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Aptos Creek Pools Challenge Traditional Cache

Hidden : 7/13/2008
Difficulty:
3.5 out of 5
Terrain:
5 out of 5

Size: Size:   regular (regular)

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Geocache Description:

Hike up Aptos Creek past Five Finger Falls. Please read the complete description. THERE IS NO TRAIL TO THE CACHE! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Second Pool ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

FIRST! I WOULD PLAN! Look at all the pictures. When you get here, The First Pool go over to the right side of the creek, and there is a place that looks like the railroad grade. Climb up that so you can make your way safely past that obstacle. I thought they would find another way, but they took an EXTREMELY dangerous way up. Don't endanger yourself out that far from civilization. This cache is VERY DIFFICULT! It is a dried soy bean container. It's a very durable and very nice container. It has some choice stuff in there! You have to climb over three log jams, wade through the creek, swim through the creek (only unless you are VERY smart. There is a way around all the pools), climb over bolders, etc. It is VERY hard to get too. When you get to Decacherata, if you are very tired, do not attempt. In winter/wet season, DO NOT ATTEMPT! Swimming will not be required (if you think about how to do it), wading will be required, climbing up steep slopes and rock will be required. No special climbing equitment needed. Please look at the hints because they will be required. The trip will challenge you both physically and mentally. WATCH OUT FOR BLACK ROCKS!!! Black rocks have some sort of fungi or moss that is slippery when wet OR DRY! Please be careful and watch out for black rocks. Also, since it may be dangerous, BRING A FELLOW GEOCACHER OR FRIEND ALONG! People rarely head up that way so if something happens, you will be very happy to have a buddy. Take Pictures! TOTALLY! I really want to see your pictures at the pools. It'll be neat to see peoples' pictures at the pools! The "Feet Dry?" cache and "Decacherata" are the way to judge whether you can make it to the cache. Consider, as far as energy used to get out there, Decacherata is only half way. You have got at least 3 hours of creek to go up, so if you reach Decacherata after 1 or 2 o'clock, don't expect to make it out of the park before dark. From "Decacherata" to "Feet Dry?" is NOTHING compared to what you will have to face just a little ways further. A ways past, you will see a long log going right down the creek. Long Log Take the log! It's a lot easier than the creek. See the picture below... You will also have a few log jams and pools to go through, and once you get to the top of the pools, it is nice and flat, and then there is just a small little challenge right at the end. It is very doable, but please amount for the time it takes to get out there. I'd leave at least by 7 A.M. from the bottom of the park. Good luck. Each and every one of you who find it should consider swimming, if you go during the summer. The water is deep and cool. GOOD LUCK! I HOPE YOU CAN FIND THE CACHE! CONGRATULATIONS TO MAYELA MINGI AND GEOKASHERS FOR FTF! This one was a hard one! Great work!

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Tb guebhtu gur cbbyf naq jnyx hc gur perrx gb gur fcyvg. Gnxr gur evtug sbex naq tb hc n yvggyr. Gurer lbh jvyy frr n fghzc gung unf snyyra va gur perrx jvgu gjb gerrf gung terj sebz vg jura vg jnf nyvir. N guveq ybt vf ba gbc bs gur fghzc, ybbx haqre gung ybt.

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)