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Beckman Spire Webcam Cache

This cache has been locked, but it is available for viewing.
Hidden : 8/26/2002
Difficulty:
1 out of 5
Terrain:
1 out of 5

Size: Size:   not chosen (not chosen)

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How Geocaching Works

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Geocache Description:

A webcam cache is a virtual cache with a webcam twist. With a partner's help, you position yourself in front of the camera and call your friend to have them take a picture of you. You can then upload your photo to the web site to log your find.

To properly log this cache, you will need a cell phone (or at least a local payphone) & a partner you can call who will be sitting at a computer with the Internet. The person at the computer should practice their job ahead of time to make sure that the hunter is not standing outside for hours on end.

Bring a quarter for the parking meter; this should give you plenty of time. Read directions below.

Photographer's Job:

Go to the Department of Atmospheric Sciences "Illinois Weather" web site:

http://www.atmos.uiuc.edu/weather/

Click on the webcam picture to view. When you receive the phone call from the hunter (see Hunter's Job below), refresh the webcam picture by selecting it from the above web page. You may have to wait five minutes to get the right image (it only updates the view every five minutes). The normal image capture using a web browser (right click mouse, select save picture as) MIGHT not work in this case. However, all Windows based computers can capture the contents of the current window without any other software - just hit "ALT"+"PRINT SCREEN". Then open up a paint program or other image editor and hit "CTRL"+"V". Also - most good image editors (anybody with MS Office has "Photo Editor") can let people crop the unwanted junk (like the browser window buttons) out of the image!

Hunter's Job:

Check out the webcam before going, so you'll have an idea where to stand. Dress in boldly visible colors - the broad stripes of a rugby shirt might work well. You will be small in the image, so you want to stand out. When you get to the site (using coordinates given for this cache), stand on the north side of the spire. Contact your photographer on the phone. Best to do all this in the daytime during nice weather - otherwise you may not be visible.

Virtual Cache Questions:

What material is the spire made of?

Just a few feet north of the spire are some low mounds - what material are they primarily composed of?

Verification:

Once you have the answer to the questions, email us with your answers to verify your find of the cache.

Of course, you must post your picture with the log entry!

The camera in use for this cache is not owned or operated by the cache owners. It's just a webcam that we knew about and put to use.

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Guvf qbrfa'g ernyyl arrq n uvag nf vg vf gbb rnfl. Ohg qb or fher lbh sbyybj cnexvat erthyngvbaf (cnl zrgref, bayl cnex va yrtny fcbgf) be gurl'yy trg lbh!

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)