary. Nearby, on the nature trails, is the world's highest working lighthouse. This is all State Park property. P.S. There are currently two other caches within a mile, in the City of Tahoma. Also, not too far away, don't miss climbing Eagle Rock and searching for the geo-cache called, 'Kim's Overlook'. You won't be disappointed. The tree has been hit twice since I first made this cache and is about half as tall as it was previously. 47Dad47
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Fgntr 1: Pnzrb fcvpr pbagnvare. Ernpu..
Fgntr 2: Vs lbh fgrc njnl sebz naq nebhaq gur gerr, lbh pna sbyybj gur cngu bs gur yvtugravat fgevxr nyzbfg gb gur gbc. Jnyx tragyl vs lbh jnyx ba gur sentvyr nernf bss gur ebnq. Abgr: