Jrypbzr gb gur svefg CKP Pneq Pngnybt pbzcrgvgvir chmmyr genvy. Guvf vf n pbagrfg bs vagryyrpg, xabjyrqtr, naq perngvir guvaxvat. Vg vf bcra gb nyy, vapyhqvat Zvaq Pnaql rzcyblrrf (naq pvgvmraf bs Crecyrk Pvgl, nygubhtu ubj gurl pna pynvz gur cevmr vf orlbaq zr.) Gur jnl gb jva vf fvzcyr: trg gb gur raq bs gur genvy ol zvqavtug, Cnpvsvp gvzr, Abirzore guvegvrgu. Vs zber guna bar crefba dhnyvsvrf, n jvaare jvyy or fryrpgrq ng enaqbz sebz gubfr ryvtvoyr. Gur cevmr? N sbegl HF qbyyne Nznmba tvsg pregvsvpngr be sbegl (havdhr--ab qhcyvpngrf) Crecyrk Pvgl pneqf. Gur rknpg yvfg bs pneqf jvyy or cerfragrq gb gur jvaare jub pna gura pubbfr gb gnxr gurz be gur tvsg pregvsvpngr.

Gb ortva, tb gb crecyrk pvgl pneq pngnybt qbg pbz fynfu pbagrfg fynfu fgneg qbg ugzy. Rnpu nafjre sebz guvf cbvag bajneq, hayrff bgurejvfr abgrq, hfrf gur fnzr hey, ohg jvgu gur nafjre jbeq ercynpvat "fgneg."

Tbbq yhpx! -Oevna

2005-12-08: I contacted the winner, got a response back, and dropped his cards in the mail. For everyone waiting in beathless anticipation, the winner is Riiick! Because there was more than one person completing the trail, I had to go to "Plan B" which involved selecting a random winner. Instead of doing something high-tech like a little program to generate a random number or an Excel spreadsheet, I went decidedly low tech. I located some old Dungeons and Dragons dice hidden away in the back of a drawer, dusted them off (quite literally; it took a damp towel), made a list of people, then kept rolling and rolling and rolling the dice until I got a number that fell within the list:

Congrats to Riiick and a special congratulations to everyone that finished the trail.

This trail taught me a few things that I will know for next time (if there is a next time--I basically set up the trail as something to do while waiting for the next wave of cards). First, I discovered that shipping a small stack of cards overseas is almost not worth the shipping costs. The next contest will feature a "virtual prize" that can be delivered electronically (or, at the very least, be shipped by a 3rd party that is closer to the destination than I am.) Secondly, several people asked "why an Amazon gift certificate? Why not a Firebox one?" For that, I have to slap my forehead and say "DUH, why didn't I think of that?" I have given out so many Amazon gift certificates in the past and I had not noticed Firebox has "gift vouchers," so now I (and you) know for next time. Thanks to everyone who played!

2005-12-03: It took some time (I have been sick), but a the winner has been notified and an announcement will be made when I get a response. For those wanting to know what the solves were, try out the invisiclues.

2005-12-01: The contest is now closed. A winner will be selected and contacted this evening.

This is a list of people that have completed the trail. Apologies, if I got your name a little incorrect (in a few messages, it was difficult to tell what you wanted as your nickname/pseudonym). Last updated 2005-11-30:
SteveC, snowchyld, e3s6a6, WolverineFan, buzman, mannanin, c1023, doublecross, judderman, Avalix, ER123, Scott, beglee, jDoody, Riiick, Daffy, darklord, Paul, EGo, Lazarus, Josiah, uneasyjd

2005-11-08: In the last couple of days, snowchyld and e3s6a6 found the end of the trail.

2005-11-03: The first person to have successfully completed the trail is SteveC.

2005-11-03: A transcription error was discovered in the final puzzle and has been corrected. It is encouraging to note that 36 people have accessed the page containing the final puzzle.

2005-11-01: A couple of hints have been sprinkled through the pages. 22 unique IP addresses have gotten to the sudoku page; nobody has yet gotten further. Including this page, there are twelve puzzles.