Wilkinsburg Explorers Multi-Cache
PUCSMiddleSchoolers: This cache has seen better days and a few of the clues are getting harder to follow because of changes in the surrounding area.
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This cache was hidden by the 8th grade history class at Pittsburgh Urban Christian School (PUCS). The cache is located near the school and is placed with the administration's knowledge, consent, and full support.
This cache was placed in conjunction with the school's unit on mysteries. Geocahes can be simple or quite mysterious and this cache aims to add a little bit of mystery to your day. The challenge in hiding the cache was that the students wanted to be able to leave at least some swag there, which means a small to medium sized cache container. Your typical urban micro would not suffice, so this cache is a little sneaky.
The purpose of this cache is to provide people with brief exploration of Wilkinsburg, an area that often gets an undeserved reputation.
The coordinates will take you to a little known street in Wilkinsburg where Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation has done a lot of work renovating houses, apartments, and creating green space. You will find yourself in or near a small community garden. Note the numeral on the side of the garden bed in the corner nearest to both the street and the Wilson apartment building. Use that numeral to fill in X in the following coordinates.
N 40 26.60(X+3)
W 079 53.X84
Following these coordinates will bring you to spot across the street from a vine covered and nearly forgotten structure of an age gone by when Wilkinsburg was among the wealthiest and well regarded of Pittsburgh’s suburbs. Examine the building. At what hour is it frozen in time? Use that hour as Y. Also search the front of the building for a small plaque that will tell you the date of this building’s construction. Use the second numeral in that date as Z. (Don’t go into the building. Who knows what the inside is like after all these years.)
The third stop is located at the following coordinates:
N 40 Y6.45(Z-6)
W 07Z 5Y.Z84
Following this set of coordinates will bring you to a stretch of sidewalk next to a public parklet. Wilkinsburg used to be known as the “City of Churches”. How many church buildings can you spot without leaving this block. You can walk around the entire block but no crossing any streets. If you don’t walk around the block you’ll probably end up counting too few churches. If you stray onto other sidewalks (i.e. cross the street) you’ll count too many as Wilkinsburg is full of churches and former churches. (As long as a church building is visible from your side of the street it counts). Use you final count of churches as Q in the following final set of coordinates:
N 40 26.Q18
W 079 Q2.96Q
The final stage of this cache is in a medium/regular size cylindrical container, with a green geocache tag. The original contents of this cache are a log book, pen, some interesting odds and ends, and four TBs that the middle school is sending out on explorations. There is room for small trade items. There is significant muggle activity so extra caution is advised.
Congratulations to RICK+REESII Dog for being the first to find this cache. You were fast. We thought it would take longer than that.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Qb lbh unir n fanxr be fubhyq jr pnyy gur cyhzore?
Treasures
You'll collect a digital Treasure from one of these collections when you find and log this geocache:
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