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Enchanted Orchard Wherigo Cache

This cache has been archived.

Professor Xavier: As the owner has not responded to my previous log requesting that they check this cache I am archiving it.

If you wish to email me please send your email via my profile (click on my name) and quote the cache name and number.

Regards

Ed
Professor Xavier - Volunteer UK Reviewer
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Hidden : 6/17/2008
Difficulty:
5 out of 5
Terrain:
2 out of 5

Size: Size:   micro (micro)

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Geocache Description:

Enchanted Orchard

H42132

This is team Sandvika's 50th cache placement on GC.COM so it needed to be a bit special. So here is our first Wherigo adventure. Bring a fully charged PDA or better still a Garmin Oregon GPSr - allow 2 hours to complete. This allows some time for battling with gremlins that are a feature of the Wherigo software, not of this cartridge!

The adventure is set in the Larks Hill community orchard that was planted about 10 years ago. The trees are just getting to the stage where they might begin to bear fruit large enough to be worth picking.

Parking for your adventure is at Larks Hill car park off Harvest Ride. Download the Wherigo cartridge and run it as you approach the area. When you get close enough.....

Hints

You'll be making cacher trails when you are on the adventure. Please make plenty of false cacher trails too, so that the route remains unclear. Wear thick long trousers, there are some thistles.

The wherigo program on PDA contains a map feature (Menu -> Map) that actually makes this cache easier than we intended (we had wanted cachers to plot their own maps with the obstacles). This will save paper and is much better for navigation. However, you need to revert to the standard display to see characters and items. A simple hand-held compass may come in handy if you get disoriented! If your wherigo program is not updating distances, wait, make sure your GPSr/PDA has good reception. If you move too far too quickly, you could end up in (virtual) trouble! During field testing of the original cartridge the PocketPC Wherigo player periodically ground almost to a halt but Oregon GPSr works well and Android phone is solid, albeit less accurate and more prone to triggering virtual mishaps!

We recommend saving your game state (close cartridge, then save; mark waypoint; start cartridge, then reload) after every event so that you can reposition yourself and resume from your last save if the player does stop responding. You must be in the right place to resume from save, otherwise you may fail to trigger events in the necessary sequence to complete. In the 5 years since we created the cartridge, the computing power of PDAs and GPSrs has improved greatly and the stalling problems have largely gone but the Wherigo players are liable to crash.

One of the features of the adventure is that false moves are "fatal" and you then have to go back to the sign at the start unless you have a good save to return to. To ensure the cartridge gets back to the required state, leave the orchard and loiter at least 10 metres south of the sign and wait for the "sign" to reappear in the cartridge.

Logging requirements

When you complete your adventure by leaving the orchard safely via the sign the cartridge will auto-save and close. If the technology allows, please submit your Wherigo save file for validation to prove that you completed the adventure and did not simply perform a systematic search for the cache. On the cache stash note is a 6 character authentication code. You must key this authentication code into the cartridge to prove you found the cache during your adventure. When you are in the vicinity of the cache, the cache item appears and you can enter the authentication code by clicking on the item. In fact, you cannot complete the cartridge without it. The .GWS file created needs to be uploaded back to the wherigo.com website to unlock the cartridge and prove completion. Each cartridge download is personalised by Groundspeak so you cannot upload someone else's file and claim completion.

We greatly appreciate your feedback to help us determine how simple or complex to make further adventures. The Enchanted Orchard is rated difficulty 5 with good reason. In your online cache log please declare the number of times you met an untimely end, as the "view" from your uploaded log may not tell the whole story. Please feel free to describe the challenges you faced, but please do not reveal the details of the plot.

Wherigo technology permitting, we are sure you'll enjoy this challenge. If you are having technology problems in the field, we will help if we are available. Thus, if you want to be assured of help, please arrange your visiting time with us first.

If you cannot complete the cartridge for technical reasons (as opposed to being unable to follow the plot/story in the cartridge) please upload the .GWL log file or email it to us so we can find out what went wrong and do our best to fix it.


View the ratings for GC1DAAA

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

[Within the constraints imposed by the adventure]

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)