This is a Sudoku Challenge cache. Sudoku
is a numbers puzzle game that uses no math or calculating. It is
simply using the available numbers in a 9X9 grid to complete the
empty spaces in the grid. Each Sudoku puzzle has a unique solution
that can be reached logically without guessing. Enter digits from 1
to 9 into the blank spaces. Every row must contain one of each
digit. So must every column, as must every 3x3 square. Below is an
example picture. The actual challenge puzzles are in the
gallery.
In the gallery images are the two Sudoku
puzzles for this challenge. Each puzzle has three yellow highlited
boxes. These are the correct last three numerals of the North and
West coordinates to be substituted into the coordinates listed
above to find the cache location. The picture captions explain
which Sudoku puzzle are for the North coords and for the West
coords. The coords listed above are only for reference and to find
the general area of the cache. Nothing has been placed
there.
***PLEASE READ THESE
INSTRUCTIONS. THEY ARE IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTANDING THE
CHALLENGE***
For those that are unfamiliar, basic trail
safety says that you should let someone know where you are going
before going hiking. In other words, the general location of where
you would be on a map. This is in case you break a bone or are
knocked unconscious. Also have a FRS radio or reliable cell phone.
Bring at least a 2 quart or 1 liter bottle of water. Have a walking
stick or pole to help keep your balance and to fend off over
curious or hostile creatures. Wear appropriate clothing for the
weather and always a hat and/ or bandana. Hiking boots with socks
are preferable over sandals. And the most important is to know your
limits. It is better to be humble and alive, than bold and broken,
or dead.
This cache can be easy or extremely
difficult to retrieve. Scout the cache area and make an informed
decision before attempting. Same as before. Another camouflaged
micro in the woods. Be vigilant due to my finding bear poop near
where I was going to originally place this one. Once again this is
not a park and grab. You will need a good pair of shoes or hiking
boots and BYOP.
FTF award is another from my foreign coin
collection. Good Luck.
There is a twist to the last three
challenges and the Grand Finale that was intentionally not
anounced. Each of the hard difficulty caches will be a micro with
only a log and a number to the combination lock of the Grand Finale
cache. You read correctly. The Grand Finale is not just a puzzle
cache but also a locked cache. To get the three number combination
you must complete the three previous Hard difficulty Sudoku puzzles
AND find the micro caches to get the combination AND solve the
Grand Finale puzzle to locate the final cache and use the
combination. Finding the Grand Finale cache and not unlocking it
does not allow you to log it as a a find. Anyone just finding the
Grand Finale and not signing the physical cache log will not be
awarded a smiley. This is to ensure participation and also to add a
little more challenge to the "Challenge." As stated in the text of
every previous challenge page, the Grand Finale will be Diabolical
difficulty. I didn't just mean the difficulty of the puzzle either.
The location of the Grand Finale will have no attributes or hints
to give it away.
This is number eight of a series of Sudoku
Challenges placed by Charlie Fingers. The first three are
classified as EASY difficulty. The second three challenges of the
series will be classified as MEDIUM difficulty. The final three,
incuding this one, will be classified as HARD difficulty. As the
difficulty level of the Sudoku puzzles increase, as do the First To
Find awards become more valuable. There will be a "Grand Finale"
number ten Sudoku Challenge that will be classified as DIABOLICAL
difficulty and the FTF award will be revealed once it is placed and
active