Heteronympha ulmeri Mystery Cache

This cache has been archived.

BendSinister: Time to shut up shop. If only as an impediment to placing more stuff. :)

Many thanks to the dozen or so people wot purported to get something out of my silly cache ideas over the last 5 years!

This was an idea I'd put aside for years in case anyone ever wanted a geoart contribution, but being almost the only person I knew who wasn't asked in 2020 (LOL) served as my cue to use it myself in a slightly more veiled form. Quite unexpectedly, it appeared to be one of my most popular amongst its pool of solvers. On the other hand this cache also received what I like to point out as the most dismal log I ever got! :)

This cache is still in place, but not for too long.

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Hidden : 2/21/2020
Difficulty:
3.5 out of 5
Terrain:
2 out of 5

Size: Size: micro (micro)

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Geocache Description:


The cache is not at the published coordinates. I wouldn't place a cache at such a busy intersection. Furthermore those coordinates play no part in the intended solution.


This is a sequel of sorts to Conference of the Birds ( GC832BZ ). It was devised at the same time and is a modest puzzle with a similar vibe. Let's call it a bonus cache as you'll probably need to have solved the earlier puzzle in order to solve this one. You'll want to have collected the code L.

For this exercise, let's call L's middle digit p. You are invited to calculate a large number equal to L to the power of p.

With that sorted, you may wish to turn your attention to the movements of a strange butterfly over the course of a recent day. Heteronympha ulmeri is a little studied species but its odd and frankly suspicious behaviour warrants attention.

Intelligence suggests that one individual travelled improbably large distances over the course of that one day. Invariably moving in straight lines, suggesting purposeful activity of some sort. A number of locations this individual is known to have visited in succession have been accurately recorded with handheld GPS receivers.



Insectspeak intercepted shortly after she set out from the first known location indicates that she noticed a cluster of her favourite plant species along her route and remarked upon passing that it would be ideal for the deposit of eggs when the time came. But she continued on her journey, apparently only landing later -- thrice, in total, over the remainder of the day.

Further intel is sketchy. The only other report pertains to the final recorded leg of her journey. The butterfly is rumoured to have ejected eggs mid-flight (apparently that's just how H. ulmeri rolls) once she again found herself passing over the cluster of trees that had met with her approval earlier in the day. It is likely that at least one chrysalis is still maturing at that location. Confirmation is requested.


Please enter your coordinates into the checker -- it accommodates small discrepancies and returns the precise location, which is likely a handful of metres from your calculated values.



The difficulty rating partly reflects the fact that solvers will typically have solved Conference of the Birds as a first step. Though feedback suggests that this puzzle is also a little more difficult than that puzzle.

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

[puzzle] (v) V qbhog fur jbhyq unir gnxra guvf ebhgr 20 lrnef ntb; (vv) Urgrebalzcun vf n erny-yvsr trahf; (vvv) n pregnva gbbyobk pbagnvaf cerggl zhpu nyy lbh arrq

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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