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127 [Brass in Pocket] Mystery Cache

This cache has been archived.

Galileo the cat: The final location for this cache was beside a flood control pumping station that was being upgraded over most of the last year. The work is still going on. It’s quite likely that that original location will be significantly altered. We temporarily moved the cache to another spot nearby, but that one isn’t really too good either. So regretfully, it’s time to archive this one.

Thanks to all who found or solved it.

SOLUTION
The solution to the puzzle is to find benchmark 127 on the Santa Clara Valley Water District’s “Vertical Control Network” database. This network is an array of points whose elevation with respect to sea level is watched for flood control purposes. The database is easily accessed, though it’s not well behaved for all browsers. Listening to the Pretenders’ song is optional.

Santa Clara valley’s history of land subsidence over the last 150 years is well documented and it’s good that someone is keeping an eye on it. Other Vertical Control Networks are around, in quite a few places.

More
Hidden : 2/3/2013
Difficulty:
2.5 out of 5
Terrain:
1.5 out of 5

Size: Size:   other (other)

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Geocache Description:

The cache is not at the posted coordinates, but is within two miles. It is a micro cache, hidden in a common manner.

We find all sorts of curious things along the trails, streets, and creeks. Here is an unknown cache to share one curiosity we often stumble across, sometimes literally if our noses are pasted to the GPS arrow.

We hope the tools you discover and use to find this cache attract some interest to these odd spots around here. Also, perhaps someone can answer a question: exactly who is behind the vast Vertical Control Network?

[Note- Certitude will give credit for approximate coordinates. Depending on how you solve this your numbers may differ slightly from ours. You may not need even need a verification tool.]

Update 7/9/2022 The original location is in a construction area, and the work is supposed to continue until November, 2022. The cache location was moved a short distance. Enter the original location solution into Certitude and the new coordinates and an updated hint will be provided.

Update 8/15/2020 The most usable resource for determining the coordinates is still available, though is is a bit fussy about browser choice. On laptop or desktop computers Google Chrome with javascript enabled will work, Firefox is giving us problems.

Congratulations to lmt000 for FTF


You can validate your puzzle solution with certitude.

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

[Puzzle]QJIPF [Hide] tenl zntargvp xrlubyqre ng onfr bs pnoyr fuvryq ba cbyr

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)