Central Oregon Urban Cache Multi-Cache

This cache has been archived.

RootbeerPhoenix: One of the clues, a historical marker, was apparently vandalized and destroyed, and won't be replaced, alas. So this cache is now retired. Thanks for all the visits!

More
Hidden : 10/1/2001
Difficulty:
3 out of 5
Terrain:
1 out of 5

Size: Size: regular (regular)

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

Watch

How Geocaching Works
Looking for a different adventure?

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

Geocache Description:

This cache is hidden inside the city of Bend, but you'll have to work to find it. Most people would probably want to use a car or a bicycle to get around town. If doing the math doesn't scare you off (most of the stars of difficulty are due to the math!), this should be a good excursion even for beginners who don't want to worry about getting lost in the woods! A compass or pocket calculator or both may be necessary.

The cache is hidden on private property (with the permission of the owner), but you don't need to go more than halfway from the street to any private building to find it. In fact, you can (and should) stay on public property until the very end, when you know where the cache is. Please don't disturb the residents of any homes you may come near!

You will have trouble finding (at least) one of the clues whenever the ground is completely covered in snow (melting snow is okay), but you're welcome to try finding this cache year-round!

Note that in step four and later, bearings are given relative to true north, with the magnetic north values in parentheses. That's about 17° east currently. If you don't already know how to adjust your magnetic compass for declination, though, you should probably learn. :-)

1. Easy start: Go to N 44° 03.855', W 121° 18.589' and find a marker. Which names in the following list are authentic names found on the marker, and which ones are phony? Albert, Benson, Calvin, Davis, Fox, Johnson, Lambeth, Nesson, Ramsey, Victor, Walls. Count up the total number of letters in the authentic names, and call this number of letters "X". So, as soon as you can find Albert, that's six letters already.... (Check your work: The last digit of X should be 0, 4, or 7.)

2. Now go to N 44° 03.918', W 121° 17.054'. Find the oldest (looking) building around; it's a copy of another building. When the original was new, how many people would you expect to find inside it on a typical day? The answer is nearby. (Check the last digit of this number; it should be 2, 5, or 8. Yes, it really should.) Add the digits of this number to get "Y". (For example, if the number of people were 238, you would add 2+3+8 to get 13.)

3. Time to do the math. Calculate (X+Y) x 7 - 86. Put a decimal point before the last digit (divide the number by ten), so you have one digit after the decimal point. We'll call this number "A.a", a number between 0.5 and 27.5. Now calculate (X-Y) x 17 + 5. Put the decimal point before the last digit (divide this one by ten) to get "B.b", which is also between 0.5 and 27.5. (Check your work: If you add A.a and B.b and 0.5 more, you should get a number which you've already seen during this hunt.)

4. Plug A.a and B.b into the following coordinates so that you can locate N 44° A.a57', W 121° B.b03'. Find the nearest fire hydrant. (If you're not sure you've found the right one, check the first encrypted hint below.) From this hydrant, the cache is about 210 feet away, at bearing 238° true (221° magnetic).

5. Go to N 44° A.a40', W 121° B.b49', and hunt for a circle smaller than a car. From the circle, the cache is at bearing 75° true (58° magnetic), and you are even closer than you were in step four. (At this point, you may have a guess where the cache is, but please don't enter private property until you're sure of the location.)

6. There are two quite large trees nearby, with no others close by. From halfway between the trees, the cache is at bearing 45° true (28° magnetic). Of course, this is a check; these three bearing lines intersect at a single point, for some suitably large point. But if you're still worried that you're not at the right place, there's something nearby to show that you're at the right place to enter private property: Check the second hint below.

7. Go find the cache! It is at or near ground level. (And don't forget to keep an eye out for Butterscotch the cat. Photo by BigEddy.)

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

[Hint for step four.] Arne gur sver ulqenag vf n fgerrg fvta. Gur anzr bs bar bs gur fgerrgf vf gur fnzr nf gur anzr bs fbzrguvat lbh pna rnfvyl frr arneol. [Hint for step six.] Orgjrra urer naq gur cebcregl yvar gb gur rnfg vf gur cebbs.

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)


Attributes

No attributes available

Advertising with Us