+Hoppingcrow Posted April 29, 2005 Share Posted April 29, 2005 I've found two, didn't notice anything particularly mysterious about either of them, other than wondering what the question mark signifies. Could someone please explain to me what makes a "mystery" cache different from the ordinary kind? Thanks! Quote Link to comment
+El Diablo Posted April 29, 2005 Share Posted April 29, 2005 It's a cache that you really don't know what you are looking for. It could be a puzzle cache that you solve and it leads you to the cache, or it could be a multiple cache, or just about anything else. El Diablo Quote Link to comment
+sbell111 Posted April 29, 2005 Share Posted April 29, 2005 (edited) If we told you, it wouldn't be a mystery! Generally, it means that the coords don't mean anything. Edited April 29, 2005 by sbell111 Quote Link to comment
+Geo Dee Posted May 11, 2005 Share Posted May 11, 2005 (edited) Since some cachers may only download cache coordinates to their GPSrs without reading their associated description pages, it can be used as a flag to cachers that they need to read the page. Here's an example of such a cache. Edited May 11, 2005 by Geo Dee Quote Link to comment
+Thot Posted May 11, 2005 Share Posted May 11, 2005 (edited) I've found two, didn't notice anything particularly mysterious about either of them, other than wondering what the question mark signifies. I agree. I've run into some in my area where the only thing mysterious was why it wasn't called a regular cache. Edited to add: In one case I asked the owner why it way a mystery cache and got no reply. Edited May 11, 2005 by Thot Quote Link to comment
+Jeep_Dog Posted May 11, 2005 Share Posted May 11, 2005 (edited) From the guidelines: "The only commonality of this cache type is that the coordinates listed are not of the actual cache location but a general reference point, such as a nearby parking location. " Yes, it is usually a puzzle cache, which causes confusion on mystery caches that are not puzzles. One of my caches is a mystery cache, and on several on-line logs I got a "sheesh, this feels like a multi." They didn't get a "puzzle," so hence it must be a multi. There may be a couple of reasons why you didn't see much difference on the mystery caches you visited. On my mystery, I have a back-up for cachers to solve the cache in case the actual clue gets muggled or disturbed, and it is in a muggle high-traffic area, so this happens quite a bit. That way I don't have to disable the cache on and off, I just modify directions on the page. When the cache is in "back-up" mode, it certainly feels more like a multi, but really still isn't a "true" multi since the posted coordinates won't get the cacher anywhere near the cache or the first "point" for the multi, they are truly just a "reference" point. Hence, the designation as a multi... Edited May 11, 2005 by Jeep_Dog Quote Link to comment
+ODragon Posted May 11, 2005 Share Posted May 11, 2005 I tend to feel if I have to do any work before I get to the cache, it's a puzzle cache. Doing math at a cache site isn't too puzzlish to me. Quote Link to comment
+AtoZ Posted May 11, 2005 Share Posted May 11, 2005 Looking at the two mystery cache that you have done by NWClimber he has MISLABLED them they are NOT mystery caches persay. A mystery cache has some aspect of it you have to figure out as part of doing the cache. cheers Quote Link to comment
+ODragon Posted May 11, 2005 Share Posted May 11, 2005 Looking at the two mystery cache that you have done by NWClimber he has MISLABLED them they are NOT mystery caches persay. A mystery cache has some aspect of it you have to figure out as part of doing the cache.cheers Def mislabeled. Those should have both been regulars. Quote Link to comment
+Jeep_Dog Posted May 11, 2005 Share Posted May 11, 2005 (edited) Looking at the two mystery cache that you have done by NWClimber he has MISLABLED them they are NOT mystery caches persay. A mystery cache has some aspect of it you have to figure out as part of doing the cache.cheers Looking at the cache descriptions I agree that this is highly probable. However, we don't really know for certain if we haven't visited the cache. It is possible the posted coordinates are not the location of the cache and not a true multi, either. I did notice on one of the caches a new cacher stated the "cache is not at the posted coordinates." That could indicate there is more to the cache than meets the eye in reading the description. Doubtful, but possible anyhow, that's why I stuck to answering the OP's question using the cache guidelines as to what constitutes a mystery cache as opposed to commenting on the caches in question. Edited May 11, 2005 by Jeep_Dog Quote Link to comment
+Criminal Posted May 11, 2005 Share Posted May 11, 2005 Mystery Cache: Any cache that has you wondering what synapse misfired and caused you to waste valuable time looking for it. They are often called “micros”. Quote Link to comment
+Thot Posted May 11, 2005 Share Posted May 11, 2005 It is possible the posted coordinates are not the location of the cache . . . A cache I consider one of the more interesting I've done was not at the posted coordinates and the cache sheet did not explain that. It was before I knew what I was doing to I had no preconceived ideas about what to expect, so I was open to anything and able to solve it. Today I might not have solved it because I would expect it to say if the posted coordinates were meaningless. Quote Link to comment
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