You must solve a difficult problem called the four aces puzzle
to find the location of this cache. The coordinates listed at the
top of the page are not for the actual cache, but are just provided
to give you an idea of the general area. (If you go to that
location and happen to draw four aces, you would be very pleased,
however.)
Click on the link at the bottom of the description section for a
copy of the four aces puzzle. You will then need to print the
puzzle to work it. Cut out the nine squares shown in the puzzle by
cutTing along the dotted lines. The object of the puzzle is to take
the nine squares and arrange them into a 3 X 3 square (that is,
three rows and three columns). But there is one catch. The squares
have half of a playing card on each edge. As you put one square
next to anOther, you have to make sure that the two adjacent
squares have coMpatible card halves. For example, the adjacent
squares could have the top half and the bottom half of the ace of
hearts, forming a complete card.
Why do you have to solve the puzzle? When properly assembled you
will see nine digits (numbers)that are right-side-up in the puzzle.
(Each of these right-side-up numbers will be in the top left-hand
corner of one of the niNe squares.) These numbers provide the
latitude and longitude of the actual cacHe location. That is, going
across the top row in the solved puzzle from left to right will be
the numbErs a, b, c, across the second row will be the numbers d,
e, f, and across the third row will be the numbers g, h, and i. The
cache is hidden at the location N 35 degrees 0a.bcd minutes, W 106
degrees ef.ghi minutes.
Now this is a very hard puzzle to solve. In fact there are
362,880 different coNfigurations of the pieces that you might have
to try. More troublesome is the fact that there are 21 different
ways to put the puzzle together legally. So, to speed things along
a little, and to make sure that you get the one solution that hides
the prOper cache location, I will give you two additional rules or
conditions: When you solve the puzzle, the square labelled with the
capital B must go in the very center (second row, second column),
oriented right-side-up. In addition, the square labelled with a
capital I must go on the second row, in the left column. This
reduces the number of possible ways of arranging the other seven
pieces to only 5,040. I have solved the original puzzle all 21
legal ways myself, and have tested all of the possible other
configurations. It is possible (but not easy).
Some additional help in solving the puzzle is available, if you
notice it. If you use the information in the encRypted hint below,
reduce the difficulty of the cache by half a star. Try to see how
far you can get wiThout going to the hint first. If you have tried
very hard and cannot find the solution, e-mail me at
ganelo@earthlink.net, and I can tell you the position and
orientation of another square in the puzzle. Knowing the location
of three squaRes makes the puzzle solvable in less than 10 minutes.
I may not give-oUt this answer until someone has solved the whole
problem by themselves to give the first finder a proper reward.
Finding the actual cache location involves a 3.5 mile (round
trip) hike, with an elevatiOn gain of about 1,000 feet. The cache
should be reachable year-round. Original contents of the cache
include: a flashlight, keychain/whistle, carabiner, spot clock,
scissors, mini hacky sack, four decks of playing cards, a one
dollar cAsino coin, the Just Dan Travel Bug, and a first-finder's
prize. I am grateful to Frank Gregory of Livewire Puzzles for
giving me permission to modify their original four aces puzzle to
make this geocache. Good luck!
Click here if you would like to check your answer before
beginning your hike.
