Crossing Green Lake Multi-Cache
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(micro)
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If you like words and math, this one is for you. However, I assure you that this is not a walk in the park.
Take a leisurely stroll around beautiful Green Lake as you collect clues that will lead you to the cache. The full distance of 3.2 miles can be shortened if you can guess the location of the points of interest and drive from point to point.
You can start anywhere, but it’s easiest if you start at the community center (coordinates above) and head south. As you walk, examine the brass plaques in front of the park benches (not picnic benches) throughout the park. You will need to locate four specific benches and mark their coordinates with your GPS. The benches you want to find will have plaques that contain one of the five-letter sequences given below. The letters must appear on the plaque in the same order without any letters in between, but may span more than one word. For example, “PYTRA” is found in “Happy Trails.”
WP1 has the plaque that contains “OFQUE”
WP2 has the plaque that contains “KSOST”
WP3 has the plaque that contains “EYZMO”
Note: WP3 was rebuilt without the original plaque. Use N47 40.320 W122 20.603.
WP4 has the plaque that contains “ILYTH”
[[[ If you have trouble finding one of the benches, email me and I'll give you some help.]]]
You will find three of matching plaques on the paved path and another a grassy knoll overlooking the path. (WP4 one has a duplicate match elsewhere in the park. Ignore the duplicate and use the one on the grassy knoll.)
Next, determine the coordinates of Point X, where the line between WP1 and WP3 crosses the line between WP2 and WP4. Do this in any way you can, by using a map or algebra or a carefully drawn graph, for example. The more accuracy you achieve, the more focused your next search can be.
Search along a bearing of 36.5 degrees (east of true north) from Point X until you find “EST” located exactly 24 inches from another “EST” both written in brass but not on a plaque. The spot you want is on dry land within the park boundaries. A small container with a puzzle you need you need to solve is hidden above eye level within 30 feet the EST waypoint.
The EST Puzzle is an addition problem with 9 different letters and a few repeats.
Replace each of the 9 different letters with a one-digit number 1-9, no duplicates and no zero.
It is OK to repeat numbers when letters are repeated. The sum of numbers must add correctly.
Finally, make a table of digits 1-9 each with is assigned letter.
Here is a formula that gives the coordinates of the final hide.
North 47 degrees 40 point [N - R] [S + A] [G + D] minutes
West 122 degrees 20 point [C - D] [N - S] [R - D] minutes
Remember that none of the letters in brackets above can be a zero.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Orapurf: Frnepu arne cynprf jvgu nooerivngvbaf FFF, XJC, FPP, naq OUGCY, sbhaq va guvf beqre nf lbh tb PJ sebz gur PP.
RFG Jnlcbvag: Ernpu hc vagb xabg.
Svany: Svany vf n zntargvp Ovfba pncfhyr uvqqra bhg bs fvtug, ybj ba gur ynetr srapr cbfg gung nohgf gur rnfg fvqr bs gur tngr.