Each journal entry clues a set of peaks on the map of a national park in the US (in alphabetical order by park name). The first sentence is a clue about the park name and/or location. The paragraphs are below with the clues bolded and the peaks listed under each entry. Each entry has a different mechanic hiding the peak names. The clue in the last entry hints that you need to mark the peaks on maps in order of occurrence in the journal entry. When you draw lines between points in this order, a letter is drawn on the map.
Page 1:
“August: A lobster-filled day of adventure on an island.” clues Acadia National Park. This entry provides charade clues for peaks.
“He saw us pee endlessly at the rendezvous yesterday, I see. The short-handed officer had no trump so we beat him easily. Lacking any sweet alcoholic beverage we plead for a fun trip home. A bee with adrenoleukodystrophy flew by. We saw fish lungs with no end bit and more! To heal them we had to use deception to trick the first of needlefish into the emergency rooms. They asked us if we wanted tea before our messed up infrared commercial. For the Russian among us it was yes, why?”
| Entry Snippet | Extraction | Peak |
|---|---|---|
| pee endlessly at the rendezvous yesterday, I see. | PE + MET + I + C | Pemetic |
| short-handed officer had no trump | SARGE + NT | Sargent |
| Lacking any sweet alcoholic beverage we plead for a | NO + RUM + BEG + A | Norumbega |
| bee with adrenoleukodystrophy | B + ALD | Bald |
| fish lungs with no end bit and more! | GIL + MORE | Gilmore |
| deception to trick the first of needlefish into the emergency rooms | CON + N + ERS | Conners |
| tea before our messed up infrared commercial. | T + <IR> AD | Triad |
| the Russian among us it was yes, why? | DA + Y | Day |
Connecting the peaks in order makes an A shape on the map.
Page 2:
“August: We left late at night to explore the caldera!” clues Crater Lake. This entry names peaks literally.
“We waved to the watchman as we set out. As our guide, Mr Hillman, pointed out the stars, the red cones of light from our flashlights played over the desert, cone-billed tanagers and grouse sleepily complaining when we stepped too close to their resting spots. Down the slope I spotted a path of white pumice, pointing west toward the dead forest as though accusing it of being a skell, conning us all into thinking it living timber.”
Connecting the peaks in order makes an N shape on the map.
Page 3:
“July: We started out for our northern icy adventure!” clues Glacier National Park. This entry divides peak names between two or more words.
“Being skint lately, we decided to walk to the long fell owned by my neighbor’s estate. Seeing something weird in the distance I said, “Slava, ugh, the hell is that?!” furrowing my brow. “Nothing I want to stick around. Perhaps a withdrawal tonight is in order.” I took out my camera to film, but I tripped over a log and fell backwards on a pack of CDs. “Careful with the di… Video evidence is all we have!” Slava said as I fell.”
Connecting them in order makes an L shape on the map.
Page 4:
“June: What an educational day near a massive hole!” clues the Grand Canyon. This entry provides trivia style clues for peaks.
“What a teacher we had today: This knighted Scottish geologist introduced the theory of uniformitarianism to the masses. It described the exploits of a Spanish explorer who looked for the Seven Cities of Cibola. The trip continued as we threw heavy metal objects in a game where close is sometimes good enough. We cracked the lock to his statue room: it was the Old High German name for a one-eyed god frequently depicted with a pair of ravens. The most awesome statue was of a deity, part of a triumvirate, responsible for restoring the balance of good and evil in troubled times. The related statue next to it was a multi-headed god of creation—downright eerie to look at—what if it grew more heads?”
| Trivia-style clue | Answer | |
|---|---|---|
| This knighted Scottish geologist introduced the theory of uniformitarianism to the masses | Sir Charles Lyell | Lyell Butte |
| Spanish explorer who looked for the Seven Cities of Cibola | Francisco Vázquez de Coronado | Coronado Butte |
| threw heavy metal objects in a game where close is sometimes good enough | Horseshoes | Horseshoe Mesa |
| the Old High German name for a one-eyed god frequently depicted with a pair of ravens | Wotan | Wotan’s Throne |
| a deity, part of a triumvirate, responsible for restoring the balance of good and evil in troubled times | Vishnu | Vishnu Temple |
| related statue next to it was a multi-headed god of creation—downright eerie to look at—what if it grew more heads | Brahma | Brahma Temple |
Connecting the peaks in order makes an I shape on the map.
Page 5:
“August: There were explosive quantities of fun on our trip!” clues Lassen Volcanic National Park. This entry clues peaks as one letter expansions of words.
“We fly into an expanded airfield, flying over farmers with a tall rake as our destination looms immensely in the distance. Travel can make me feel iller long after arriving, like when I went to the huge Dimond Gorge in Australia or when I visited an immense Conad store in Italy. “Wellyouknow”, my fast-talking friend says, “IfFord” (giant automaker) “caredaboutmotionsicknesstheywoulddosomethingaboutit.” The situation can really addle with a head.”
Connecting the peaks in order makes a C shape on the map.
Page 6:
“November: In the rainy northern climate we had a frightening coastal sojourn.” clues Olympic National Park. This entry provides close homophones of peaks.
“I told Chris to lean a little closer. “We can steal his wand”. The night shaman said he was a moon caster which wasn’t Christ-y enough for the Christians among us. The shaman in the vest made them cry. Stall, we did. Then I whispered: “Chris, tee us up an excuse to leave. We’re trapped - can’t you see?!” “Addle them with your wisdom and watch as he quits!” It only worked for a little while, dur! The suggestion wasn’t worth a cent. In El Toro’s mind we were his captives now.”
Connecting the peaks in order makes an E shape on the map.
Page 7:
“September: This adventure was off to a rocky start…” clues Rocky Mountain National Park. This entry provides crossword clues for peaks.
“We were attacked by a medium-sized game bird from the grouse family as soon as we landed in the air force base south-east of Washington DC. With the help of the girl from Wonderland we trapped it in an eastern tiered temple and caught it. We took the game to Johnny’s Cambridge restaurant where, to fight off our iron deficiency anemia (abbr.), we traded it for their museum exhibit sample of the rough cut of meat from a beef shoulder. Finally, we sent a postcard to the all girl’s school in Manhattan to let our kids know we were safe.”
Connecting the peaks in order makes an S shape on the map.
Page 8:
“This adventure started with a drive along the skyline.” clues Shenandoah National Park. This entry provides anagrams of peaks.
“In the sun I basked, clad oddly enough in swimwear. I get sick of the outdoors sometimes and wish, with a magic “zap!”, hotel beds would appear. Alas, I can see it now: amenities they hawk, bills unfortunately I pay. I can think of some silly antonyms of a hotel that reflect my position: Bad Place Inn, “Drag, Lo!” (terrible), Incoherent Flub (F is your grade), and maybe most of all, Stupid Hubs For People Who Cannot Sleep Well On Dirt.”
Connecting the peaks in order makes a P shape on the map.
Page 9:
“August: In the canyon of granite monoliths we had a ghostly adventure!” clues Yosemite National Park. This entry provides initialisms for peaks.
“Gerald asked: “Yellow lights or red?” “Like you’d enjoy lemony limelight!” Flashlights ominously, eerily reflected shadowing the east riverbank. Leery of night ghosts, Henry offered frightened families more assurances: “Need not worry about these knights if not scared!”. Slowing their agonizing riverdance required knowing intricately nuanced ghosts. Bloodcurdling, ululating evocations nagged apparitions visibly. I succeed today, amen!”
Connecting the peaks in order makes an N shape on the map.
Page 10:
The dots graphic on the last page, when laid over a map of the US, provides an ordering for the national park letters when fitted over a map of the US. That ordering spells out PINNACLES.
