Geography Club #3: Don't read too much into this Mystery Cache
Hidden : 12/12/2010
Difficulty:
3 out of 5
Terrain:
1.5 out of 5

Size: Size: small (small)

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Geocache Description:

The cache is not at the coordinates listed, you must solve the following puzzle, and we have corrected a small mistake in the puzzle based on the comments of those first to find.

THIS CACHE WILL BE INACCESSIBLE WHEN NIU IS CLOSED.

This cache was placed by the Geography Club at Northern Illinois University. To find this cache you must answer the 12 questions below and when you have the answers, the twelve characters you end up with will fill in the blanks for the actual “coordinates” of this cache. You will need to bring your own pencil/pen.

Adhere to all campus parking regulations. There is some guest or metered parking nearby, and parking should be readily available on weekends without restrictions – but read campus parking signs carefully!

THE COORDINATES LISTED ABOVE WILL NOT GET YOU TO THE CACHE, BUT YOU WILL NEED TO GO TO THEM TO COLLECT IMPORTANT INFORMATION TO ALLOW YOU TO FIND THIS CACHE? To find the cache you will need to answer a few questions about Illinois geography AND collect some numbers from a plaque located at the posted coordinates. For each of the lettered questions below, insert the character following the correct answer into the coordinate puzzle (A-J) and two numbers from the plaque (K and L).

The cache is located on the NIU campus. The cache is available year round (but generally closed on national holidays) and, while the puzzle can be solved anytime, logging the cache is limited to the hours (listed below) when NIU classes are in session (hours are more limited during school holidays and breaks). Once you solve the puzzle you should be able to determine the hours of cache availability by checking the NIU website [more information would reveal too much about the cache].

Typical semester opening times:
Mon – Thurs: 7:30am – 12 midnight
Fri: 7:30am – 10pm
Sat: 9am – 10pm
Sun: 1pm – 12 midnight

To find the cache solve the puzzle: ABC.DEFGHIJKL

A. In 1820 what city was the capital of Illinois?
Springfield = E
Kaskaskia = F
Vandalia = G

B. Illinois became a state in what year
1818 = 6
1867 = 4
1888 = 2

C. President Abraham Lincoln was born in Illinois
True = 5
False = 9

D. Illinois is the ___________ largest state in the United States, including Alaska.
2nd = L
10th = P
25th = E

E. For the past 20 or so years Chicago has been the ________ largest city in the United States
First = 8
Second = 0
Third = 4

F. The longest river entirely in Illinois
The Fox River = 2
The Illinois River = 5
The Rock River = 7

G. The highest point in Illinois is?
Charles Mound = A
Timm’s Hill = M
Hawkeye Point = S

H. The state tree of Illinois is
Sugar maple = 7
Tulip poplar = 2
White oak = 3
Yellow birch = 0

I. What is the state Bird
Sparrow = 4
Heron = 6
Cardinal = 2

J. What is the state soil?
Drummer = 0
Tama = 4
Kalkaska = 3

K. What is the first numerical digit from day in September when this statue was dedicated (see plaque)?

L. What is the numerical difference if you subtract the 3rd digit from the 2nd digit of the year the statue was dedicated (see plaque)?

This cache is partly inspired by a cache of baloo&bd.
The relevant NIU authorities have granted permission to place this cache.

Additional Hints ()

Bapr lbh unir sbhaqrerq gur pbbeqvangrf, znxr fher lbh ernq gurz pnershyyl.

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

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