While I browsed the inheritance of my relative who had died
unexpectedly, I realized that he had been an active geocacher. On
his desk I found a
photo showing that, just a few days before passing away, he had
been working on a new mystery cache related to his business as a
locksmith. He had not published the cache yet. I searched through
all his notes, but I could not find more information on this cache.
I had to figure out the puzzle based on the photo alone, and
against all the odds, I could solve the puzzle! Having found the
coordinates to the secret place, I had to go and check whether he
had already installed a container. And yes, I spotted a very nice
box indeed. I wonder if there had been a specific reason to choose
such a container and such a place - or was it just due to
mugglers?
The puzzle introduces a prototype of a simple lock that contains
seven linear bars which can be slided next to each other. The bars
have to be set in a certain manner in order to open the lock, i.e.
to solve the puzzle. Each bar's end has to be aligned with a
certain amber-coloured number, the so-called PIN-value. The
consecutive PIN-values of the seven bars build up a seven-digit
PIN-code. For some unknown reason, the locksmith had chosen a
symmetric PIN-code - in other words the first and the seventh bar
have the same PIN-value, the second and the sixth bar the same
value, and the third and fifth bar the same value. In addition to
the PIN-code, the bars define a number of so-called keys. The keys
are formed by the random-looking digits at the bars, along two or
more of the seven gray lines that are printed on the base of the
lock. Two of these keys reveal the secret coordinates that are of
the form 6324??? and 1028???. I found out that the solution to this
puzzle is unique, in other words there is exactly one combination
of the bars that gives such coordinates.
To make this puzzle even more challenging, only the bar number
one was in the right place and at its correct PIN-value 8. Your
task is to find the right order and the PIN-values for the
remaining six bars. If you succeed, you will find the secret
location of the cache container. Please remember to take the
solution with you to the secret location, you will need it there.
The cache is available during winter, however snow can make the
approach laborious.
The original contents: log book, pencils, and a brilliant FTF
certificate.