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The Stag at the Pool and the Lion Mystery Cache

Hidden : 1/7/2018
Difficulty:
4.5 out of 5
Terrain:
1.5 out of 5

Size: Size:   micro (micro)

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Geocache Description:


This is a puzzle cache based on Aesop's fable about a vain stag and a hungry lion. The given coordinates are not where you'll find the cache. To find the cache, you'll have to solve the following puzzle:

The Stag came to a clear pool to have a drink but ended up admiring his reflection in the water.

“I am such a fine and noble beast." said the Stag to himself, "My antlers are so large and beautiful and sit atop my magnificent head like a crown."

The Stag was less impressed with his legs, however, and thought it such a shame that a regal beast like himself should have to walk around on such spindly things.

Hidden in the long grass (33 metres away) was the Lion, and he watched the Stag and wished he could catch him and eat him. The Lion knew that if he were to chase the Stag they could both reach the same top speed within the same short time (0 to 54 km/h in 2 seconds) but the Stag could keep at that speed for longer than he could (33 seconds compared to 15 seconds). After this initial burst of speed, both he and the Stag would take the same time (10 seconds) to slow down evenly to an easier pace (18 km/h) that they could then maintain. The Lion had tried several times before to catch the Stag but maybe, he thought, while the Stag was busy admiring himself, he had a good chance.

The Lion burst out of the long grass but it was just one second before the Stag saw him and he too bounded off. Quickly at their top speed, the animals kept the same distance apart though soon the Lion had to slow down and the Stag had achieved a big lead before he too had to relax his pace.

"You shall not eat me for your dinner today, Lion!" bellowed the Stag, and then he passed under a tree with several low branches which tangled with his antlers and brought him to a sudden stop. In this way, the Lion (after he had been running for exactly two and a half minutes) was finally able to catch the Stag and make a meal of him.

"What a fool I have been!" thought the Stag just before the Lion caught him, "If only I had spent less time admiring these treacherous antlers and more time appreciating these legs that were carrying me to safety!"

Moral: Ornaments are less important than those things which are really useful.

You will find the cache at N37 58.XXX E23 42.YYY where XXX and YYY are, respectively, the lengths (in metres) of the lead that the Stag had over the Lion and the total distance he had ran from the pool, before his antlers got caught in the tree.

The cache is a magnetic nano, and you will need to bring your own pencil for signing the logbook. As the area can be busy, please be discreet when locating the cache and when hiding it again.

W (a.k.a. DidianRay)


You can validate your puzzle solution with certitude.

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Gbc bs gur srapr va gur pbeare

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)