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A Cumbrian Cryptex #1 Mystery Cache

Hidden : 10/7/2010
Difficulty:
3.5 out of 5
Terrain:
2.5 out of 5

Size: Size:   regular (regular)

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Geocache Description:

This is our first puzzle cache and we hope you enjoy it – we certainly enjoyed making it. NOTE – the co-ordinates listed are NOT the cache but a convenient parking location (within 1km). The cache itself is a Cryptex with a 8-letter combination so there are approximately 2.5 billion combinations so it will definitely help to have the key !!

This cache has 4 puzzles to solve and all must be solved to reveal both the co-ordinates and the key to the Cryptex cache.  Fortunately, they can all be done from the comfort of your armchair before you have to venture to the cache itself.  There is little point locating the cache without knowing the key and vice versa.  Each puzzle is different and will require a little bit of thinking beforehand – hopefully they are not too difficult and if you get really stuck, email for a clue.


The Cryptex itself is hidden in a plastic 'lock n lock' box to try and protect it from the elements.  The FTF prize, pencil and log sheet are inside the Cryptex - there is only a very small amount of room in the box for any swaps / TB's.

Part 1 – North coordinates (Wordsearch)

Part 2 – West coordinates (Encrypted)

Part 3 – puzzle key, first 4 letters (letter sequence)

Part 4 – puzzle key, next 2 letters (‘what am I’ riddle)

The last 2 letters of the puzzle key can be found on the device itself.

 

Part 1

Wordsearch – English Counties.  When completed, use the grid below to work out the North co-ordinates in the form of N AB° CD.EFG – the required digit is the column number in which the letter appears.

ENGLISH COUNTIES

 

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

I

E

C

H

V

S

R

W

E

Y

L

L

L

N

S

T

C

T

R

O

G

L

R

F

E

A

H

T

F

O

R

E

I

O

R

E

G

H

U

L

L

E

E

I

O

E

T

T

B

A

V

E

T

R

D

A

H

G

X

L

N

O

R

T

H

U

M

B

E

R

L

A

N

D

S

R

A

I

E

O

R

O

E

I

W

S

U

Y

S

S

D

S

O

S

E

A

M

W

R

E

D

E

R

I

H

S

E

G

D

I

R

B

M

A

C

E

P

F

I

H

H

R

I

T

T

S

N

H

W

K

H

E

S

L

W

W

S

O

H

E

K

I

H

L

H

S

K

D

C

A

E

T

M

I

C

D

H

E

S

S

L

H

S

D

U

Y

E

R

I

H

S

N

L

O

C

N

I

L

D

T

D

S

D

R

D

U

O

R

O

U

A

T

T

N

S

A

R

S

R

E

N

R

R

E

E

E

B

R

S

Y

S

S

S

K

E

E

E

I

O

R

T

E

O

R

V

M

I

S

K

H

H

F

D

L

H

N

O

R

F

F

Y

T

F

N

U

O

E

T

I

S

R

T

E

R

S

Y

H

S

X

N

S

S

D

C

S

X

N

R

M

A

H

R

U

D

Y

T

N

U

O

C

U

E

E

R

L

O

E

R

S

A

U

I

C

O

R

N

W

A

L

L

F

C

B

X

R

O

H

E

R

E

F

O

R

D

S

H

I

R

E

F

F

U

R

F

H

E

R

I

H

S

Y

B

R

E

D

O

R

S

E

T

O

O

O

A

L

H

L

A

N

C

A

S

H

I

R

E

S

A

R

R

L

L

S

M

H

S

S

O

E

N

O

T

I

Y

R

E

E

R

B

S

K

G

L

M

N

R

V

K

R

H

C

I

R

D

X

D

N

D

I

O

H

S

Y

L

N

A

E

W

I

D

R

L

O

A

E

E

E

R

S

O

AVON
BEDFORDSHIRE
CAMBRIDGESHIRE
CHESHIRE
CORNWALL
COUNTY DURHAM
CUMBRIA

DERBYSHIRE
DEVON
DORSET
EAST SUSSEX
ESSEX
GLOUCESTERSHIRE
HAMPSHIRE
HEREFORDSHIRE

ISLE OF WIGHT
KENT
LANCASHIRE
LINCOLNSHIRE
MERSEYSIDE
NORFOLK
NORTH YORKSHIRE
NORTHUMBERLAND

OXFORDSHIRE
SOMERSET
SOUTH YORKSHIRE
SUFFOLK
SURREY
TYNE AND WEAR
WILTSHIRE

North co-ordinates are in the form N AB° CD.EFG – the required digit is the column number in which the letter below appears.

Letter

Reference

Answer

Example – ‘O’ in Northumberland

N/A

1

Example – second ‘N’ in Northumberland

N/A

2

Letter 'D' in Tyne and Wear'

A

 

Letter 'U' in Cumbria

B

 

First letter 'R' in Derbyshire

C

 

Letter 'R' in Norfolk

D

 

Letter 'O' in Bedfordshire

E

 

Letter 'E' in Kent

F

 

First Letter 'E' in Essex

G

 

 

Part 2

Encryption – the West co-ordinates are listed below, although they are encrypted.  The encryption base (2^6) used is not as common as some others but is used by pretty much everyone these days, although they may not be aware of it.  They are in the form xx yy.zzz

MDMgMjEuMjUz

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


Part 3

The letter sequence below is missing 2 letters – you need to work out which letters are missing and what it refers to.  The sequence relates to communications between computers but like an onion, they have several layers.

P-D-?-T-S-P-?

The first 4 digits of the puzzle key are the missing 2 letters and the last 2 letters of the word beginning with ‘T’

Part 4

Simply solve the riddle to find a 4 letter word.

What is inanimate but can stand up
Can start out copper and end up as steel
So fragile a child could break one
But many have the strength to lift a man

The first 2 letters of the word give you the next 2 keys to open the Cryptex.

The last 2 letters you need to open the Cryptex can be found on the device itself, when you have found it. You will need to find these but you may want to know when Calixtus III was elected.

Oh, the Cryptex has one final secret that is revealed when it is opened - if you can work it out then congratulations and post a cryptic message in your log so we will know that you found it.


NOTE: The Cryptex is only made of PVC and will break if you force it hard enough. If you have little ones and they want to try the combination please ensure they are careful with the Cryptex.

Rotate the combination rings until all 8 letters are in a STRAIGHT line with the two alignment marks on the end caps. Do not place the Cryptex on the ground and try to keep it dry if you are caching in the rain. There is little room for error so wiggling the end caps while opening might slide it out a bit more easily. There is NO NEED TO FORCE THE CRYPTEX OPEN….. If the correct code is used it will open without any problem.

Once complete ensure the combination is still inline before inserting the key end of the Cryptex and again do not force. If it comes to a stop while not completely closed, one of your combination rings will have rotated. Check combination and close completely. Remember to scramble the combination after the Cryptex is closed.



Thanks to North West Forestry Commission for granting permission to plant this cache,

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

[Part 1] - ab uvag, vg'f nyy gurer [Part 2] - nfx fbzrbar jub npgf jvgubhg fcrnxvat [Part 3] - nyy crbcyr frrz gb arrq qngn cebprffvat [Part 4] - xrrc vg haqre lbhe ung ohg vg’f irel pybfr [GZ] - sbhegrra uhaqerq naq svsgl svir [Location] - gerr fghzc

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)