Cache for a Kid: Code Wheel Mystery Cache
Hidden : 12/31/2007
Difficulty:
3 out of 5
Terrain:
2.5 out of 5

Size: Size: regular (regular)

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Geocache Description:

NOTE: The listed coordinates are not the position of the cache. You must solve the position of the cache from the description below.

INTRODUCTION
Using a secret code is a fun way to share messages. This cache makes use of a code wheel designed for making and reading coded messages. The wheel used for this cache is the one found here. You should print (on cardstock if you can) the page at that link, cut out the parts, and assemble the code wheel as described on that page. You will need the wheel to complete this cache.

HOW A CODE WHEEL IS USED TO WRITE A MESSAGE IN CODE
Using that wheel, we might rotate the inner wheel so that the outer "A" lines up with the inner "8." The code key is now "A8."

Keeping the code wheel arranged like this, we can encrypt our message to be solved by someone who has the encrypted message and the key. For example, suppose our message was "DO NOT USE PC"

To write that message in code, look at the wheel (with the outer "A" still lined up with the inner "8") and search for the "D" on the inner wheel and see that it lines up with a "G" on the outer wheel. So the first letter of our coded message would be "G."

Similarly, the second letter of the message "O" gets coded as "R."

The entire message would be: GR QRW XVH SF when encrypted using the code wheel. Written in this way, our message wouldn't make sense to anyone unless they had this same wheel and the code key: "A8."

HOW TO USE A CODE WHEEL TO DECODE A MESSAGE
Let us say that we are given the coded message: IW87 Q BWY1E OADF4
and the code key: M1
In order to decode this, we use the following steps;

1. Rotate the code ring so that the outer M lines up with the inner 1.
2. Since the coded message starts with an "I", we look for that letter on the outer ring. It corresponds with a "W" on the inner ring so we write down "W" as the first symbol in the decoded message.
3. Repeat step 2 for each symbol in the coded message.

After you try it for yourself, you can see how well you did by clicking here


TRY THIS
Use the code key "W7" and decode the message: "96 CKI93 25 J85 6EE4 E6 BEL5, FB1O ED . . ."
If you can get real words, then you will have something that may be useful later and you are ready to hunt this cache.

YOUR MISSION
  Step 1 - Figure out the locations of the first and second waypoints using your code wheel. Let us understand that all the coordinates for this cache are of this form: N42° 06. ___ ___ ___ and W88° 15. ___ ___ ___

     First Waypoint
     Key: RI

     Location: Q4WPRWN5N1P1NNWJ33Q1NNOR5NOX41JWM2N5NWOX413Q1NN


     Second Waypoint
     Key: AV

     Location: X3STPS97TTP93479WU407W03S7TSP3SBT8997X51T3X3T


  Step 2 - Go to the first waypoint and look for a small container (a medium size pill bottle). That container holds the code key. In the examples, the code keys were "A8," "M1," and "W7." But for this cache the code key is different.
Go to the second waypoint and look for a second small container (another medium pill bottle). This second container holds the coded message.
Remember to bring your code wheel!

  Step 3 - The coded message in at the second waypoint tells where the final cache is hidden. Decode that message and go to the final cache, an ammo can.



This cache contains one of seven clues needed to seek   
Cache for a Kid: Puzzle Master.




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