Mystery/Puzzle Cache placed in honor of Col Ben M. Pollard, United States Air Force, who was laid to rest at the United States Air Force Academy Cemetery the same day this cache was placed - 12 May 2017. DO NOT GO TO THE POSTED COORDINATES...there is nothing to see there. Read to the bottom to figure out how to find the container.
Col Ben M. Pollard was commissioned through the Air Force ROTC Program at Purdue University in July 1954, and earned his pilot wings in April 1956. After completing his Master's Degree in Mechanical Engineering from Purdue in 1961, he then served as an instructor at the Air Force Acaemy from June 1961 to August 1966. During this time he helped establish a new curriculum in Aerodynamics and Thermodynamics at the Academy. He then completed F-105 Thunderchief combat crew training before serving as an F-105 pilot with the 13th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Korat Royal Thai AFB, Thailand, from February 1967 until he was forced to eject from his stricken aircraft over North Vietnam and taken as a Prisoner of War on May 15, 1967. After spending 2,120 days in brutal captivity, he was released during Operation Homecoming on March 4, 1973. Col Pollard returned to the Air Force Academy as an instructor in August 1973, later becoming the Deputy Commandant of Military Instruction and then the Commander of the Air Force Academy Preparatory School before retiring from the Air Force on July 16, 1981. Ben Pollard died on Veterans Day, November 11, 2016, and was buried at the Air Force Academy Cemetery on May 12, 2017.
Col Ben M. Pollard, United States Air Force
Born: 27 February 1932 - Flew West: 11 November 2016
Prisoner of War, North Vietnam
15 May 1967 - 4 March 1973
In order to solve the coordinates to the final, figure the following:
N 38 53.ABC W 105 04.DEF
A = 4 then 4 and pause. 5 then 2 and pause. 3 then 4 and pause.
B = 4 then 4 and pause. 5 then 2 and pause. 3 then 4 and pause.
C = 3 then 4 and pause. 3 then 3 and pause. 1 then 5 and pause.
D = 4 then 4 and pause. 5 then 2 and pause. 3 then 4 and pause.
E = 1 then 5 and pause. 2 then 4 and pause. 2 then 2 and pause. 2 then 3 and pause. 4 then 4 and pause.
F = 2 then 1 and pause. 2 then 4 and pause. 5 then 1 and pause. 1 then 5 and pause.
Once you have the final figured out, you are looking for an old favorite type of container from the earliest days of geocaching (and a very familiar container for anyone that ever seved in the military). The high terrain rating takes into account someone trying to hike/climb up the mountain instead of doing it the easy way (paying the toll to drive up the road). Please watch for muggles driving by and replace exactly as you found (including seating the lid on firmly). This cache is placed at 10,885 feet above sea level, so altitude sickness can be a factor here for those not acclimated.
P.S. I have a local friend maintaining the cache for me between visits, but due to the cache's remote location, feel free to replace or add another log if the original gets full. Cache placed with permission.
It's a good idea to call (719) 385-7325 (Option 1, then Option 1) before heading up to Pikes Peak to find out the current conditions on the mountain. The cache is located below the area that is most prone to getting blocked off due to weather conditions.
You can check your answers for this puzzle on GeoChecker.com.
Additional Waypoints
VT History Cache #39 - Col Ben M. Pollard
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