Skip to content

Arkansas' Lonely Cache Challenge Mystery Cache

Hidden : 10/4/2011
Difficulty:
4.5 out of 5
Terrain:
4 out of 5

Size: Size:   small (small)

Join now to view geocache location details. It's free!

Watch

How Geocaching Works

Please note Use of geocaching.com services is subject to the terms and conditions in our disclaimer.

Geocache Description:

This is a challenge cache, it IS at the posted coordinates, but you must first fulfill certain prerequisites before you can log it as "Found".

Some caches, like the thousands of PnGs, get found regularly. Other caches don’t get found for long periods of time – if ever. Typically these lonely caches are older caches that are either located in remote areas w/challenging terrain, are seasonably accessible, or are more difficult puzzles or multis – or even combinations of the above. They don't pump up your numbers, but these caches do create great memories.

Hike a quiet mountain trail, and you'll long remember the crisp air, curious wildlife, and magnificent views. Go places you've never been before on bikes, quads, or kayaks. Strap on climbing gear or snowshoes, the effort will make it memorable. Lonely caches are the ones you have to earn. Watch out, though! Once you find your first lonely cache, you might become addicted. Those lampskirts will pale in comparison, and geocaching will never be the same.

The Challenge:

To qualify for logging this cache you must seek out and find enough lonely caches to accrue 50 lonely points. The good news is that the more lonely a cache has been, the more points it is worth. (see scoring system below)

The Rules:

1. Lonely time is measured in six full calendar month intervals. This means a cache logged as found on January 15, 2010 then found again on July 14, 2010 does not count.
2. It must be a physical cache with a log. (No virtuals, earthcaches, etc.)
3. Caches you have already found DO count towards your total so you might not be starting at zero, However:
4. At least one of your qualifying caches must be found after the publication of this cache, even if you already have enough points.
5. You must post a list of qualifying caches and the dates you found them with your log entry.
6. The caches do not have to be in Arkansas.
7. Because I will be verifying lonely points on-line, finds not logged on-line do not interrupt the lonely period. If you seek out a cache last logged on-line more than six months ago and discover that someone signed the log a month back and never logged their find, the cache still qualifies. However, beware of late loggers. If the cacher comes back on-line and logs their find late it will disqualify that cache. Double check your list of finds on the date you log this cache. If you have fulfilled the prerequisites and aren't going to find the cache for a while you may "lock in" your qualifers by posting a note with your find list, then log the find when you actually go out and find this cache.
8. No double "found it" logs. If you found a cache two years ago and it hasn't been logged since you cannot re-log it for points or so that it counts for rule 4. This also applies to editing the log date.

Scoring:

A cache first becomes lonely when it hasn't been found for at least six months. For every six months it remains lonely the more points it becomes worth on a triangular scale. For those not familiar with triangular numbers it goes like this: T3=1+2+3, T5=1+2+3+4+5, etc.

When broken down by months it would mean:

06 Months = 1
12 Months = 3
18 Months = 6
24 Months = 10
30 Months = 15
and so on....

There is a 2x modifier for caches with 5 star terrain rating and another 2x modifier for being FTF on a lonely cache (as measured from the published date.) This means if your are FTF on a terrain 5 cache published 25 months ago, that find is worth 40 points. (2x2x10)

If you cache as part of a team and you all find a lonely cache together you may all use it as a qualifier. However, a team find negates the FTF bonus for everyone except the first to log it!

The difficulty rating on this cache is for the challenge, the actual cache is probably about 2-star, the terrain is all it's own. Please put it back like you found it, and remember your Leave No Trace ethics in the wilderness.

If you have any questions just send a messge.

Placed with permission of Pinnacle Mtn. State Park, State Parks Permit# 93011-01

FTF honors go to ORR!

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Sng Zna'f Zvfrel

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)