There is more to caching than finding Traditional caches - plugging the co-ordinates into the GPS, and then searching for those little bison tubes out in the pines somewhere. Sometimes its nice to have more of a challenge when caching. This is where Puzzle, MultiStage and even WhereIGo type caches come in. They can give you a little more to think about to exercise your mind and keep you awake at night.
So this event is for the people that like to create caches that are a little out of the ordinary. Something that can be a visually oriented, or maybe a logic puzzle, a challenge, or some sort of weird contraption that you have to figure out. If you have ever wanted to create a cache of this type, I am sure that someone can help you out with it.
This is all about the hides and not the finds. Any type of cache is allowed - except plain old Traditional hides (unless they are "field puzzles").
Rules
The Event will be open to anyone and by attending, you will be able to earn your smiley. The only "real" rule is that if you want to win a prize at the event, you have to hide a cache, and the cache has to be some sort of non-traditional cache or field puzzle. If you hide a cache for this event, you may also claim your smiley even if you are not able to attend the event.
Let's keep this somewhere near Saskatoon to start, so it would be nice if caches were within 50 kms of the city. Although if someone in Regina wanted to hide a cache down there and enter it here, that would be fine too.
Create your caches and get them published before the Event Date, and we will keep track of the voting on this page. And have some fun with designing the caches, and maybe even solving the puzzles, completing the challenges and finding the caches.
Prizes
Prizes will be determined by finders and hiders voting on their favorite puzzles. This will be done by posting to this event page, and indicating which cache it is, and what category you are voting in. If you vote multiple times in a category, then the most recent vote is the one that will be counted, so you don't have to go back and edit previous logs.
Most Aggravating Puzzle - which one gave you the most trouble trying to solve?
Cleverest Puzzle - which one did you think had a clever or unusual twist? It does not have to be hard to solve, but something that was well executed.
Funniest Puzzle - which one gave you a chuckle?
Best MultiCache - there could be any number of reasons you like a multicache. Maybe it took you on a scenic walk, or to someplace interesting. Maybe the way the stages were revealed was particularly good.
Best EarthCache - these could take you out in the country somewhere to some unusual location and you might even learn something!
Best WhereIGo - there are not many of these, and you do need either a capable GPS or something like an iPhone. WhereIGo caches could be almost anything - a simple "tour" around town, or a virtual maze or maybe an adventure game.
Most Challenging Challenge - sometimes a puzzle cache is a real challenge to complete. Like finding a cache in every province of Canada, or a cache hidden during each year that geocaching has existed.
Most Inspiring Challenge - is there a challenge that gets you our of the house even when its cold out?
Hider's Favorite - which one do you wish you had thought up?
Overall Favorite - which one do you like for whatever reason?
Examples
If you need some inspiration, take a look at some of these caches. Some are logic puzzles, some are codes, some are more visually oriented. And some I can't figure out what the are.
Movie Mania Central
SASKATOON HERITAGE SERIES I -THE TEMPERANCE COLONY
Jaybird's Cryptex Challenge - Final
Are You The One?
Around the World
Star Wars - The Kessel Run: The finale
Baker's Dozen
2012 Christmas Light Tour - ?
Cache Out
Wanuskewin - Buffalo Rubbing Stone
Fudgy Fest 2012 - Campus Tour