The Kite Mystery Cache

The cache derives its name from the fact that when you ‘connect the dots’ for the six key points, the resulting figure resembles a kite on a string. To determine the cache location, use the pictures of four towers posted here and information from a sign next to where the picture of each tower was taken. The posted pictures of the signs have been cropped. They should help you find where the pictures were taken, but will not give you the information required to calculate the offset. Picture 1 is associated with tower 1, picture 2 with tower 2, etc.

To find the coordinates of the cache, do the following:

• Determine the coordinates of the place where the tower PICTURE was taken. In each case it was next to the associated sign. DO NOT use the coordinates of the towers.
• Determine the coordinates of the intersection of the diagonals connecting opposite vertices of the quadrilateral formed by the sign locations. Assume the sign coordinates are all at the same elevation. This is a calculated, intermediate point only. You DO NOT need to, nor should you go to this point. It is an intermediate point for calculation purposes only.
• Calculate the offset in METERS from the intersection point to the cache. To do this, you will have to use information obtained from the respective signs.

From Sign 1:

A = The sum of the numbers on the sign

B = The most times any single digit appears on the sign

C = The number that appears more than once multiplied by the number of times it appears.

From Sign 2:

There are four words in red at the top of the sign.

D = a two digit number where the left digit is the number of letters in the fourth word and the right digit is the number of letters in the first word minus one.

E = The sum of the lettes in the second and third words.

The sign also has a sentence about how this area was made possible. Using the words in this sentence

F = w x y z

where

w = the number of letters in the second capitalized word in the sentence

x = number of letters in the shortest word in the sentence

y = the number of letters in the second word after the word "and'

z = the number of letters in the first word after the word "and" minus x.

From Sign 3:

G = The number of years included in the age range for people who require fishing licenses.

H = The number of letters in the sentence that is all capital letters under the heading ‘Path Rules’

J = The number of times the word ‘NO’ appears on the sign

K = The number of times the word ‘NO’ appears in the Fishing Rules PLUS 1.

From Sign 4:

L = The largest number (digit) on the sign

M: If the sign is foul M = 19, if the sign is fair M = 52

From the above sign information:

N = the integer value of F divided by B

Offset X (meters west of diagonals’ intersection)

X= N + (L x (D – K)) meters

Offset Y (meters north of diagonals’ intersection)

Y= G x D + (A x L x E) – M meters

One method of calculating the location is:

• Use UTM coordinate system; the numbers are in meters
• Determine the linear equation for the two diagonals using basic algebra
• Use these equations to calculate x and y for the diagonal's intersection.

In seeking the cache, you might want to expand the search area from your normal size. The coordinates for the cache are dependent on four waypoint readings and two sets of calculations. All five intermediate coordinates could introduce errors into the calculated cache coordinates. The container is a disguised box with the usual assortment of goodies plus a FTF envelope. If you have questions, please e-mail me. (Including your six coordinates would help if your are having problems.) Seek the kite and enjoy!

P.S. This cache is modeled after a series in New Mexico called ‘Towers’ by mouser williams (GCMHZR, GCMRJD and GCMYV4). It is a fun series and provided the inspiration to place this cache.