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To Each Their Own Mystery Cache

This cache has been archived.

TeamJiffy: We are retiring this cache, as Fy went to the location and couldn't find any reasonable place to put a replacement. We've had no interest from anyone in months to want to solve the puzzle and re-install this... so we have placed a couple of new caches, and are submitting new puzzles, and opening up this final location to anyone who wants it.

ANYONE WHO HAS SOLVED THE PUZZLE, OR WILL SOLVE THE PUZZLE, IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS (BY APRIL 16th), WE WILL ALLOW CREDIT FOR A FIND. JUST EMAIL US THE COORDINATES THAT YOU HAVE COMPUTED.

-Jif

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Hidden : 7/7/2003
Difficulty:
3.5 out of 5
Terrain:
1.5 out of 5

Size: Size:   micro (micro)

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Geocache Description:

A puzzle cache, where you have to figure out why certain people like certain pictures. Once you know this, you use your knowledge to determine the favorite pictures of some other people. Knowing this, you can compute the actual coordinates of this cache. The cache is a camo-taped plastic candy tube, about 3-4 inches long, with hemispherical ends, a gift from Marky and Joani.

The coordinates at the top of this page are not the actual coordinates of the cache! You must determine the actual coordinates by solving the puzzle. Note: not even the minutes listed above are guaranteed to be correct. However, the actual cache location is within a 2.5 mile radius of the given coordinates.

A group of friends is visiting an art gallery. There are four simple pictures hanging on a wall, which are reproduced online below, using only the finest physical to digital conversion and preservation systems known to the world’s best curators:

Picture 1 An arrow, pointing right
Picture 2 A suspension bridge, viewed from its side
Picture 3 An hourglass (no grain can be seen in the glass)
Picture 4 A pitcher of juice, labelled as such on its side, with the handle pointing left and the spout pointing right

Each friend has a favorite picture. Here are some of the preferences:

  1. Bonnie and Cindy are attracted to the arrow picture.
  2. Willow and Ysabel think the bridge is beautiful.
  3. Irene and Xander happily hover over the hourglass.
  4. Fred and Gail prefer the pitcher picture.

Your task is to figure out what picture is the favorite of each of the other friends. For each, choose the number of the picture.

  1. What picture does Albert like?
  2. What picture does Oscar like?
  3. What picture does Darryl like?
  4. What picture does Harry like?
  5. What picture does Karl like?
  6. What picture does Nancy like?
  7. What picture does Robert like?
  8. What picture does Stephanie like?
  9. What picture does Ursula like?
  10. What picture does Victor like?


From Picture Preferences to Cache Coordinates...

The cache is located at a latitude of 37° BE.FGJ′ and a longitude of 122° LM.PQT′. Calculate B, E, F, G, J, L, M, P, Q and T from the following formulae.

Note: If any answer results in a number greater than 10, drop every digit but the last one. For example, with B = (N + 18), if Nancy liked the hourglass, then N = 3, so 3 + 18 = 21 and then B would have a value of 1.

B   = (N + 18)
E   = (U * (U - 2))
F   = (((V + 4) * 3) - 3)
G   = (F + A) + 1
J   = (S + 1)
L   = (D * 9) + 1
M   = (H * 4) - 1
P   = R
Q   = (C * 8) - 4
T   = (K * 14) - 1

As a check against your work, the final answers for B, E, F, G, J, L, M, P, Q and T add up to a number whose last digit is 8 (eight).

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Ng A/AR fvqr bs n gerr; ng vgf onfr.

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)