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The Donkey in the Lion's Skin and the Fox Mystery Cache

Hidden : 1/3/2018
Difficulty:
3.5 out of 5
Terrain:
1.5 out of 5

Size: Size:   micro (micro)

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Geocache Description:


This is a puzzle cache based on Aesop's fable about a dishonest old donkey and a clever fox who outwits him. The given coordinates are not where you'll find the cache. To find the cache, you'll have to solve the following puzzle which is a version of one created by Abigails which was itself inspired by an archived cache in Toronto by ritskese:

The Lion, the strongest, handsomest, and cleverest beast in the forest, had gone away and the Donkey, taking advantage of his absence, had stolen a lion’s skin from a hunter and wore it as he chased the other animals through the forest, snapping at their heels, and stealing their food. The Fox, however, was not so easily fooled by the Donkey’s disguise. The next time the “Lion” came running and roaring towards her, the Fox didn't flee but instead called out loud enough for all the other animals to hear.

“Lion," she said, "your roar doesn’t sound right to me. Do you have a sore throat?” Picking up a stick and holding it between her teeth, she wrote out the following on the earthy forest floor:

Γ > Δ > Θ

Γ + Δ + Θ = ΛΞ

ΛΞ + Λ + Ξ = ΠΣ

ΠΣ + Π + Σ = ΦΩ

“Each of the nine different letters here is really one of the digits from 1 to 9 in disguise” said the Fox. “If you truly are the Lion, the strongest, handsomest, and cleverest of us all, and not, like these numbers, pretending to be what you are not, then you will be able to unmask these numbers in no time at all.”

In this way, the Fox put an end to the Donkey’s tricks.

Moral: Fine clothes may disguise, but a fool can never hide what he is for long.

You will find the cache at N37 57.ΣΛΘ E23 42.ΩΣΓ

The cache is a magnetic nano, and you will need to bring your own pencil for signing the logbook.  As the cache is hidden in what can be a very busy area, please be discreet when locating the cache and when hiding it again. Please also be very gentle when searching with your fingers as the cache could fall if knocked too hard and it would then be quite difficult to retrieve.

W (a.k.a. DidianRay)


You can validate your puzzle solution with certitude.

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Va n ubyr va fbzrguvat juvgr

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)