The coordinates listed are not of the actual cache location. Final coordinates are less than 2 miles (3.2 km) from the posted coordinates.

This series is devoted to cachers who want to get into puzzles but may not be sure where to start.  They will introduce some basic puzzle types, get you headed the right direction and maybe a few hints on how to recognize them in the future. Other puzzle cachers please add your thoughts/hints/advice.

Optionally, When you log the cache please let us know how you did it.

Level 1 – Puzzle Master

Solved it on your own, didn’t even need the explanation. (Some will be very tough without reading explanation) “Hints…..we don’t need no silly hints”

Level 2 - Puzzler

This is how the series is intended to be done. Read the cache page, figured it out….nice work! “Ya, I do puzzles”

Level 3 – Cacher

Had a friend solve it. It’s called delegation and teamwork. “I just don’t like anything unsolved near my house”

Puzzle: (Level 1 Puzzle Masters, this is all ya need)

WZRQLQHWKUHHHLJKWQLQHVLAWZR CHURQLQHHLJKWWZRVHYHQRQHCHURRQH

Explanation (Level 2 Puzzlers)

Type: ROT/shift/Caesar Cipher

From Julius’s military messages to kid’s secret decoder rings this code has been around a bit. You keep the alphabet in its normal order you just shift it over a bit. Below is an example of ROT13, where the letter A “shifts” or “ROTates” 13 positions to be shown as an N in the encrypted text.

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ

NOPQRSTUVWXYZABCDEFGHIJKLM

Possible give aways:

• Start with what you know

  • You need 15 numbers (14 if they skip the zero). Can what they give you be split into 15 items or segments?

  • In this case there are letters, not numbers. Here’s a trick that works sometimes. If you think about it the number ONE is 3 letters, TWO is 3 letters, THREE is 5 letters, FOUR=4, ect

  • ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR, FIVE, SIX, SEVEN, EIGHT, NINE, ZERO = 41 total letters for the 10 numbers or an average of about 4 letters to write a number

  • Divide all the letters by 15, if it is close you may be in business

    • In this case looks like we have 58 letters

    • Divided by 15 is just shy of 4…..surprise :)

       

  • You may know some of the numbers already. For this area there is a good chance the number you are looking for is N 29° 3?.??? W 098° 2?.???

  • So you are expecting the letters to turn into TWONINETHREE (unless they put NORTH first, or did something really rude like put the numbers in another language)

  • ROT means ROTation. You need to figure out how far to rotate the alphabet.

  • Since you are expecting a “T” for TWO take the first letter in this case an “W” and shift until W matches with T, then shift the 2^nd, 3^rd,4^th letter……… if it starts spelling something you’ve got it.

Resources:

http://www.rot-n.com/

Have Fun :)

You can check your answers for this puzzle on GeoChecker.com.