Speak Softly and Carry a Big Hatchet Mystery Cache
Speak Softly and Carry a Big Hatchet
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(regular)
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Weeds19 and I each had decided to place a cache at the top of Big
Hatchet Peak. We actually were, independent of each other, going to
each hike up on the same day. I ran into some problems and had to
delay my hike up- but still decided to place a cache up on top.
The above coordinates are not the location of the cache.
There are two ways you can get to the cache. The first is to answer
a few questions to get the coordinates. The other option is to go
approximately 375 feet from the very top of the peak (where the
cairn is) on the north ridge, where you'll find the cache. Use the
picture as a reference point.
The Puzzle
These questions are based on the spire measures of mountains in New
Mexico. A list can be found here at Peaklist.org, which
also explains what spire measure is. For the sake of avoiding
confusion, this puzzle will refer to and use the reduced spire
measure list.
For the last three digits of the latitude (after the decimal- N
31º38.xxx): Find the reduced spire measure for the highest peak in
the Jemez Mountains.
For the last three digits of the longitude (after the decimal- W
108º23.abc):
A. The reduced spire measure (RSM) of Big Hatchet Peak minus the
RSM of the highest point in the Organs minus the ranking of
Shiprock.
B. This number will be a bit complicated to get:
1. Find the RSM of the second highest peak on Earth.
2. Subtract the RSM of the highest peak in North America.
3. Add the RSM of Mount Everest.
4. Subtract the RSM of a peak named after the Devil's anatomy
and described in the book "Eiger Dreams."
5. Subtract the rank of the highest RSM in the U.S. that's not
in Alaska.
6. Finally, subtract 1.
C. The previous answer minus the ranking of Big Hatchet Peak in New
Mexico.
Directions
To get to Big Hatchet Peak, take I-10 until you reach the Hachita
exit on highway 149. Follow this road south until Hachita. Proceed
south on Highway 81. After about 10 miles, the road will curve
towards the right. This is the turn-off to the BLM road. Follow the
public access signs. After much driving, it might seem like you're
going in the wrong direction. Keep going until you reach an obvious
fork in the road, where you'll make a right turn. This road can get
rough once you pass the windmill (which lays flat on the ground),
so use your judgment. There are a few places where the road dips
down to cross over drainage, so four-wheel drive is probably
necessary to make it all the way to the parking spot.
Additional Hints
(No hints available.)