GC4BXGV Tucked Away Treasures: The Tree of Life (Traditional Cache) in Pennsylvania, United States created by JBTsWife

This cache has been archived.

JBTsWife: Alas, modern construction preparation for new restaurants has felled the noble arborvitae tree that housed this cache. Rest well dear arborvitae-you lived and served a noble purpose here for many a year.

GC4BXGV ▼

A cache by JBTsWife Message this owner

Hidden : 5/11/2013

Difficulty:

Terrain:

Size: Size: micro (micro)

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Geocache Description:

This cache is one in a series of "Tucked Away Treasures" inviting you to discover scenes of nature easily overlooked in the State College area. It is intended to be easy to find. The hint below is a giveaway.

This cache celebrates the amazing arborvitae tree and how it came to be known as "the tree of life." Who knew this common landscape tree once saved explorers' lives?

Arborvitae is Latin for l'arbre de vie (tree of life), a name given to the tree after a tea made from the tree's bark and leaves was used to cure men of scurvy during an expedition by French explorer Jacques Cartier in 1535.

More than 25 of Cartier's men had died of scurvy during one harsh winter along the St. Lawrence River because their diet lacked fruits or vegetables (and thus no vitamin C). The remaining troop of 85 men would have been wiped out had not a friendly Huron Indian prepared the tea made from the tree's needles and bark. In gratitude, Cartier later took some tree specimens back to Paris making the arborvitae the first American tree to be introduced to Europe.

Today, the arborvitae plays an important role in the wild. Its twigs and foliage are one of the most popular evergreens eaten by deer, moose, rabbits and other mammals during the winter. Red squirrels and songbirds consume its seeds and the dense canopy of an arborvitae tree provides cover for birds and mammals year round.

The arborvitae is also an urban survivor, withstanding compaction, air pollution and a range of soils. Some say it is the most widely grown cultivated evergreen in America, popular as an easy-to-shape hedge.

This cache will take you to an arborvitae stand along the parking area of the former A and P grocery store. You can walk, bike or drive right up to the cache site. You are looking for a green vitamin bottle with a poptop inside that contains the log. There is no room for trade items. Please do not add any items to the bottle as it will interfere with getting the poptop out. Please bring a pen or pencil.

Perhaps the tree at this cache site had dreams of growing in a beautiful field but it has literally risen to the occasion to provide a privacy wall along the accompanying alley.

Please be gentle with the tree when removing the cache in respect for the tree's noble history.

CONGRATULATIONS TO TheGeoSleuth FOR THE FTF and to Stevensons a Searchin FOR THE STF! And congratulations to ColtsHeatFan for being third to find and marking his 2,300th cache milestone!

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

[First Hint] Terra ivgnzva obggyr [Second Hint] Arne ebhaq oebja przrag cvyynef [Giveaway Hint] Sbhe sbbg uvtu oenapu sebag pbeare bs 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)