Jarvis High Point Mystery Cache

This cache has been archived.

ecrane: This one had a good run. I’m sad to see it go. Thanks to all who visited!
~ecrane h#385
Davis, CA USA

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Hidden : 8/23/2017
Difficulty:
2 out of 5
Terrain:
2 out of 5

Size: Size: micro (micro)

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Geocache Description:


The cache is NOT at the posted coordinates.

In a few days, I hope to increase my highest elevation cache find from 7700 feet to over 14,400. (30 August 2017 EDIT: Success!) With elevation on my mind, I was motivated to create a puzzle about mountain peaks. I learned about topographic isolation, a term with which I had been unfamiliar. When someone observes, "this here's the highest spot around fer miles," they are talking about topographic isolation, which is sometimes called the "radius of dominance."

Mount Whitney posts a pretty impressive figure for topographic isolation: one need travel 1646 miles from Whitney's summit before another spot as high can be found. Mount Whitney's radius of dominance is 1646 miles. This brings us to Jarvis High Point, the subject of this cache. It too has an impressive radius of dominance, 1151 miles. Unlike other summits with high topographic isolation, however, Jarvis stands at an "impressive" elevation of -- wait for it -- 23 feet! Yep, in the middle of the South Pacific, 23 feet is the highest natural spot for over 1000 miles!

You'll find the physical container by heading to the coordinates (NN NN.NNN, WWW WW.WWW) defined by these questions:

NN. The Jarvis Island high point is the NNth most isolated peak in the world. (Add 2 to this result.)
NN. On August 30, 19NN, the barquentine Amaranth was carrying a cargo of coal when it wrecked on Jarvis' southern shore. (Reverse the two digits of this result.)
N. Organized efforts to remove feral cats from Jarvis Island began in the mid-19N0s.
NN. In January 19NN, scientists visiting Jarvis during the International Geophysical Year witnessed a severe storm that swept away prior building ruins. (Reverse the two digits of this result.)
W. In month W of 2009, President George W. Bush upgraded Jarvis and six other islands to the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument.
WW. The island's first known sighting by Europeans was on August 21, 18WW.
WW. The American Guano Company established claims in respect of Baker Island and Jarvis Island under the U.S. Guano Islands Act of 18WW.
W. In meters, the elevation of Jarvis High Point is W.
W. The longitude of Jarvis High Point is West 16W degrees.
W. Jarvis Island National Wildlife Refuge was created in June of 197W.


You can validate your puzzle solution with certitude.


Congratulations to rmhopper for the FTS!
Congratulations to Team Bardini for the FTF!

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

1: uggcf://ra.jvxvcrqvn.bet/jvxv/Wneivf_Vfynaq 2: n pbeerpg nafjre va pregvghqr lvryqf n uvag

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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