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Stairway to Evil-er Mystery Cache

Hidden : 12/18/2010
Difficulty:
3 out of 5
Terrain:
2.5 out of 5

Size: Size:   micro (micro)

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Geocache Description:

A combination puzzle/offset designed to get you a little exercise. No GPS is required.

The cache is not at the posted coordinates, but is within 2 miles.

In order to locate the cache you must first solve the following puzzles.

The North puzzle:
When I am traveling up a flight of stairs, sometimes I take one step at a time, and sometimes I leap a step and take two at a time.
Obviously if the flight of stairs only has one step, I only have one choice and that is to take the single step.
If the flight of stairs has two steps, then I have two choices. I can either take two single steps (S-S) or one leap (L).
If the flight of stairs has three steps, I have three choices: (S-S-S), (S-L), or (L-S).
How many choices do I have if there are ...
U: 4 steps?
V: 5 steps?
W: 6 steps?
X: 8 steps?
Y: 11 steps?
Z: 14 steps?

A=X+V-U
B=U+W
C=U+X+Y+Z


The West puzzle:
Determine the coordinates based upon the missing lyrics of the theme-appropriate song by Led Zeppelin.

H: If there's a bustle in your hedgerow, don't be [ --- ] now
I: Then the piper will lead [ --- ] to reason
J: In a tree by the [ --- ], there's a songbird who sings
K: Your stairway lies on the [ --- ] wind
L: And my spirit is [ --- ] for leaving
M: And it's [ --- ] that soon if we all call the tune
N: The piper's calling you to [ --- ] him
O: There's a sign on the [ --- ] but she wants to be sure


Your search for the cache begins at North A° B.C West HIJ° KL.MNO.

You can check your starting coordinates on Geochecker.com.



These coordinates will place you at one end of a theme-appropriate passageway. If you drive, please park on the side of the road opposite the housing.

You must now travel on this passageway. In order to determine how far to travel, you must determine the name of the theme-appropriate book written by John Buchan that was made into a 1935 film directed by Alfred Hitchcock starring Robert Donat and Madeleine Carroll. In order to reach the cache you must travel one less than twice the number of units specified in the title of the book. So for example, if the title of the book specified 6 units, you would need to travel (6x2)-1, or 11 units

Once you travel the required number of units you will be at the cache location.

I'd like to think that the cache would be a pretty evil hide if you were looking for it based on latitude/longitude alone, but if you've followed the directions correctly, the cache location should be obvious. The cache is a 35mm film canister containing only a log so please bring a writing instrument

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

[north] H vf abg sbhe, evtug Yrbaneqb Cvfnab? [west] nygreangvat gurzrf, gra vf mreb [offset] rnpu ynaqvat vf fgvyy bar havg

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)