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Westwood Hills Tour Multi-cache

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RJ: Archived but not retrieved, yet.

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Hidden : 2/2/2003
Difficulty:
2.5 out of 5
Terrain:
2 out of 5

Size: Size:   regular (regular)

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Geocache Description:

The official entry point to this great park is at 8300 W Franklin Avenue.
Park administrators read the logs and check this page regularly so please be respectful of the nature preserve.

Westwood Hills is a 150-acre nature preserve devoted to passive outdoor recreation, environmental education, and wildlife observation. The park supports a variety of plant and animal species. The site features a 3000 square foot Interpretive Center that is available for rental. There are three miles of hiking trails featuring the quarter-mile, paved Wildflower Trail. There is also a Honeybee Observation Apiary.

It is located at 8300 W. Franklin Avenue in Saint Louis Park, MN. From 169, exit at Cedar Lake Rd. Go east to Texas Avenue. Turn left and go ½ mile to Franklin Ave. Turn left and go 4 blocks to Nature Center entrance. From 394, exit at Louisiana. At the bridge, go south to Wayzata Boulevard (south frontage road). Turn right and go ½ mile to Texas Avenue. Turn left and go ½ mile to Franklin Avenue. Turn right, go 4 blocks to the Nature Center entrance.

Park Hours are: Dawn to Dusk everyday

The Interpretive Center hours are:
Mon-Fri 8:00 am to 4:30 pm
Sat-Sun 12:00 noon to 5:00 pm
Closed Holidays

Did I mention FREE PARKING!

You can obtain a free brochure/map at the Nature Center as you approach the first coordinates. If you’re here when the center is open, make sure and stop in to learn more about the park. In the brochure is a complete description of the nature preserve.

Some guidelines worth mentioning are:

-Please stay on designated trails
-No pets
-Bikes are not allowed

The total walking distance you can expect is 3.5 miles from when you leave your car to when you get back into you car. Allow at least 1.5 hours to complete this cache.

Most of the trails are well groomed and flat. There are some hills to climb and even a staircase or two. You will not need to leave the main trail except to find the final cache, which is only about 8 feet from it.

Most likely you will NOT need a calculator to complete any of the math found on this hunt.

The posted coordinates will take you to the first location below. After finding the solution to the clue, determine the new coordinates and march on. Have fun and enjoy the park!

1) Determine what the troop number is that put these benches here. Add the FIRST and LAST number and insert into these coordinates:
N 44 58.0 _ 1
W 93 23.156

2) Take the two-digit number CARVED into this post and insert into the blanks of these coordinates:
N 44 58. _ _ 6
W 93 23.184

3) Count the number of benches you find here. Add 9 to that number and insert into the coordinates below:
N 44 58. _ _ 8
W 93 23.172

4) After advancing to the coordinates found above in number 3, count the number of benches you find at this location. Insert that number into these coordinates:
N 44 58.2 _ 8
W 93 22.969

5) Count the number of VERTICAL posts that make up this wooden railing. Divide the number of posts by 2 and insert the result into each blank spot below:
N 44 58.2 _ 4
W 93 23.07 _

6) Take the single digit number that is CARVED into this post, multiply it by 2 and insert into the coordinates below:
N 44 58. _ _ 5
W 93 23.214

7) Count the number of steps that make up the staircase you are now near the base of. Subtract 23 from the total and insert the two-digit result into these coordinates:
N 44 58.015
W 93 23.2 _ _

8) Take the LAST two digits of the troop number located on this structure and insert it twice into the coordinates below:
N 44 58.0 _ _
W 93 23. _ _ 5

9) According to this sign, what is the distance around the lake in miles? Add these THREE numbers together. (For example, 2.13 miles is 2 plus 1 plus 3 for a total of 6.) Take the sum of the three numbers and insert into these coordinates:
N 44 58.1 _ _
W 93 23.420

10) Count the number of benches you find here. Insert the number into these coordinates:
N 44 58. _ 34
W 93 23.715

11) Take the number you find CARVED into this post and insert it three times into the three spaces of the WEST coordinates. Multiply that same number by 3 and insert the result into the blank space of the NORTH coordinates:
N 44 58.2 _ 0
W 93 2 _ .4 _ _

The coordinates above should take you to the cache’s location. Remember, the cache is located about 8 feet off the trail. Trail blazing is not required.

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

[For step 2]-gur ahzore vf gra.

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)