Know Your Mushrooms Mystery Cache
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This cache was hidden as part of "Mushroom Doom's Cacher Fun-guy Get-together, GCR0W4" event cache and also as one of the objectives in the "Cach-U-Nuts Coin Quest" geocaching challenge. (see user web page link for details). The cache is not located at the listed co-ordinates but you could park here to begin your search. If you "know your mushrooms" you will solve the puzzle correctly and get to the actual location of the cache.
Since puzzle caches seem to be so much fun I have decided to make one of my own.
To get to the cache you must first go to this location: N 48º 27.ABC' W 123º 28.DEF'
How do you do that? Good question! Follow the instructions very carefully to find out.
Ten clue photos are posted on the cache page gallery.
6 of these will match one of the 6 clue phrases below.
Each clue phrase is assigned a letter from A-F that corresponds with that mystery digit in the coordinates.
One word is missing from each of the 6 clue phrases and has been replaced with dashes representing how many letters the missing word has.
Matching the correct photo determines the missing word and completes the clue phrase.
The title of each photo is an alpha-numeric offset key used to substitute a number for every letter only in the "missing" word for that clue phrase.
The alpha-numeric key tells you which digit is assigned to the letter "A". Complete the key by assigning a digit to each letter of the alphabet in ascending order.
When you reach 9 the next number is 0 then 1 again...
Example, to generate the key "A=0" do the following:
A=0, B=1, C=2, D=3, E=4, F=5, G=6, H=7, I=8, J=9, K=0, L=1, M=2, N=3 etc...
Example, if the missing word is "mushroom" and the key indicated by the coresponding photo is "A=6" then you should do the following:
M+U+S+H+R+O+O+M
8+6+4+3+3+0+0+8 = 32, which is a two digit number.
You want a ONE digit number so take 32 and do the same thing, 3+2 = 5.
NOW you're done! The corrct single digit value for the above example is 5.
* Remember that each key is only used once, for that photo/phrase match.
Replace the letters in the mystery coordinates with their coresponding digits to complete the puzzle.
Go to the co-ordinates you have determined.
You should be standing in an elevated area.
I placed a few stones in a small circle here.
There is good GPS reception and line of sight.
Sight 30 linear meters at -15º inclination on a bearing of 70º true.
The location of the cache should be evident now so GO GET IT!!!
CLUE PHRASES:
(A) - - - agaric
(B) - - - - - print
(C) Verpa - - - - - -
(D) Mushroom - - - - - -
(E) - - - - - mushroom
(F) Helvella - - - - - - - - -
Some final notes:
I would like to take this oportunity to thank everyone who was able to attend my event.
I would also like to thank everyone for all of the great cache items that were donated!
It seems that I had under estimated the generousity of the local caching community!!!
The cache ended up being too large to hide in any of the spots I had picked out...
This actually worked out good in the end since I found an even better place to hide it!
I also under estimated the difficulty of putting together the puzzle work for this cache.
I have definately gained a higher level of respect for the work that cachers put into them.
Take the time to thank the cache owner for their hard work if you enjoyed their cache.
Parking near the listing location is free during the "off season" (Oct-Apr).
Note that the park is officially closed from dusk to dawn year round.
The cache is a large 10.5" x 8" x 4" Lock&Lock wrapped in a black garbage bag.
As always, please rehide the cache completely and natural looking as possible.
Cache responsibly and most of all, REMEMBER TO HAVE FUN!
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
N: -y-
O: --b--
P: --a---
Q: --f---
R: --c--
S: --z-e----
pnpur: va gur --i- zna!
Treasures
You'll collect a digital Treasure from one of these collections when you find and log this geocache:
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