Peregrine Strike! Mystery Cache

This cache has been archived.

JamGuys: After just one find in over a year - seven of the last eight logs for this cache are my own! - I've decided to go ahead and archive this one. Sorry if you've already solved it and been meaning to head out here but the rains we've been having recently have reminded me that this cache is in danger anytime the lake level rises significantly. Thanks to all who attempted it but now it's time for something new!

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Hidden : 5/6/2006
Difficulty:
3.5 out of 5
Terrain:
2.5 out of 5

Size: Size: regular (regular)

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Geocache Description:

ATTENTION! The co-ordinates above are FALSE! You’ll need to solve the puzzle to obtain the TRUE co-ordinates!

This is our third puzzle cache and it's dedicated to all the nature lovers out there ........ ENJOY!

Congrats to mike/marytreenut and Kand for the joint FTF!

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PEREGRINE STRIKE!

As I sat in my study late one evening, racking my brains to come up with a worthy and unique challenge for our third puzzle cache, I happened to glance at the copy of the Edmond Birders’ Club bulletin that had been placed in our mailbox earlier that day. Neither my wife nor I had ever heard of this club before, and the choice of a dodo for their logo did seem a bit odd. Nevertheless, the bulletin's lead report captured my attention and I have reproduced it faithfully for you below.


Now, while I was admittedly enthralled by “Bird Man” Gould’s colorful account, I was more than a bit skeptical of his ability to estimate avian flight bearings to the tenth of a degree by visual acuity alone ("What had this guy been smoking?" were my exact thoughts!). Nonetheless, my curiosity aroused, I decided to test the accuracy of his observations for myself. I first obtained the co-ordinates of the three locations he'd mentioned and created a map of the area as follows:

A) Outlet tower - N 35° 38.932; W 097° 21.805

B) Cherokee Pavilion - N 35° 38.843; W 097° 22.243

C) Corps of Engineers building - N 35° 39.126; W 097° 22.260


Then, using the map and the information "Bird Man" had provided in his report, I determined the most likely co-ordinates of the peregrine strike. Seriously doubting that I'd find any evidence to support a raptor kill at the site, I journeyed to the spot the next day to investigate. You can imagine my sense of disbelief when, on arrival at the location in question, this is what I saw:


It was the carcass of a male mallard! Incredibly, “Bird Man” Gould’s naked eye observations had been pin-point accurate! Moreover, I soon recognized that I owed him a debt of gratitude because, after looking around a bit, I realised that this was just the perfect place to hide our cache. So, after burying the remains of the unfortunate bird, I did the latter deed. I then took a picture of the lake from the cache site to commemorate the event.



So, now it's up to you - GOOD LUCK AND ENJOY THE HUNT!

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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

CACHE LOCATION: Access to the cache site is from 8:00 a.m - 9:00 p.m. daily. On the upside, there is no admission fee to this part of Lake Arcadia. You should be able to identify at least two parking areas in the image provided. The cache is located fairly close to the water and there are often a few fishing muggles in the area. Depending on where you park, the terrain you’ll need to traverse could vary a bit, but there are no steep elevation changes (except for the last few feet, hint, hint!). Be sure to keep an eye out for snakes and other potentially harmful creatures as you search for the cache.

Please replace the cache where you found it so that it will not be muggled - thanks!

CACHE CONTENTS: The cache container is a 7.62 mm ammo can filled with a wide array of fun and useful items, including a nice new copy of the “Birds of Oklahoma”. As in our previous cache, the FTF prize is an unactivated 2006 Oklahoma First Finders geocoin.

Please help to maintain an outdoors/nature theme to the cache by leaving appropriate items if you can - thanks again!

CACHE CO-ORDINATES: If you do attempt to calculate the cache co-ordinates from the information given (it can be done!), you can verify that they're within at least 20 feet of the cache using the EVINCE tool below.

Click to verify coordinates



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Additional Hints (Decrypt)

CHMMYR: Bognva n cebgenpgrq ehyvat guebhtu gur pragre bs gur fgnef!

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)


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