Olympian Cryptoponymy Mystery Cache
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(not chosen)
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Test your knowledge of encryption techniques (hence CRYPTO) and
local geographic names (hence TOPONYMY) while enjoying the views
around Mt. Olympus trail.
The cache will walk you through a series of “overlooked overlooks”.
- Each one is quite close to trail;
- each one has a superb view compared to what you get from the
nearby section of the trail;
- each one is frequently passed by the hikers hurrying along Mt.
Olympus trail.
The first 3 overlooks each has a toponymic question associated with
it. The 3 questions are all like this: “WHAT IS THE NAME OF ….. “.
The name of what? Well, the final parts of the questions
have been encrypted, but at each of the first three overlooks, you
will find a washer with a keyword. Use respective keywords to
decipher the following three encrypted messages:
- ALXZ CPAFVAUK GVCO?
- ZICSHRHP ERXIR FGLHA AS VHX WVYVHXEZX?
- UAVSC GDQWV KVHZ UDZHPVTCJBG NVWCK?
Keyword washers are nailed into cracks of rock. SAFETY
MESSAGE: No climbing, scrambling, or other use of hands is
required to reach any of the washers. No exposure. Jasmine and Max
accompanied me to each and every location. If you are tempted to
climb or risk your life and limb, please don’t. The rock surface
should be nearly horizontal around a washer.
All right, now that you’ve deciphered and answered the toponymy
questions, what to do with the answers? Firstly, each answer should
contain two words (as most geographical names do, e.g. MOUNT
OLYMPUS). Convert both words into numbers using the following
table, then look for the next location at 40° 39.(NUMBER1), 111°
4(NUMBER2)
|
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 |
| Question1 |
3 |
3 |
6 |
8 |
7 |
6 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
1 |
9 |
7 |
7 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
8 |
2 |
4 |
9 |
1 |
5 |
8 |
3 |
1 |
| Question2 |
2 |
5 |
7 |
4 |
6 |
9 |
9 |
4 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
7 |
0 |
1 |
8 |
8 |
1 |
6 |
5 |
0 |
3 |
3 |
4 |
9 |
0 |
2 |
| Question3 |
4 |
0 |
2 |
9 |
4 |
3 |
5 |
7 |
1 |
5 |
8 |
9 |
3 |
8 |
4 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
9 |
2 |
3 |
8 |
5 |
7 |
7 |
|
The cache is in a clear plastic jar. Along with coins and trinkets,
it contained MOCKBA
nut and eponymous
travel bug. Thanks Cach-U-Nuts and Roadstr for the inspiration
and the technical help.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
[Encyption:] Yr puvsser vaqrpuvssenoyr
[Washers:] #1 ba Fbhgurnfg fubhyqre (ng gur gbc bs n jnyx-hc enzc), gur bguref ba gbc bs ebpxf ohg arneyl syhfu jvgu gur tebhaq.
[Final:] haqre fznyy zbhagnva znubtnal