The following is transcribed from a letter I received in the mail about two weeks after Christmas...
Dear StarSAELS,
I write to you hoping that you can be of assistance in a somewhat urgent matter. I am contacting you personally because I found a couple of your beer-themed letterboxes while I was at Stone Mountain Park last week, and this... well... seems like it would be attuned to your interests. Of course, those would be beer and, more importantly, finding things hidden in woodland terrain.
You see, not too long ago my boss lost something rather important while "visiting" Stone Mountain. The exact location of the item is not known, even though it's a state-of-the-art terminal-velocity impact-durable container with GPS transponder, high-speed camera with night vision capability, and satellite communications. We managed to receive a partial communication from the device when we contacted it. Though GPS coordinates were unavailable, part of a dark, blurry photo did make it through. I have included a copy of it, as it may help you (though it did not help me, obviously). A photo of a similar container is also enclosed.
On the enclosed USB memory stick is a video generated by Google Earth. This video follows the path of my boss's vehicle during the last few minutes of subsonic flight. A few problems occurred during this portion of the flight, due to low visibility, requiring violent emergency maneuvers. Apparently the container fell off the vehicle because it was left unsecured after he opened the container to procure one of the items inside (and I can't say I blame him -- who wouldn't want a tasty beverage after a long night's hard work?).
I diligently and thoroughly searched two areas for the container; those areas will be apparent in the video. Many days of searching were fruitless. I returned home empty-handed, much to his chagrin. His despondence turned to optimism, though, when I explained what I HAD found, and that I had a contact with whom to follow up... and that would be you.
Kind sir, please examine the video and the photo and consider helping us. Our thanks will be eternal!
Herbie, Technology Elf
It took a while to find the container. It was in a location that was rather precarious to get to, and while I'm sure all of you would like to find the letterbox in the exact spot, it was not easily accessible by any stretch of "easily" or "accessible". And, while I'm sure all of you would like to find the actual container... well, I had to give that back. Now, I know y'all want a good hunt regardless, so I've made it interesting. To view the video and photos Herbie sent, click on the images. Once you've narrowed your search areas, follow these "clues"...
First, find the location where you see a man-made wooden structure at due N and a tall corrugated pipe at 125°. Multiply the number of "X"es in the wooden structure by 25 and sight that direction; look for a landmark rock formation; this is your second location. (Note: this may not be easily viewable during summer months.)
When you are at the correct second location you should be able to see another wooden man-made structure at about (X x 30). Walk along that sightline, away from the rock formation and the second structure, to a point where the //first// structure is at (X x 2). You should be standing near a fallen log (quite deteriorated).
Look under that log, near its midpoint, right where it rests on a flattish rock, on the downhill side of that rock. The letterbox is secured by three smaller rocks (which do not need to move!) and is hidden by a couple of broken branches and lots of leaf litter. Stamp color: black, with colored pencils later.
