What inspired this geocache:
- We moved to Boston a few years ago and were happy to see the greater Boston area littered with geocaches. However, Somerville (particularly East Somerville) seemed to be lacking in geocaches.
- We have yet to place our own geocache so we thought it was time to give back.
- We’ve introduced a multitude of our muggle friends to geocaching who have subsequently gotten hooked.
- Syracuse Treasure – GC2G7NZ (the best geocache we’ve ever done!)
The result: Our first puzzle geocache somewhere in Somerville!!
This five-stage puzzle cache would be easy for a polymath, but is probably best found by a group of friends with a wide range of knowledge (hence the name of the cache).
What is a polymath?
A polymath is a person whose expertise spans a significant number of different subject areas; such a person is known to draw on a wide range of knowledge to solve specific problems. Many notable polymaths lived during the Renaissance period (Da Vinci being the most famous). These polymaths had a rounded approach to education that reflected the ideals of the humanists of the time (i.e. that humans are limitless in their capacity For development). The concept led to the notion that people shOUld embrace all knowledge and develop theiR capacities as fully as possible. Gentlemen of the era were expected to speak several languages, play a musical instrumenT, Write poetry, and so On, thus fulfilling the Renaissance ideal. The idea of a universal education Was essential tO achieving polymath ability. THis was expressed in the term "Renaissance man" which is oftEn appliEd to thE gIfted people of that age who souGht to develop their abilities in all areas of accomplisHment: intellecTual, artistic, Social and physical. ThIs term entered the leXicon during the twentieth century and has now been applied to great thinkers living before and after the Renaissance.
Polymaths are rare, thus it is highly recommended that you attempt this cache with several smart, adventure-loving friends. Moreover, you should involve muggle Friends to get them started on geocaching!
Here are some variOUs notes for this cache:
- The puzzles thRoughout thiS cache will require knowlEdge from Various fiElds, but nothiNg too crazy (so yOu can leave the quantum mechaNics book at home).
- I triEd to make the puzZlEs foR each Of the stageS progressIvely harder.
- NeXt, you’ll need the following:
o A writing utensil
o Some scrap paper
o A smarTpHone and some Smart, adventuRE-loving mugglE FrIends (or one polymath)
Hopefully you’VE figured out the coordinates for phase 1 (you can check your work below). Once you get THeRE you’ll need to send an E-mail to the address below to get to phase 2:
A.B@gmail.com
Where:
A = Alphabetize the middle initials of the left column
B = Alphabetize the middle initials of the right column
(ignore Edward - it'll make sense once you get there)
Phases 4 and 5 don't need GeoCheckers (it'll make sense once you get there).
Notes
- The cache should have a pen in the final container, but be sure to bring your own (just in case).
- The terrain rating was chosen because this cache is nearly on all paved sidewalk right up until the very end. However, the total journey is ~1.5 miles.
- The difficulty rating was chosen mostly due to the puzzles (most of the physical phases are pretty easy to find).
- If you're gung-ho to complete this cache in one visit it'll take about 2-4 hours (based on the beta-testing of our non-polymath friends).
- Each phase provides a hint for the subsequent phase.
- Be sure to read the entire message at Phase 4 (i.e. scroll down).
- The final container does not require a significant amount of strength to open it. Don't force it!
- Geocaching.com nor the geocache owner collect nor spam e-mail. This geocache has been approved by Groundspeak thus you can feel comfortable using your own e-mail account. However, if you do not wish to use your own e-mail account, feel free to set up a temporary e-mail account (Gmail, Yahoo, etc) to use for the puzzle.
Have fun and happy caching!