Mystery Caches

[Patorikku85]

So, I attempted my first Mystery cache today and failed miserably. The post said the coordinates to follow were exact but the exact coordinates put me on flat ground with nothing around me but a bland guard rail (the kind on the streets). I found a QR code in a nearby gazebo that, when scanned with a QR Reader, just takes me back to the cache posting. The posting says that there would be a QR code and it would give me everything I needed to find the cache. When I scanned it, my email popped up and when I entered the address into Google, the posting for the cache popped up. Someone please tell me what I am doing wrong.

[+Manville Possum]

So, I attempted my first Mystery cache today and failed miserably. The post said the coordinates to follow were exact but the exact coordinates put me on flat ground with nothing around me but a bland guard rail (the kind on the streets). I found a QR code in a nearby gazebo that, when scanned with a QR Reader, just takes me back to the cache posting. The posting says that there would be a QR code and it would give me everything I needed to find the cache. When I scanned it, my email popped up and when I entered the address into Google, the posting for the cache popped up. Someone please tell me what I am doing wrong.

 

What is the GC code?

[Patorikku85]

I don't have a picture of it but the code that shows up is GC385F0.

[+cerberus1]

I don't have a picture of it but the code that shows up is GC385F0.

Do you think it fair to the CO, and/or others who may be attempting this cache, to possibly have it solved for all to see here?

Any questions should (really) be asked in an email to the CO.

[Patorikku85]

I don't have a picture of it but the code that shows up is GC385F0.

Do you think it fair to the CO, and/or others who may be attempting this cache, to possibly have it solved for all to see here?

Any questions should (really) be asked in an email to the CO.

 

Ok, three things.

 

1. I am new at geocaching, so give me a little bit of a learning curve.

2. At what point did I ask for specific answers? It rubs off as arrogant to assume I was wanting someone to tell me where the cache was. I asked HOW TO FIND MYSTERY CACHES (specifically how to use QR codes), not for an exact location of a specific one.

3. The CO explained to me how QRs work and I found it on my own accord.

 

Next time, please read what was actually asked. I am new, so is it uncommon for a noob to have questions? I literally had no idea how this one worked, and now I do. I've come across one that had been taken to be replaced and had that one answered. I've had some that the location is so off hardly anyone could find it. Give noobs learning room.

[+kunarion]

I don't have a picture of it but the code that shows up is GC385F0.

Do you think it fair to the CO, and/or others who may be attempting this cache, to possibly have it solved for all to see here?

Any questions should (really) be asked in an email to the CO.

 

Ok, three things.

 

1. I am new at geocaching, so give me a little bit of a learning curve.

2. At what point did I ask for specific answers? It rubs off as arrogant to assume I was wanting someone to tell me where the cache was. I asked HOW TO FIND MYSTERY CACHES (specifically how to use QR codes), not for an exact location of a specific one.

3. The CO explained to me how QRs work and I found it on my own accord.

 

Next time, please read what was actually asked. I am new, so is it uncommon for a noob to have questions? I literally had no idea how this one worked, and now I do. I've come across one that had been taken to be replaced and had that one answered. I've had some that the location is so off hardly anyone could find it. Give noobs learning room.

cerberus1 is correct that the Cache Owner is the one to ask. I'd also suggest placing a log on the cache page. When you Did Not Find it, that's a DNF log by definition. You may opt to make a Note log if you can't even figure out where to start, but in this case DNF is apt. Post the whole story in a log, rather than here. I hope you don't mind the suggestion that the cache page is the place to ask for specific answers about a cache. People new at Geocaching often assume the Forum is the place. Any particular Cache Owner likely doesn't even read the Forum, yet may respond to a log.

 

Each Geocache is placed by a Geocacher, so the person who placed it is the one to ask. See the contact info on the page. I looked at that page, and could only guess, as with plenty of the rest of the readers here. It's in no way your standard QR Code Mystery Cache*. Read the logs, and you'll see that plenty of finders thought so, too. The cache page indicates that the QR code part is supposed to be mysterious, or a surprise. Well... surprise!

 

*Also, there's no such thing as a standard QR Code Mystery Cache. You puzzle-out Mystery caches. That's the Mystery.

Edited April 14, 2016 by kunarion

[Patorikku85]

I don't have a picture of it but the code that shows up is GC385F0.

Do you think it fair to the CO, and/or others who may be attempting this cache, to possibly have it solved for all to see here?

Any questions should (really) be asked in an email to the CO.

 

Ok, three things.

 

1. I am new at geocaching, so give me a little bit of a learning curve.

2. At what point did I ask for specific answers? It rubs off as arrogant to assume I was wanting someone to tell me where the cache was. I asked HOW TO FIND MYSTERY CACHES (specifically how to use QR codes), not for an exact location of a specific one.

3. The CO explained to me how QRs work and I found it on my own accord.

 

Next time, please read what was actually asked. I am new, so is it uncommon for a noob to have questions? I literally had no idea how this one worked, and now I do. I've come across one that had been taken to be replaced and had that one answered. I've had some that the location is so off hardly anyone could find it. Give noobs learning room.

cerberus1 is correct that the Cache Owner is the one to ask. I'd also suggest placing a log on the cache page. When you Did Not Find it, that's a DNF log by definition. You may opt to make a Note log if you can't even figure out where to start, but in this case DNF is apt. Post the whole question on such a cache, rather than here. I hope you don't mind the suggestion that the cache page is the place to ask for specific answers about a cache. People new at Geocaching often assume the Forum is the place.

 

Each Geocache is placed by a Geocacher, so the person who placed it is the one to ask. See the contact info on the page. There may be a hundred finders, with none of them reading this Forum. I looked at that page, and could only guess. It's in no way your standard QR Code Mystery Cache*. Read the logs, and you'll see that plenty of finders thought so, too.

 

*Also, there's no such thing as a standard QR Code Mystery Cache. You puzzle-out Mystery caches. That's the Mystery.

 

Clearly it's difficult to explain to people that I was asking for a generic answer, not a specific location. Again, I am new to this. How am I suppose to know each of the Mystery Caches are different. I assumed from what I have read that Mystery Caches were similar but they were multi-staged, creating the mystery of where they are located. Again, give the noob a break.

[Patorikku85]

How does one delete a thread they started. This one is just going to start arguments and I want to remove it.

[+Manville Possum]

I don't have a picture of it but the code that shows up is GC385F0.

 

Cool, glad that you found it. When I asked for the GC code, that is GC385F0, the geocache ID number. I'm guessing that when you found the QR code near the posted coordinates it gave you some more information on how to find the geocache.

 

That cache is not too far away from me, and I always enjoy finding one of SpongeBob CachePants geocaches.

[+kunarion]

How does one delete a thread they started. This one is just going to start arguments and I want to remove it.

There's a "Report" button at the bottom left of each post. You may click it to request that the thread be closed.

 

I guess you got the answer to how the cache might work. Good luck with it! From the logs, it looks like that cache is more challenging than some cachers expected. Long-time cachers, too.

[Rock Chalk]

Closing thread at OP request.