Skip to content

Zip Code (or is it a cipher?) Mystery Cache

This cache has been archived.

IgnotusPeverell: I'm IgnotusPeverell, one of the volunteer reviewers for geocaches submitted to Geocaching.com.

I notice that this cache has been "replaced" by another cacher. While I do appreciate this, the responsibility for geocache ownership extends to BOTH the maintenance of the physical cache as well as the cache page itself. The cache owner must maintain the geocache, and respond to/address any issues highlighted on the cache page. Here is what Geocaching HQ has to say about "throw downs".

Since the cache owner did not do either of these things, and is no longer active, I must consider this geocache to be abandoned - and it is being archived. This will open up the area to someone interested in placing a new geocache, and maintaining it properly.

Thanks for your understanding,
IgnotusPeverell
Volunteer Reviewer for Colorado and New Mexico
[?] Geocaching.com Help Center [?]

More
Hidden : 6/10/2009
Difficulty:
1.5 out of 5
Terrain:
2 out of 5

Size: Size:   small (small)

Join now to view geocache location details. It's free!

Watch

How Geocaching Works

Please note Use of geocaching.com services is subject to the terms and conditions in our disclaimer.

Geocache Description:

The cache is not located at the above coordinates. The posted coords are dummy coordinates.

One of the benefits of membership in geocaching.com is that you have the option of receiving notification of new caches in your area by entering the ZIP CODE (it's not really a code is it?) or by simply searching using the ZIP CODE. Among other things, this information includes the distance to those new caches from some datum location (that is referred to as Ground Zero or GZ). In order to calculate these distances, geocaching.com has established this datum location in each city/town from which to make these measurements. (Any idea on how GZ is established? Neither do I.)

To find this cache you must first find the ZIP CODE for where the posted (dummy) coordinates are located. Second, find the GZ coordinates for that ZIP CODE.

Once you have GZ, subtract 0.430 minutes from the north coordinate and add 3.008 minutes to the west coordinate.

(And if Geochecker doesn't like those numbers, try zip-codes.com for their lat, long, and subtract 0.356' from north and add 2.487' to west. Finally, if nothing works, shoot me an e-mail.)

You can check your answers for this puzzle on Geochecker.com.

Here's what you don't need: 1) To triangulate anything, 2) Google Earth, 3) Geometry.

UPDATE 1-24-11 Centroid shifted, so there are now new numbers (above) to add to the geocaching.com centroid to get the cache coordinates.

UPDATE 4-9-11 I didn't think things would be shifting so fast - centroid has changed again so there are again new numbers to use to get the cache coordinates.

UPDATE 5-4-11 I noticed a change after the latest site upgrade, so the adjustment numbers (above) are changed again.

Update 1-23-12 Changed again (and I checked them just a couple of weeks ago!)

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Qb gur frnepu.

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)