GC1139V The Hero of Fool's Rock (Multi-cache) in North Carolina, United States created by slackpacker and Uncle Ricco

This cache has been archived.

slackpacker: I don't 'cache like I used to, so picking up these containers when I'm in the area. This cache was designed to highlight one of the really cool stories in Highlands' history, I hope that folks enjoyed learning a bit (and then hopefully hiked up Whiteside Mtn to see where the heroics occurred!) This cache was out there for almost ten years - time to free-up the spot for someone else. Thanks to all that visited - happy 'caching!

GC1139V ▼

A cache by slackpacker and Uncle Ricco Message this owner

Hidden : 2/23/2007

Difficulty:

Terrain:

Size: Size: regular (regular)

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Geocache Description:

A brief walk around Highlands Memorial Cemetery and an opportunity to reflect on the heroism of one of Highlands' most celebrated citizens. To find this cache, you'll have to find a headstone and use its information to find a second headstone, and then use its information to determine the location of the cache. While in the cemetery you'll see many names familiar in the history of Highlands - names like Edwards, Bryson, Norton, and Zachary - and enjoy great views.

The History of Fool's Rock - On Sunday, May 14, 1911, a group of 13 friends left Highlands for a picnic on Whiteside Mt. By all accounts it was a beautiful day, and the party traveled by wagon on the old Norton Rd and hiked the Kelsey Trail to get to Whiteside.

Once on the summit, while the group relaxed and enjoyed the view, one of the group, Gus Baty, decided to joke and show-off for the girls in the group by going out on Fool's Rock, a finger of granite that extends from the face of Whiteside's cliffs (so named because surely only a "fool" would step out on it!) Suddenly Gus fell off the rock, falling 15 feet to the face of the cliff and sliding down 65 feet, stopping only after he was impaled on a small rhododendron bush. Badly injured, he balanced precariously with his legs dangling over a sheer 1,800 ft precipice.

Another member of the group, Charlie Wright, realized it was unlikely that Gus could maintain his delicate position long enough for trained rescuers with equipment to arrive. After only a moment's hesitation to assess the situation, Charlie quickly began to gingerly work his way down the cliff, using only the slimmest of hand and footholds, to reach Gus and hoist him up by his belt; Charlie then slowly reversed his path, and pulled the ailing Gus back along the cliff face to safety. The entire rescue took hours, at which point Charlie collapsed from the effort.

The Carnegie Foundation, which at the time bestowed a limited number of gold medals and cash honorariums for heroism, was notified of Charlie's exploits. Despite initial skepticism, a Foundation representative visited Fool's Rock and, having looked down, quickly determined he had seen enough - Charlie got his medal and the maximum $2,000 award!

Charlie used the funds to buy 4 acres in town where his wife, Helen, would eventually build "Helen's Barn," an institution in its own right and the site of town dances for over 50 years (and today is the location of Fresser's Restaurant). Tragically, Charlie would die in an automobile accident at age 54; Gus, however, enjoyed a full life until his death at age 84. Both men are buried in Highlands Memorial Cemetery.

If you hike up Whiteside Mt and do the summit loop trail, you'll pass right by Fool's Rock; it now has an iron railing, but I still wouldn't recommend it for children or those afraid of heights. A sign was recently erected nearby that tells some of this story and marks the spot of Charlie's heroism.

To Find the Cache: The coordinates above will bring you to Charlie's headstone; using the information on this headstone, determine the location of Gus' headstone as follows (and while in the cemetery, please practice geocaching etiquette - don't interfere with mourners, don't disturb the headstones, try not to walk directly on gravesites, and so on - thanks!):

N 35º 03.ABC
W 083º 12.DEF

A = 2nd digit in year of Charlie's birth
B = 3rd digit in year of Charlie's death
C = Day of the month (as a number) of Charlie's death
D = Month (as a number) of Charlie's birth
E = 3rd digit in year of Charlie's birth, LESS 4th digit in year of Charlie's death
F = 4th digit in year of Charlie's death

Check figures:

A+B+C+D+E+F=XY
X+Y=4

Once you have located Gus' headstone, use the information on his headstone to determine the final cache location as follows:

N 35º 03.ABC
W 083º 12.DEF

A = 3rd digit in year of Gus' birth
B = 1st digit in the day "date" of Gus' death
C = 3rd digit in the year of Gus' death
D = 2nd digit in year of Gus' death, LESS 4th digit in year of Gus' death
E = # of letters in Gus' second name
F = 2nd digit in the day "date" of Gus' birth

Check figures:

A+B+C+D+E+F=XY
X+Y=11

You are looking for a medium-sized lock-n-lock container. Note: the cache is not located in the cemetery! Included as FTF and STF prizes are two copies of "Courage at Fool's Rock", Bill Marrett's slender volume with the complete account of the history-making day. Please rehide the cache as well as you found it. Enjoy!

FTF honors go to ffuGzO!

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

pebbx bs 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)

This cache has been archived.

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The Hero of Fool's Rock Multi-Cache

This cache has been archived.

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Geocache Description:

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