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Hidden Identity Mystery Cache

Hidden : 8/8/2004
Difficulty:
4.5 out of 5
Terrain:
3.5 out of 5

Size: Size:   regular (regular)

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Geocache Description:

This cache requires preparation before visiting San Juan Island and requires travel around the island to collect data to solve the puzzle.

This is a challanging cache and is not intended for the casual visitor to
San Juan Island. You may want to do some advance preparation since not
all of the information required to solve the final coordinates can be
found by walking or driving around. Some basic high school computational
skills are also required.

You'll need to collect following data:

        A = The number of numbered loading lanes in the main lot to the
               ferry at Start_lat, Start_long.

        B = On West Side Road approaching Dead Man Bay from the south 
               the number of "sections" in all of the portions of guard rail 
               that  are concrete.

        C = The distance in miles (to the nearest tenth mile) between 
               Clipper Way  and Kanaka Bay Rd.

        D = The elevation in feet (to the nearest 10 feet) at Friday Harbor 
               Town Hall.

        E = The sum of the digits in a column, row, or diagonal of the 3x3 
              magic square made from the digits 1 through 9, inclusive.

        F = The parcel number of the town address 618 Warbass Way on
               a map of Friday Harbor (format is nnn mmmm, where n and
               m are digits 0-9).

        G = The address number of the fire department located under 
               the Friday Harbor town hall clock tower.

        H = The largest prime number on the visible scale of the 
               benchmark with a PID = TR2228.

        I = The number of letters in the what's at home at Friday Harbor 
              High School.

        J = The number on the six foot tall driftwood post (street address)
              on West Side Road where the northbound speed limit and the 
              southbound speed limit signs are directly opposite each other
              on the road (one says 20mph the other 35mph).
              Hint: this is within a mile of where you found B.

Now, perform the following calculations using this information to get the
location of the cache location on San Juan Island.  The location has the
format:

        Final_lat  = N 48 S.T
        Final_long = W123 U.V

You'll need to refer to the starting coordinate as follows:

        Start_lat  = N 48 Y.Z
        Start_long = W123 W.X


        1. Using the value of F (nnn mmmm),
            a = nnn,
            b = mmmm

        2. c = (D / I) - 1

        3. d = cos(a + H - c)  (yes, cos is a trickenometrick function)

       *4. S = Y + d

       *5. U = W + (E - (c + 1)) 

        6. e = A + B + D + E + G + H

        7. f = (sin(e) * sin(e)) + (cos(e) * cos(e))

       *8. V = ((J - (16 * f)) - X) + ((c * I * I) + 2)

        9. g = B * I

      *10. T = g + (G * sin(A - (I + 2))) + I + 4

Now you have S, T, U, and V and, hence, the location of the cache.
Enjoy the search and thank The Landbank, www.co.san-juan.wa.us/land_bank, for the nice trails they've placed there for us to enjoy.

The cache container is an ammo box filled with card games to play
at home, in the camp ground, in hotel room, or returning on the ferry:

        Old Maid
        Hearts
        5 Alive
        Target
        Crazy 8
        Hoyle Poker
        Bicycle Standard
        Iraq Most Wanted
        Young Jedi

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

1) Fbzr erdhverq qngn pna or sbhaq ng jjj.sevqnluneobe.bet -> Gbja Qbphzragf -> Zncf -> Gbja nqqerff naq cnepry ahzoref 2) Bfvarpnl bsjnl barjnl-haqerqunl rvtugljnl rdhnyfjnl rtngviranl barjnl. Varfnl nerqfdhnl hfcynl bfvarpnl nerqfdhnl bsjnl nalguvatjnl rdhnyfjnl barjnl. Varfnl bsjnl rebmnl rdhnyfjnl rebmnl 3. Qb lbhe onpxtebhaq erfrnepu orsber frggvat bhg.

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)