ZIP Mystery Cache

Before you decide to do this cache, please check the ratings for the terrain and be aware that you need to be physically willing and able to handle a steep ascent and descent. It is not a walk in the park.

This Puzzle Cache also has all the features of a Letterbox, so for local Letterboxers, please bring along your supplies. I thought Missoula could definitely use another Puzzle/Letterbox and wanted to make it an adventure.

I have come to like zip lining, having tried it many times on Big Mountain in Whitefish, and in the rainforest in Costa Rica. Zip lining, even imaginary, might be a good way for cachers to zip across Missoula for a quick glimpse of what life here has to offer.

Getting to the ZIP cache you will definitely ZIP across Missoula both physically and virtually, but first you need to do some research. To answer the questions, you may find it helpful to use a map of Missoula, online resources, and possibly the satellite views of Missoula and the surrounding area provided on Geocaching.com. Questions may lead you to areas you may need to visit in order to come up with the answers, or to places you may want to visit, such as museums. If you are local, you will know many of the answers to these questions already. If you are not local, you could always ask someone who is. Missoulians are very friendly and could be a great resource.

Once you have answered the questions, you will use some of your answers to calculate a waypoint which will lead you to a stage which has a small container with a clue. It is not near the cache and is not the cache. This is the point where you will need to plan to ZIP across Missoula. The plastic container holds the clue (in an unusual form which you will need to decipher) to the set of coordinates for the final container.

The actual ZIP cache is an ammo can. The cache contains a log book which you can sign as a geocacher or you can put your stamp in it if you are Letterboxing. I look forward to seeing your individual stamps. The cache has a large ziplock bag of items that can be traded. That bag is clearly marked. PLEASE DO NOT REMOVE THE LOG BOOK OR THE BOX WITH THE LETTERBOX STAMP. You will need to provide your own ink for your stamping. There are pencils in the box for signing the log.

Do not mark this cache found if you only found the container with the clue.

So, without further ado, grab your harness, trolley, and add a bit of adrenaline. Hop on the line and start zipping over Missoula.

Question 1 There is a place quite unique in Missoula where you can take your whole family. You can choose to walk on nature trails, feel the actual weight of an antler, stand next to a huge predator, feel the pelts of various animals, and learn about tracks. Interactive exhibits will provide you with audio and visual experiences about wapiti (Cervus Canadensis). This place is often known by its initials.

What are those letters? __ __ __ __

Question 2 This place in Missoula was designed by consultants and architects to provide a mythical, magical experience for children. It is located in a beautiful park. This architectural structure sports the face of a legendary creature with serpentine characteristics. (Near that location you may also see many Equus ferus cabbalus of various colors behaving strangely in that they constantly go in circles.)

What is the name of this mythical place so many children enjoy?

__ __ __ __ __ __    __ __ __ __ __ __

Question 3 French fur trappers referred to this area of entry to Missoula as “Porte d’Enfer,” translated as “the gates of hell.” It was given this name because the valley’s very narrow entrance was littered with human bones from many conflicts. Over many years this narrow area was used as a travel corridor by the Blackfeet, Shoshone, Pend d’Oreille, Kootenai, and Salish Native American tribes in their search for bison and later by trappers and settlers.

Today this entrance to our valley is known as what?

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __    __ __ __ __ __ __

Question 4 While entering the Missoula Valley at the “Porte d’Enfer,” looking to your right you will see a very large consonant.

What is this letter? __

There are horizontal lines across this mountain. The lines are very geologically significant as they are the ancient shorelines of Glacial Lake Missoula.

Question 5 While entering the Missoula Valley from East Missoula, to your left high atop a mountain there is a tower I hiked to and photographed just for you. It is pictured in the photo gallery along with a view of the valley I took from the tower.

What is the name of the mountain this tower rests upon?

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __    __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __

This mountain is connected to another well-known mountain which is the jumping point for many area hang gliders.

What is the name of this mountain?

__ __ __ __ __    __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __

Question 6 While still entering the Missoula Valley through the same canyon, looking to your left you will see several high-rise buildings across the river which should warrant a visit. The name of this institution has a long name, but is often referred to only by its initials.

What are those initials? __ __

Question 7 When you visit the best-known institution of higher learning in Missoula you will stand within a geometric shape facing a large timepiece. The shape of this area is commonly known in Missoula as what?

The  __ __ __ __

Question 8 Standing in the center of the shape in Question 7, look behind the large timepiece letting your eyes zigzag upward. You should notice a very large object constructed of aggregate, binders, and water.

What do we call this?

The __

Question 9 In 1877 this area was set up to protect settlers. In 1975 a museum was established to protect its rich history. It is worth a trip to this beautiful historical area. While you are there you may also want to log a very diverse collection of geocache types. Looking for the caches will help you get an overall feel for the area and its history.

What is the name of this area?

__ __ __ __    __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __

The structures at this area once housed over 1,200 internees, who referred to the fort as "Camp Bella Vista." They were put to work in the local area until 1944, when they were released.

What was their nationality?

__ __ __ __ __ __ __

Question 10 Take a little stroll in the historic downtown district of Missoula. There are several bridges with walking paths on each side. On Broadway Street you will see the beautiful Missoula County Courthouse, which was completed in 1910. Downtown Missoula has many historic buildings, interesting shops, and wonderful restaurants. There is now an ever-increasing interest in brewpubs and you will not be disappointed. You will find wonderful theaters, you can enjoy music indoors or in the park, and First Friday is an opportunity to visit local galleries. Local art is located everywhere in Missoula, including our beautiful traffic signal boxes. Broadway Street is crossed by North Higgins Ave. If you travel north on Higgins it will come to an inevitable end. At this end, you will encounter an objet d’art well-known to most Missoulians. This piece of art represents tall trestles across canyons. It is loved by some and not so loved by others. It has become a landmark for giving people directions in the downtown area and is at the entrance to our local farmers market. Though it represents tall trestles, it is more commonly known as a repeating letter.

What is this letter? __

What color is this piece of art? __ __ __

How many times was this letter repeated? __

FYI – Find the square root of this number. That answer will be the number of times you should see the same letter, in greatly expanded form, from the final cache site.

Question 11 Zipping across town on I-90 from East to West, there is an important interchange. Continuing straight will eventually lead you to the Pacific Ocean. Taking a right just outside of town will lead you to Glacier Park and other points north. This is an area with a name that sounds like a “letter” if you hear it. It is referred to in ways like “out by the ____”.

How is this area spelled?

__ __ __

What letter would you hear? __

Question 12 Continuing West on I-90 without turning North at the area in Question 11, you will soon come to yet another large letter to your right. This area has a wonderful State Park you will see from the highway. It has bass, sunfish, turtles, kayakers, swimmers, fishermen, and geocachers.

What large letter do you see? __

Missoula has it all—running, walking, biking, hiking, skiing, fishing, hunting, folfing, birdwatching, surfing (yes, surfing at Brennan’s Wave), supping, kayaking, whitewater rafting, etc. etc. etc., and best of all – it has geocaching!

Hopefully you have enjoyed your first quick ZIP across Missoula. Now, on to the next!!!

Now that you have collected all your answers on your trip across town, it is time to find the next stage of this puzzle which is your clue box. Using the answers to your questions, you can figure out the coordinates to that stage using the following key.

COORDINATES TO THE NEXT STAGE (CLUE BOX)

.

A = The first initial in Question 1 stands for a word with how many letters? Then subtract one.

B = How many letters are in the alphabet before the 4th letter of the 1st word in the answer to Question 2?

C = number of letters in the shape named in Question 7 plus 5

D = number of letters in the 1st word of the answer to Question 3 that are consonants, plus 3

F = number of letters in the answer to Question 12

J = zero

G = number of letters in the 1st answer to Question 11 plus the square root of the 3rd answer to Question 10

H = number of words in the first answer to Question 9

Enjoy your trip to the clue box. At this box you will actually hold the lines. (No harness or trolley required.) Those lines are the clues to your final coordinates and they must be left in that box when you leave. You will also need to know what are considered reasonable coordinate readings for this area and the usual format. Paper and a writing utensil are recommended for this stage. Inside the clue box you will find a parking coordinate, which should give you a good starting location for your journey as you zip off to the final cache.

I hope you enjoy your search and this new Puzzle cache.

Good Luck!!!