The Mark of the Cache Mystery Cache
Vinny & Sue Team: Time to let this one go.
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(regular)
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This is a riddle cache, with the actual cache located in Gambrill State Park. The parking coordinates given are NOT those for the cache, but rather those for one of several convenient parking areas in Gambrill State Park. There is no need to actually park in this parking area; please do not go to this area until you have figured out the riddle and supplied the needed digits for the waypoint coordinates. This cache has been approved by DNR.
This is an easy riddle cache. The cache is located in a forest in Gambrill State Park, as is the parking area whose coordinates are given above. The final cache placement site has been fully approved by DNR.
By the way, for the final cache site:
In addition to paid parking at the southern/overlook end of Gambrill State Park, there are numerous safe and legal, and free, spots to park provided along Gambrill Park Road, which roughly parallels the trail. These spots will be graveled pull-off areas near the roadway. If you choose to use such areas, please make sure that your vehicle is fully off the road. And, please make sure that you are not blocking an access road for the park service or for a private property inholding.
The XYZ Mystery
The cache coordinates to be used for solving the riddle are
N39°28.xyz' W77°29.xyz'
Please note that the decimal minutes are not provided, and are instead simply shown as xyz. You will need to solve an extremely simple but devilish riddle in order to come up with the correct value for xyz. By the way, although not esential, the elevation for the cache site is found as follows: multiply xyz by 3, and then subtract xyz/2. In other words, elevation = ((3*xyz) – (xyz/2)).
Solving for XYZ
Riddle for finding xyz: xyz is a three-digit number. For many years, Biblical scholars have interpreted passages in the Book of Revelations in the Bible to mean that the “mark of the beast” was the number 666. In fact, years ago, when I was working in the corporate world, I had to often deal via telephone and e-mail with a very difficult and hostile subsidiary company in New York City; all their staffers were extremely defensive and hostile, and lied to us constantly. In fact, all their staffers seemed to not only hate the parent company but they truly seemed to hate the whole world. One day, I finally needed to travel to New York City to visit this insane and chaotic office. As I planned my trip to visit this strange office, imagine my humorous glee when I noticed that the exchange for their telephone number was 666, the street address for their building was 666, that their office suite was located on the 6th floor of the building, and that their suite number was 666! They were not amused when I pointed this out to them!
Now, getting back to the Biblical 666, the recent unearthing of new parts of the Book of Revelations has now led Biblical scholars to conclude that 666 was not the mark of the beast, and that the true number for the mark of the beast was instead a different 3-digit number! When you find that new number, that is xyz. If you substitute that number for xyz in both the N and W coordinates, you will have the devilish waypoint for the final cache. Yes, decimal minutes for both longitude and latitude measures are the same.
By the way, the xyz number is also the year AD in which the following things happened:
· The Persians capture Alexandria.
· Eadbald succeeds Ethelbert as king of Kent.
· Aethelfrith of Northumbria defeats the army of Powys.
· Edwin becomes king of Northumbria.
· Oswald of Northumbria flees to Iona.
· Alexandria is captured by Khosrau II of Persia.
· The Banu Hashim clan begins to boycott Muhammad.
· A shrine on the site of the future Westminster Abbey is founded.
Have fun!
ONE MORE IMPORTANT NOTE WHICH MAY HELP YOU
This cache has been found by a number of folks, ranging from sheer beginners to seasoned pros. However, even some seasoned pros have reported DNFs (Did Not Find) when hunting this cache on weekends, reporting that their GPSr signals were wandering all over the place. Therefore, I offer you below an explanation of what is likely happening, and also a hint to help you stay near the right spot:
First, the hint: The cache is on the flat plateau-like ridge, and is NOT downill.
Next: Apparently it is an established fact -- particularly in the aviation community -- that the military enables low-powered GPSr jamming signals, aka "GPS snubbing signals" in the vicinity of nearby Camp David when important visitors are in residence; the intent of these signals is to "confuse" GPSrs within a radius of about 4 to 5 miles of Camp David. Those visits mainly seem to happen on weekends, and it is on some weekends when many cache hunters report that their GPSr signals walk all over the place and will not settle down! I had originally assumed that the snubbing signals would not reach that far from Camp David, but I am receiving more and and more reports of this problem at this cache location. (BTW, This topic of jammed GPS signals near Camp David has been discussed in the past on the MGS forum and the national geocaching forums as well.) Thus, I have offered the extra hints above.
BASICS
Please do not attempt to find this cache unless you are in good physical shape and a good hiker.
Located in wilderness area: poisonous plants, thorns and briars, snakes, poisonous snakes, ticks, ants, lizards, fox, coyotes, bears, bobcats, cranky turtles and an occasional rabid groundhog or raccoon. An off-trail cross-country trek across wilderness terrain is required. Hunting allowed on nearby non-state park lands in season. Falling rocks. Rough terrain, sharp rocks. Trail hike and off-trail hike; moderately rough hike. May take less than 1 hour.
Not wheelchair accessible. Trek not very kid-friendly, but possibly okay for some.
Available 24/7 but not recommended at night.
Legal parking available for hike in to cache. Most parking options require no fees. Parking in most spots illegal at night.
Camping and campfires may be allowed at designated locations in the state park; consult the state park website or brochure for details. An MD DNR webpage describing the park and regulations may be found at http://www.dnr.state.md.us/publiclands/western/gambrill.html
No telephone nearby.
Available in winter if you can find safe and legal parking.
No telephone, rest facilities or drinking water nearby, but may be available at park buildings at visitor centers, etc. (several miles away.) Do not park in driveways of nearby rural homes or rural wilderness properties. Do not park where there are “NO PARKING” signs.
I am a happy member of the Maryland Geocaching Society (aka MGS), which is a great group of cachers from Maryland and surrounding states. The many members of MGS offer great support for cachers, both old and new, and great advice on hiding and finding caches as well, and also plenty of local get-togethers where you can rub elbows with other local cachers. If you wish to learn more about MGS, please go to the MGS website at www.mdgps.org -- see you there! Enjoy!
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Haqre n ebpx ol n gerr. Uvqqra.
Treasures
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