Whaa?

July 26, 2015

Ok, so this is a geocache that is very close to my cottage:http://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC14AYG_minerps-100th

It seems cool and I would like to go look for it, but the coordinates lead to the middle of a bridge. As you can see in the images, everyone is holding the container at a well known beach OFF of the bridge. How am I supposed to find the cache if it's not where the coordinates are?

9.2k · July 26, 2015

Ok, so this is a geocache that is very close to my cottage:http://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC14AYG_minerps-100th

It seems cool and I would like to go look for it, but the coordinates lead to the middle of a bridge. As you can see in the images, everyone is holding the container at a well known beach OFF of the bridge. How am I supposed to find the cache if it's not where the coordinates are?

It's a

That means it's a Puzzle/Mystery type cache. YOU have to work out the coordinates to find the cache.

July 26, 2015

Ok, so this is a geocache that is very close to my cottage:http://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC14AYG_minerps-100th

It seems cool and I would like to go look for it, but the coordinates lead to the middle of a bridge. As you can see in the images, everyone is holding the container at a well known beach OFF of the bridge. How am I supposed to find the cache if it's not where the coordinates are?

It's a

That means it's a Puzzle/Mystery type cache. YOU have to work out the coordinates to find the cache.

Yes, I understand that part. The thing is: theres no guiding instructions. What am I supposed to do, guess?

3.8k · July 26, 2015

Ok, so this is a geocache that is very close to my cottage:http://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC14AYG_minerps-100th

It seems cool and I would like to go look for it, but the coordinates lead to the middle of a bridge. As you can see in the images, everyone is holding the container at a well known beach OFF of the bridge. How am I supposed to find the cache if it's not where the coordinates are?

It's a

That means it's a Puzzle/Mystery type cache. YOU have to work out the coordinates to find the cache.

Yes, I understand that part. The thing is: theres no guiding instructions. What am I supposed to do, guess?

Pretty much. That's the point of a puzzle, is to solve it. All the info may very well be on the page, just because it's not obvious doesn't mean it's not there.

9.2k · July 26, 2015

Guidelines for that type of cache state the information required to find the cache should be on the cache page. (Or findable from the cache page)

It's 'Bad Form' to ask for, or give, information on specific ? caches in the forums...

Always worth reading previous logs, and seeing if someone gives another Hint to where the cache is/maybe hidden...

11.6k · July 26, 2015

How am I supposed to find the cache if it's not where the coordinates are?

You need to be in a puzzle-solving frame of mind. Brush up on general Geocache puzzle solving, such as reading the info in this cache series:

http://www.geocaching.com/bookmarks/view.aspx?guid=37f3d8f3-62ba-40ac-b0ef-901807ba9c98

Once you understand the basics, you at least can rule out the more common ways to hide cache info. Some puzzles are so unique, any hint will break the puzzle, even if the actual "decoding" isn't all that tough once you know what to look for. If you love solving a real mystery, those are for you.

For what it's worth, I have no idea what that "puzzle" or solution is, and you may notice that only a couple of logs even mention a puzzle :rolleyes: . My "Unknown Caches" are like that, few people seem to have bothered to "solve" it themselves. Go figure (or in this case, I guess they "go PAF"? )

With a low "D" rating, no hint and no Geochecker... Good luck!

Edited July 26, 2015 by kunarion

1.1k · July 26, 2015

Ok, so this is a geocache that is very close to my cottage:http://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC14AYG_minerps-100th

It seems cool and I would like to go look for it, but the coordinates lead to the middle of a bridge. As you can see in the images, everyone is holding the container at a well known beach OFF of the bridge. How am I supposed to find the cache if it's not where the coordinates are?

It's a

That means it's a Puzzle/Mystery type cache. YOU have to work out the coordinates to find the cache.

Yes, I understand that part. The thing is: theres no guiding instructions. What am I supposed to do, guess?

Many of us treat that symbol as a "skip it - go find something else" indicator.

11.6k · July 26, 2015

Many of us treat that symbol as a "skip it - go find something else" indicator.

+1

Some people prefer a puzzle they understand (such as a Sudoku or whatever), others like a puzzle they've never seen, a real mystery where, "AHA!", the pieces suddenly fall into place. I try a few of the typical ideas, and if nothing pans out, it goes to the bottom of the pile. If I have an epiphany someday, I'll try again. Around here, there are thousands of caches. I'll go find those first. :laughing:

I worked on one "Unknown Cache" for over four years, and kept notes as I obtained new clues. I didn't solve it in the intended way, I used plenty of clues in various cache logs (such as who found what, where and when). Eventually, I decided it had to be hidden somewhere along one particular line of latitude, likely in a certain county park. One final clue, and I was able to narrow it further to a few hundred feet along that line. So I walked that line. :anicute:

15.3k · July 26, 2015

The thing is: theres no guiding instructions. What am I supposed to do, guess?

For many puzzle caches, figuring out what the puzzle is is the first step.

Here are some general puzzle tips (based in part on a puzzle-solving class event presented by The Rat a while ago) that I have posted before:

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)

Calgary Puzzle Solving 101 (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)

LANAKI's Classical Cryptography Course

How to Puzzle Cache (book)