Cross Sums Mystery Cache

This cache has been archived.

spooko13: This was placed thirteen years ago today, and it's had a good run. I had fun putting this little series together, but the time has come to open up the area for something new.

Thank you to everyone who solved the puzzle and stopped by to sign the log. I truly appreciate the kind comments and favorite points you left behind. 🙂

I'll leave the container in place for a little while in case anyone was working on the puzzle or just needed to sign in.

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Hidden : 9/29/2012
Difficulty:
3 out of 5
Terrain:
1.5 out of 5

Size: Size: other (other)

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Geocache Description:

Cache is NOT at the posted coordinates, but is within a two mile radius.

I've always been a sucker for number puzzles, and this type is one of my favorites.  They're called Cross Sums (at least that's the name I know them by), and I've had fun solving them for years.  I haven't seen one of these used for a mystery cache around this area (although I may have just missed it), so I decided to blatantly "borrow" one from a magazine of mine in order to introduce these puzzles to everyone.

Photobucket

The rules are simple:

The numbers in the black squares refer to the sums of the digits to be filled into the empty squares.
The number below a diagonal line is the sum of the numbers below it.
The number above a diagonal line is the sum of the numbers to the right of it.
Place one digit, using 1 to 9 (no zeros) in each empty square.
Numbers cannot repeat within any particular digit combination.

For example, if the puzzle calls for two digits that add up to 4, the only possible combination of numbers that can be used are 1 and 3.  (Using 2 and 2 is not allowed.)

Use the numbers in the specially shaded boxes to fill in the rest of the coordinates: N 43 1X.XXX W 077 3X.XXX. The green boxes are for the north coordinates, and the blue are for the west. You should be able to guess the order, but I will post a hint after one week.

You will notice a group of squares that have a heavy outline around them.  This is a place for a starting hint.  I'm sure the puzzle will have been solved by then, but either way I will post the numbers that go into this outlined area also after one week.

I'm not really sure what the difficulty on this should be, so I started with a 3. I will adjust accordingly based on feedback.

Congratulations to thevidas for the FTS (anonymous), teamajk for the FTS (certified) and thevidas and smilecmm for co-FTF!


You can validate your puzzle solution with certitude.

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Gur ahzoref gung tb vagb gur urnivyl bhgyvarq fdhnerf ner (sebz gbc gb obggbz) bar, gjb naq guerr. Gb svyy va gur pbbeqvangrf, ernq gur pbyberq fdhnerf va beqre sebz gur gbc qbja. Vs gur pbyberq fdhnerf ner va gur fnzr ebj (nf gur svany gjb ner sbe gur abegu pbbeqvangrf), ernq gubfr yrsg gb evtug. Rznvy zr vs lbh trg fghpx. 7/07/2021 - [Ignore maintenance log dated 9/05/2016. Cache is back near original spot. Look low.]

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)


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