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What is This on the Los Gatos Creek Trail?

Can you help this reader solve this puzzle, question? Leave your answers in the comments, please. Thank you.

Los Gatos Patch reader Ann Jasper posted this photo of a mystery plaque she found along the Los Gatos Creek Trail in our pics and clips area and asked for help in figuring out its origin and meaning.

She said the plaque has a partial skeleton carved into it, and she had found one perfect piece of chalk cradled in the dip near the edge of the disc, presumably to complete the "connect the dots," she said.

Most intriguing are the words along the edge of the plaque, she wrote in the caption of the photo.

Does anyone know what this is?

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Joni Holland November 19, 2012 at 12:05 pm
Looks like some type of calendar or sun dial. It's very cool. Can't wait for someone to weigh in and fill us in!
Gabe Roberts November 19, 2012 at 01:53 pm
I wonder where that is. I've never seen it!
Jesse Ducker November 19, 2012 at 05:16 pm
Wow, looks intriguing. I've got no idea what it means though...
Irene Aida Garza-Ortiz November 19, 2012 at 10:23 pm
I've never seen it either....
Sandy Vaurs November 20, 2012 at 03:57 am
It is a caesar cipher where each letter translates to a letter in the alphabet offset by N. In this case N = 1. Z is A, K is L,... I wonder if the plate was made at Petroglyph.
Jon Monty November 20, 2012 at 01:31 pm
"All this world is but a play... be thou the joyful player." —Robin Williamson
Mckenna Smith November 20, 2012 at 03:04 pm
Jon, so is that what's written around the circle?
Mckenna Smith November 20, 2012 at 03:05 pm
I don't understand this...sorry can someone just tell us what it says and who put it where and why?
Esmée St James November 21, 2012 at 03:45 pm
Kinda spooky... like out of a thriller movie. Thanks for the interpretation, Sandy.
Melissa Pugh November 21, 2012 at 08:38 pm
Very cool!
William November 21, 2012 at 08:58 pm
It's part of a Geocaching puzzle.
Gary Hinze November 30, 2012 at 05:16 am
I found only three of them, all between Highway 85 and Vasona Dam. I have uploaded pictures of the locations and a closeup of each one. When I first spotted one, I thought it was a manhole cover, but they are not. The first picture is of a typical West Valley Sanitation District, Los Gatos Trunk Sewer, cast iron manhole cover resting in its cast iron ring. The next show the subject location just south of Highway 85, and the subject cover. The next is just north of Lark Avenue. The third is just south of Lark. The last picture gives some idea of how thick they are. They all have simple transposition ciphers on them. On the north two, just substitute the succeeding letter of the alphabet. On the south one, each letter is replaced by its number in the alphabet. I won't spoil your fun solving the puzzle. I have not learned who put them there.
Ann Jasper March 18, 2013 at 04:51 am
Ah, this is fantastic! I haven't checked back for comments on my pic post for quite some time and am delighted to find that there are some answers here! Jon Monty - I love that quote! Gary Hinze, I will go look for the other ones - had no idea there were companions. And William - I got into geocaching last fall, just after my son and I found this plaque. I was a "muggle" back then. Wil definitely see which GC corresponds to the coordinates!
Note Article
Just a short thought to get the word out quickly about anything in your neighborhood.
Share something with your neighbors. Write a new post... What's up? Make an announcement, speak your mind, or sell something
We need more details/facts, I realize these are minors and their names are protected. But when,Read More where and what were the circumstances!
Steve Johnson June 18, 2013 at 10:14 am
I would rather not put out any of the names of the victims or the alleged rapist just in case he isRead More acquitted. I would suggest you follow up with LGPD and LGHS officials for any further information.
Sheila Sanchez (Editor) June 18, 2013 at 10:17 am
I just emailed Sgt. Stephen Walpole, but he's on vacation until June 20. I last reported on a rapeRead More at the Los Gatos Lodge in March, but Sgt. Harris back then said the department's records unit need time to research just how many of these sex crimes had been reported to police. I'll check with the district.
Castle Rocking Chair.
McGill Patio June 9, 2013 at 01:09 pm
Have this link copy and paste on your web page to get to our Facebook Page:)
Sheila Sanchez (Editor) June 5, 2013 at 09:46 am
Thanks for the announcement, Laura. Can you please post this under events? That's where our usersRead More are going to find out what's happening in town, too! Thank you.
Sheila Sanchez (Editor) June 4, 2013 at 08:08 am
Excited for the series to begin! Good rocking times ahead! Thanks for offering this to theRead More community, Teri!
Sheila Sanchez (Editor) June 4, 2013 at 08:07 am
Awesome news! I'll stop by for a hot dog! Best wishes, Dan!
Jim McCarthy June 5, 2013 at 03:10 pm
Woo Hoo!! I've been having withdrawls!!!