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You can't MacGyver this one! Mystery Cache

This cache has been archived.

dfx: Out of order and won't be fixed

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Hidden : 5/19/2011
Difficulty:
4 out of 5
Terrain:
2 out of 5

Size: Size:   small (small)

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Geocache Description:


This multi requires certain high-tech gadgets in order to complete and will present you with some riddles that you need to solve to find the cache.

Read the complete description before attempting this cache!

There are three intermediate stages to this multi, plus the final cache. The coordinates to the three stages are given below (in the additional waypoints). You can visit them in any order you want, but if you park at the suggested coordinates and start from there, it's suggested that you visit them in order.

The three intermediate stages are:

  • One of them is a Chirp, a type of wireless beacon that requires a compatible device to receive. Currently only certain models of GPS receivers from a particular manufacturer are capable of doing that.
    This stage will present you with a riddle. Solving this riddle gets you a number. Call this number A.
  • Another one of the stages is a QR code. The easiest way to decode it is to use a smartphone with an appropriate software, but alternatively you can use any camera to take a picture of it and then use an online decode (at home) to get the information out of it.
    Decoding the QR code gets you another riddle, and solving this riddle gets you another number. Call this number B.
  • Yet another one of the stages requires UV light to be made readable. Note that it may be difficult to achieve this in bright sunlight. You should be either prepared to cover up the clue (make it dark) so the UV light can do its thing, or simply go at night.
    There's no riddle here, but again you will get a number from this stage. Call this number C.

Now here's two important notes about the above:

  • The stages described above are not given in the same order as you will encounter them! Keep this in mind when you start looking for one, or after you've found one.
  • !!! Beware of decoys !!! You will come across them!

Once you've found all stages and solved the riddles, you can do a quick checksum. The combined digital root of the three numbers should be 2. If you get anything else (even if it's only slightly different, like 1), you better revisit the stages and double-check everything you've found.

In any case, please make sure you replace all the stages exactly as you've found them, and secure them properly into place.

A bit of simple math is required to calculate the coordinates of the final cache. For the north coordinate, perform the following calculation:
X = 18783 + A + B
Divide X by 1,000 and you got the minutes of your north coordinate.

For the west coordinate, calculate this:
Y = 47112 - A + C
Again, divide Y by 1,000 and you got the west coordinate.

If you're unsure, can't find it and/or are mobile internet enabled, you can check your final coordinates here: Geochecker.com

Good luck and have fun!

Note that the high difficulty rating is not only because of the required gadgets and the riddles. The hides themselves can also pose a challenge.

There's an unactivated micro geocoin in the cache as FTF prize!

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

[cache]: Fgnaq ng gur rqtr bs gur jngre naq ybbx gbjneqf gur genvy. Ybbx sbe n gjb-gehaxrq gerr qverpgyl gb gur yrsg bs n fvatyr-gehax gerr, obgu bs gurz fyvtugyl gb gur evtug naq hc sebz nabgure gerr. Ybbx haqre n juvgr ebpx qverpgyl haqre gur gjb-gehaxrq gerr.

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)