Mystery caches

[+Sambar72]

Hi, total newbie here. Don’t really understand the mystery caches. Was given the hint of using Microsoft excel to convert two sets of dates into coordinates but I’ve no idea where to start! I am so dumb! Help please

[+kunarion]

Here’s a pretty good article to get you started.  Good luck! 

 

https://www.geocaching.com/blog/2018/03/how-to-solve-mystery-caches-also-known-as-puzzle-caches/

[+on4bam]

We can't give solutions but you might try to find info on the way dates are used in excel and look at different formats.

You did ask the CO first, that's a good thing, try to get further with the info given and after a while you can present the CO with what you already did and found and ask for another hint. As you're just starting out I'm sure he/she will help you on your way.

 

In general, look at the mystery's D (difficulty) rating, you might try other mysteries first, easier ones, maybe more difficult ones where you immediately recognize codes or hints.

 

 

 

[+niraD]

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.)

 

If you ask the cache owner for a hint, then be sure to mention the approaches you have tried so far, and the results those approaches have yielded. It can also be helpful to work together with others who are trying to solve the same puzzle. Geocaching events are a good place to meet other geocachers; ask around to see if anyone else is trying to solve the same puzzle(s) as you.

 

Other useful resources include:

• How to solve Mystery Caches (also known as Puzzle Caches) (blog post)
• 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)
• Geocaching Toolbox ("All geocaching tools a geocacher needs in one box.")
• 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)

 

[+frostengel]

12 hours ago, Sambar72 said:

Hi, total newbie here. Don’t really understand the mystery caches.

Was given the hint of using Microsoft excel to convert two sets of dates into coordinates but I’ve no idea where to start! I am so dumb! Help please

 

Hi,

 

I see two different worlds here:

Do you have problems with mysteries at all (I see that you have only found traditional caches so far) or do you have problems with this one special mystery?

 

In the first case on4bam has given you a really important hint: look at the difficulty stars and better start with easy ones (two stars should be easier than four stars).

 

For me the special mystery you mention seems to be a harder one, especially if this is not "your world" (excel, sets of data, ...). So if you are not an excel expert and if you are new to solving mysteries (see Diran's post - what do you expect to find?) then probably this mystery is out of reach for the moment. Perhaps in some time you'll have less problems solving it (not meaning it will be easy).

 

I have solved many, many mysteries but I am not an excel expert either and from your telling I am not sure if I would be able to solve it - that depends of the special riddle, of course. But I know that I can solve mysteries now which would habe been out of reach some years ago - experience will come... :-)

 

Best wishes

Jochen