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Training Puzzle #5 – Ciphers and Codes Mystery Cache

Hidden : 9/1/2021
Difficulty:
1.5 out of 5
Terrain:
1.5 out of 5

Size: Size:   micro (micro)

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Geocache Description:


Cache is NOT at the Posted Coordinates.

Like most geocaching puzzles this isn’t an original idea. See https://coord.info/GC5HFTZ and the series by charliewhiskey, as one of my inspirations.

I thought I would hide a few puzzle caches that could teach new cachers about some of the more common types of puzzles. I’m doing this, NOT because I’m a great puzzle solver. Quite the opposite! I struggle with most puzzles greater than 2 difficulty and I often must ask for a hint. Although this website https://www.geocachingtoolbox.com recommended by butcherandswimmer does help.

But I have seen many of the more common and easy puzzle types and I want to encourage new cachers to NOT automatically avoid all caches with the “?” icon. I’m also currently out of original puzzle ideas, so this will be easy for me. 😉 And easy for you! 😊

Puzzle Type #5 – Ciphers and Codes:

Doing these types of puzzles kind of takes you back to the WWI & WWII code breakers that probably changed the outcome of both of those wars. By breaking both the German & Japanese codes it allowed the British and Americans to know what the other side was planning before it happened.

There are dozens of Ciphers & Codes used in geocaching puzzles. One of the oldest codes, the Morse Code is sometimes used. Many codes involve a simple letter shift. Many people don't know, but the hint on the cache pages is encrypted with ROT 13 which is nothing more than a letter shift of 13 places, so A=N, B=O and so on.

The link to the Geocaching Toolbox already noted above is an excellent source for Cipher and Decoding tools. Another site I have used for many years is http://rumkin.com/tools/cipher/. No quick or easy way to tell you how to ID which Cipher or code might be used on a cache page. But if you reference these websites when you see something that looks like a cypher or code on a puzzle cache description you will probably find a way to solve it.

 

Caesarian Shift Cyphers are tricky because you need to figure out the offset number "N=" to set the encoder / decoder. Here is your puzzle:

 

Uvyao Mvyaf Mvby Mpmaf Vul.Lpnoa Obukylk Zpeaf Vul Dlza Glyv Upulaf Aoyll Aopyaf.Zlclu obukylk Mvyaf Aoyll

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Zl snibevgr ahzore vf 7, ohg V nyfb yvxr 19. Vg qrcraqf ba vs V'z qrpelcgvat be rapelcgvat.

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)