answering the mystery caches?

[+dogpaws4ever]

Hi All,

I just started Geocaching at the beginning of July and I am from the OLDER generation. (by the way this is an awesome sport)

Anyway, located near my home are some mystery caches and I thought I would try my hand at them.

Found the coordinates with the questions...but how do I answer them on my phone? And do I answer them on the phone or is there something else I am suppose to do?

I am so confused.

Rhonda (aka: dogpaws4ever)

[+Mn-treker]

Hi All,

I just started Geocaching at the beginning of July and I am from the OLDER generation. (by the way this is an awesome sport)

Anyway, located near my home are some mystery caches and I thought I would try my hand at them.

Found the coordinates with the questions...but how do I answer them on my phone? And do I answer them on the phone or is there something else I am suppose to do?

I am so confused.

Rhonda (aka: dogpaws4ever)

The posted Coords on the page may not be the real coords.

You need to figure out the answer to the puzzle to get those.

Also some ? geocaches are challenges. These types are at posted coords but you have to do something before logging the find.

 

For puzzle types when you get the correct coords

You just need to alter the coords that are on the page.

Then send that to your GPS unit or phone.

[+Touchstone]

Found the coordinates with the questions...but how do I answer them on my phone? And do I answer them on the phone or is there something else I am suppose to do?

 

It sounds like you have the Final cache coordinates. If this is the case, then you merely need to go to the coordinates that you derived from answering the questions on the Listing page and find the cache and sign the logbook/sheet. Nothing else is needed in order to post a Find on the Listing page.

 

One of the nearby Listings that is close to your most recent Finds appears to have a couple of Stages, so that might require a bit more work to find the Final.

 

Good luck!

[+Chief301]

What device are you using? And if it's a phone app, which app? Once you figure out the final coordinates you will have to have a way to input and navigate to those new coordinates. Most geocaching apps have this function, so if you let us know which phone/app you are using we can probably help you with the rest.

[+Bear and Ragged]

Unless it's a Challenge cache, all you need to do is workout the 'correct' coordinates, then go and find the cache and sign the log. Then log it online!

[+Lieblweb]

Do you mean.....

 

You've figured out the final coordinates - but you need to get them into your phone?

 

What kind of phone are you using and what App are you using?

[+niraD]

If you have solved the puzzle, and are trying to navigate to the coordinates produced by the solution, then see one of the following Help Center articles:

 

How do I create an Additional Waypoint on the iPhone app?

How do I create an Additional Waypoint? (on the Android app)

 

If you haven't solved the puzzle yet, and are looking for advice on solving puzzle caches, then see the advice below (which I've posted before).

 

If it's something else, then please explain in more detail what you're trying to do and what difficulties you're having.

 

--

 

According to section 2-D of the geocaching.com terms of use, "You agree not to: [...] xxiii. Publish on our websites the solutions, hints, spoilers, or any hidden coordinates for any geocache without consent from the geocache owner.” However, here are some general puzzle tips (based in part on a puzzle-solving class event presented by The Rat a while ago):

 

Identify the theme. Check the cache title, the hint, the HTML source, the graphics (including names/URLs), any links (including URLs), whatever is at the posted coordinates, etc. If you can figure out the theme, then you should look for numbering systems that are associated with that theme (zip codes, athletes’ jersey numbers, episode numbers, product codes, etc.).

 

Around here, coordinates will have 15 digits, and will look like "N 37° xx.xxx W 122° xx.xxx". So when I'm solving a nearby puzzle, I look for a group of 15 things, and then I look for ways to get the digits 37xxxxx122xxxxx from them. In general, I look for ways to get the number 37 (or the digits 3 and 7) from something near the beginning of the puzzle, and the number 122 (or the digits 1, 2, and 2) from something near the middle of the puzzle. (Of course, you'll need to adjust this for the coordinates near you.)

 

Other useful resources include:

Puzzle Solving 101 Series (bookmark list)

Puzzle Shortcuts Series (bookmark list)

Solving Puzzle Caches (online article)

How Do I Solve All These $@! Puzzle Caches? (tutorial-style puzzle cache)

Puzzle FUNdamentals (archived event cache) and the Puzzle FUNdamentals resources on the GeocacheAlaska! education page

The GBA's Puzzle Cache FAQ (for puzzle designers, but useful for understanding how puzzle caches work)

 

If you’re interested in extremely challenging puzzles, then consider the online discussions of Venona’s ACTIVITIES in the GBA forums. The puzzles for this annual event are very challenging, intended to be solved by multiple people working together online. (You'll need to register on the GBA site to view these forum threads.)

Overview: Venona's 2011 ACTIVITIES

Overview: Venona's 2012 ACTIVITIES