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Geohashing Challenge Mystery Cache

Hidden : 8/10/2013
Difficulty:
3.5 out of 5
Terrain:
2.5 out of 5

Size: Size:   small (small)

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Geocache Description:


No the title isn't mis-spelled, this is indeed a geohashing challenge. A geohash is computed using the algorithm below:

The cache is not at the posted coordinates, but is placed within two miles and I was at a geohash point while placing the cache. You should be able to figure out the coordinates based upon that information.

The Challenge
Geohashing is meant to be a sort of spontaneous adventure generator. Every day's locations are different and the effort required to reach the locations can vary greatly. In order to complete this challenge and log this as a find, you must find a geocache within 1km of any of that day's geohash locations. In other words, the date that you visit the geocache must match that used in the geohashing algorithm and that point must be within 1km of the cache visited. Note that every lattitude/longitude combination has a corresponding geohash location and that for every day there are thousands of different geohash locations throughout the world (64,800 to be exact).

  • Previous finds can count as long as they correspond to geohash location for the day that cache was found. The algorithm allows one to calculate geohash locations back in time.
  • Re-visiting a previously found geocache that is <1km from any particular day's geohash and posting a suitable note is acceptable.
  • Indicate in your log the qualifying geocache visited, the associated geohash location and the distance between. This should be in the format GC*****, YYYY-MM-DD:LAT:LON, Distance.

The Cache
Since the concept of Geohashing originated from the webcomic, xkcd, I felt it appropriate to leave a bunch of xkcd swag in the cache. The cache container is a painted olive jar hidden among the brush/rocks. Enjoy your random adventure!

Hall of the Victorius
Kudos to all who complete this geohashing challenge.

Geocacher Hash-point Geocache ID Distance between Comments
FTF Mr. Waldo 2013-08-23:32:-107 GC38EAJ 710m Out and back trip to remote desert location. Did not visit the hash-point
2,3 Updraft58, GPSmen 2013-08-26:31:-106 GC4GCBX 386m Also visited the hash-point in NE El Paso suburb, right off MLK Jr Blvd. A few other caches are within 1km too, but this one is the closest.
4 The Marauders 2013-09-25:32:-106 GC1TTTF 710m Also visited the hash-point out in the mesquite scrub. Nice job finding a collision with a puzzle cache solution.
5,6 Sexyboo, goarmymo 2013-09-30:32:-106 GC19GCX 600m Urban Las Cruces, a couple other caches would qualify but at further distances
7 Fugads 2014-07-27:36:-84 GC3EKBM 650m The qualifying cache for this challenge is in Oliver Springs, TN
8 The Cache Outlaws 2016-04-06:37:-93 GC4DYJX 365m The qualifying cache for this challenge is near Stockton, MO
9 Birddroppings 2016-11-07:31:-106 GC51885 815m The qualifying cache for this challenge is in East El Paso, TX
10 Team2002 2017-03-12:32:-110 GC6ZPP0 461m An urban cache hide in Tucson AZ.
11 allenmabry 2017-05-06:33:-96 GC4ZATN 146m Located near the towns of Allen and McKinney TX

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

jnxn jnxn jvxv

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)