The idea for this cache was shamelessly co-opted from The Little Pictures, a multi-stage San Jose puzzle cache created by kablooey. It took me three days and more than a little help from Mr. Kablooey to complete the San Jose Little Pictures cache. But I had a great time and I loved that cache - it was total blast and a fabulous way to see downtown San Jose.
It's my hope that the Anchorage rendition of Little Pictures will be just as much fun - and just as fiendish.
Here's how the cache works:
- The posted coordinates are NOT at the first picture. Instead, when you arrive at the posted coordinates you will notice a parking sign. In addition to all the usual parking verbiage, you will see the number 18. Right behind the number 18, on the backside of the sign, you will see a clear little 1" diameter round sticker that has longitude and latitude coordinates written in blue. Those coordinates are the coordinates to the first picture. And by the way, you can see the subject of the first picture about 1/2 block away when you're standing at the ground zero coordinates.
- UPDATE: The parking sign has been removed so, in the interim until I can find a suitable new spot for the coordinates, here are the coordinates for the first picture: N 61 12.939 W 149 52.956
- So, using the coordinates posted on the sign, make your way to the first picture. And as you stand at the first picture, you'll get an idea of how the pictures relate the actual physical item.
- You start at the first picture and navigate your way from picture to picture. The cache is located at the final picture.
- The order of the pictures go from left to right to the end of the first (top) row and then left to right on the next row and so on. Picture #1 is in the top left corner. Picture #5 is in the top right corner. Picture #6 is the left hand most position on the second row. And so on. Picture #25 is in the bottom right corner.
- The cache isn't entitled "Little Pictures" for nothin'. These pictures are little and they're removed from their context. However, other than being resized down down down, they have not been altered in any way.
- With the exception of the distance between pictures 8 and 9, and 20 and 21, no picture is more than 1/2 block away from the previous picture. Of course, you'll have to figure out which direction to go for that next 1/2 block.
- As that old "Yes" song goes: Look Up. Look Down. Look All Around.
- The total path distance from the first picture to the last picture is approximately .8 miles. It's of course, a shorter distance as the corvid flies.
- SAFETY NOTE: Please be careful when crossing streets - especially if you're caching with junior cachers.
- The final cache is at one of my favorite locales. The cache is on the small side but large enough to hold a few trading items and smallish travel bugs. There is a special FTF goodie, donated by the very generous cache hosts. There is also a brand new travel bug who's headed off to Africa, a bendy creature dog thingie, and ladybug #95.
- A hearty thank you to the cache hosts. They're the best.
- This cache would definitely be a lot of fun in a group. I would recommend doing the cache and then repairing to your favorite downtown watering hole (there are so many great ones to choose from!) for a little post geocaching libation!
- When you log your find below, please do NOT give away the cache location.
As an added bonus, after much discussion and brainstorming back and forth with Erik, we hit upon a bit of modification to the "picture scavenger" hunt approach. The modification being: several of the picture locations have a little round sticker nearby that contains the coordinates to the next picture. That seems like that would make this thing that much easier, but finding those little stickers is actually pretty tricky. Here is a list of the picture locations that contain a sticker with the coordinates to the next picture:
At Picture #2 - west side down low.The area where picture #2 is located is undergoing heavy construction.- At Picture #3 - faucet. NOTE: I just discovered that occasionally the faucet can be blocked by various packing items (pallets, etc.) The faucet is almost directly straight down from the pictured item. It's within two feet of the ground.
- At Picture #5 - support post to the right. Down low.
- At Picture #8 - backside of square yellow box. There are actually two stickers on this one - I couldn't peel off the old sticker. So use the sticker on the right.
- At Picture #10 - no hint needed.
At Picture #11 - no hint needed. This area is under construction and the item may have been removed. Proceed to Picture 12. It is on the same block and W and a bit N of Picture 11.- At Picture #12 - no hint needed.
- At Picture #15 - up
- At Picture #16 - 1/3-1/2 block S from #15.
- At Picture #19 - support strut.
- At Picture #22 - no hint needed.
- At Picture #23 - round metal fire hose attachment on wall.
- At Picture #25 - in plain sight!
Below, there is help for those pictures that do not have sticker posted coordinates. I did not put the help into the hints section because the decryption routine couldn't handle formatting - I couldn't keep separate hints on separate lines. So, just pretend that these hints were decrypted and you can decide whether to use them or not.
Hints for pictures without coordinates:
2nd Picture: Metallic Salmon. N. This area is under major construction so proceed to the 3rd picture. The 3rd picture is on the N side and towards the east end of the same block as the first picture.- 5th Picture: WNW.
- 7th Picture: Sidewalk. N.
- 8th Picture: Look up. W.
- 10th Picture: This one is relatively easy. No hint.
- 12th Picture: This one is W and a tad N of the location of Picture 11. The area is NOT under construction.
- 14th Picture: Overhang. W.
- 15th Picture: Look Up. W.
- 18th Picture: Entryway. W.
- 19th Picture: W.
- 20th Picture: The pictured item has been moved (If you want to see it, it has been moved to the west side of the building). To find the 21st picture, stand on the east side of the building and look south. That will get you in the vicinity of #21.
- 21st Picture: Almost a full block. S.
- 22nd Picture: Close. ESE.
- 25th Picture: You're on your own.
A Hearty Congratulations to The Cool Couple for their first ever FTF!!!!
FINAL NOTE: Please email me if you discover stickers that are faded or illegible, if you need extra hints, have problems, or want a recommendation of good bar to swing by as you're working your way to the final cache
Without further ado, here are the pictures. Good luck!!!!!