This cache gives you the opportunity to use what you know about US geography and/or learn some things. (If you hated geography in high school, then you can put this one on ignore - unless your love of finding caches is stronger than your hatred of geography.)
Some answers can be found on any US map. Some will probably require a tool like Google Earth that shows latitude and longitude. (Guessing probably won't work because some of the answers might be rather surprising!) The math is all easy addition and subtraction.
Begin with the last five digits of the posted latitude and treat it as a single five digit number. For each question, add or subtract from that number as instructed next to the correct answer. After answering all questions, use the resulting number as the last five digits of the latitude.
- If you headed straight west from the US 1/I-540 Interchange near Triangle Town Center in North Raleigh, which famous site would you eventually pass through?
- Graceland Mansion in Memphis, TN - Elvis Presley's home (subtract 100)
- Los Alamos National Laboratory in Los Alamos, NM - where the first atomic bomb was developed (add 350)
- The Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, TN - country music's most famous stage (add 200)
- Which is furthest east?
- Los Angeles, CA (add 175)
- Sacramento, CA (subtract 150)
- Reno, NV (add 75)
- If you want to drive from Chicago, IL to Boston, MA without ever leaving the United States, which of these states can you not avoid driving through no matter how far out of the way you go?
- New York (subtract 60)
- Indiana (add 25)
- Pennsylvania (subtract 110)
Use the resulting number as the last five digits of the latitude.
Now do the same with the last five digits of the longitude by answering these questions:
- Which is furthest north?
- Burlington, VT (add 100)
- Minneapolis, MN (subtract 150)
- Portland, OR (add 250)
- If you head directly north from the westernmost point in Florida, which major city would you eventually pass through?
- Detroit (add 175)
- Indianapolis (subtract 225)
- Chicago (add 300)
- If you are halfway between the equator and the Geographic North Pole and also halfway between the prime meridian and the International Date Line, which state are you in?
- Minnesota (subtract 80)
- Wisconsin (add 150)
- Iowa (subtract 30)
Use the resulting number as the last five digits of the longitude.
You can check your answers for this puzzle on Geochecker.com.
Unlike Quiz #1, the challenge isn't over on this one when you've answered all the questions correctly. The terrain and the cache placement are somewhat more difficult than for Quiz #1.
Although this is available 24/7, the terrain will make it tougher in the dark.