Winter Caching Game #6 Event Cache

Saskatchewan Winter Caching Game SIX.

Again, this will be similar to the previous Winter Caching Games.

What is the Winter Cache Game?

The Winter Cache Game is a fun competition to get you out of the house during the chilly days of winter. Designed for all Saskatchewan cachers, the objective is to complete any 10 of the game requirements for finding or placing caches during the 2 months that the game runs. There are prizes to be won!

This is not a race. Some requirements have a higher (or lower) score than others. Read the requirements carefully and choose wisely. You are seeking points, not claiming the requirements first although there is danger in waiting too long. Even if you can't get the high score, cunning strategy may result in a prize. Last year, most everyone was lucky enough to win some sort of prize!

In order to claim a smiley for this event, you must either complete all 10 claims, or attend the wind up event, or both.

To claim requirements for the Winter Cache Game, caches found can be from anywhere in the world - even Antarctica. This game is not limited to caches located in Saskatchewan. However the Winter Cache Game is limited to cachers who live in Saskatchewan with the exception of those cachers who reside in Lloydminster as it is the border city.

I will attempt to contact you in the event of any confusion, however, I may ignore any claims that do not meet the requirements.

If you have any doubts about whether a cache is suitable, contact me before claiming it. I will try to find a way to say yes, so lateral thinking is encouraged.

You can only score bonuses while you have requirements to fulfill.

Standings As Of February 1 2014

First High Score: sasktravelbugs 326.25

Second High Score: Tackpee 248.0

Average Score (117.1): Hurleyanne 114.25

Low Score: SuperSonic 15.25

19 people finished the game. Total scores = 2225.25

Bonuses Section

Requirements Section

Full Rules

1. Game runs from Saturday December 1st, 2013 through to 11:59 pm Friday January 31st 2014.

2. Register in the thread to let me know you're playing, the sooner the better.

3. Fulfill any 10 of the requirements listed below after the start of the game. No more than 10 requirements can be logged. No fewer than 10 requirements may be logged unless thou then proceed to 10.

4. Caches you claim for the game must be logged on www.Geocaching.com after the start of the game.

5. Caches must be claimed within 7 days of your task date and before the end of the game. The post must clearly state which requirement is being claimed and how the cache meets the requirement. Post your claims on this cache listing page.

6. Claims must be made on caches published before the start of the game December 1st, 2013. Caches hidden for claims which require cache hides must be published before 11:59 pm January 31st, 201 unless the requirement states otherwise.

7. Each requirement must be claimed against a cache previously unfound by you.

8. Each requirement must be claimed against a different cache unless the requirement states otherwise.

9. Once a requirement is claimed you may not substitute another unless it is rejected.

10. Points are awarded on the basis of either: Requirement Score + (Difficulty * Terrain) or a fixed points score. Each requirement clearly states the scoring method. If it is a requirement where you choose the amount of set points, you must state in the Claims thread which amount of points you are taking for the requirement.

11. Prizes will be awarded to: 2 cachers who complete 10 requirements and have the highest points score; 1 cacher who completes 10 requirements and has the lowest points score; 1 cacher who finishes with a score closest to average.

12. In the event of a tie score, the earliest score will be used as the tiebreaker.

13. I, el_fudgeeo, will administrate the game and my decisions are final. I reserve the right to provide clarifications to the rules at any point during the game.

Log any physical cache that displays a "kid friendly" icon on the cache page to claim this requirement. If the kid friendly icon is not present when your log is verified then you log will not be honoured.

Log any cache of any type that displays an wheelchair accessible icon on the cache page to claim this requirement. If the wheelchair accessible icon is not present when your log is verified then your log will not be honoured.

Log any cache of any type where you parked your registered vehicle (car, truck, motor cycle, humvee, helicopter, etc) less than 10 meters from the cache to claim this requirement. 4WD accessible or motor cycle parking is acceptable. You are free to approach by bicycle if that's your style, but you must also be able to park your registered vehicle less than 10 meters from the cache. Any logs that indicate that a breach of the law occurred, or could reasonably infer that a breach of the law occurred will not be honoured.

Log any physical cache that you find at sunrise or sunset. Post a picture of the sunset or sunrise at the cache location.

Log any physical cache with a person who has never went geocaching before. This person must not be registered on Geocaching.com before start of this game. Your log must indicate that you were caching with your muggle friend & contain a picture of your muggle friend while Geocaching.

Log any physical cache designed for you to find at night or log any physical cache that you find between midnight and 5:00 AM local time. Your log must mention the time that you completed the cache.

Log any cache of any type that is part of a series to claim this requirement. The series must be clearly stated in either the title or cache description. It does not have to be a multicache or part of a series where you need to collect clues from each component of the series. You only need to collect one cache in the series. The series needs to be placed by a single cacher.

Log any cache of any type where the sum of the terrain and difficulty add to 7 to claim this requirement. 6 shall not be the number of counting, nor shall 8. 7 is the number and the number shall be 7. 9 is right out. For example, a difficulty 3 and terrain 4 will qualify. A difficulty of 3.5 and a terrain of 3.5 also qualifies. A difficulty of 4 and a terrain of 3 also qualifies. A difficulty of 3.5 and a terrain of 4 does not qualify as it adds up to more than 7.

Log any physical cache that has not been found in the preceding 90 days.

Log a find on a physical cache that you have previously logged a "Didn't find it" on. Your DNF must have been logged and dated before the start of the game. In your justification, provide the date of your earlier DNF.

Log any cache of any type that you undertook maintenance on to claim this requirement. Maintenance can be anything from something as simple as replenishing the cache contents, wiping the cache out and restoring it to its former glory to completely replacing a damaged / broken container. Previous logs must clearly state that the cache container was in disrepair or that the contents had diminished over time or that the log needed replacing.

Log any cache of any type where the numbers 503 or 1787 appear in that order anywhere in the co-ordinates as published to claim this requirement. The numbers may run across the two sets of co-ordinates latitude & longitude. Multicache intermediate or final waypoints, or unknown (mystery or puzzle) caches do not qualify. The numbers do not need to appear sequentially, but they need to appear in order. eg. N 52° 08.923 W 106° 37.887 would quality as the numbers 503 appear in order, even though they are not sequential.

Log any physical cache with a fellow geocacher you have never cached with before. A fellow geocacher is someone who registered on Geocaching.com before start of this game. Your log must indicate that you were caching with your new friend and both of your logs must be entered on the same day on the same cache. Your new friend must be someone you have never been on a planned geocache hunt with before. They do not have to be playing in the Winter Cache Game.

Find a total of 9 different caches so that the first letter of each cache spells "Christmas". Cache names that start with a number or symbol are not going to help here. Let's get crazy with the points here and say that you add all the Terrain values together and average them, and do the same with the Difficulty values. Throw away any remainders, so if you seek out all 1.5 Difficulty caches, your average will be 1.5, and you would throw away the .5 part to be left with Difficulty of 1. So find slightly more difficult caches OK?

Log finds on 12 physical caches within a single calendar date. Not 12 within any random 24 hours but actually 12 within a single date, beginning at 12am midnight and ending at 11:59pm. You may find more than 12 caches during this time period.

Log or hide an EarthCache. Your log must conform to the requirements of the Earth Cache and cannot be claimed until the cache owner has approved your log on the EarthCache. Be careful you don't run out of game time before the cache owner approves your log. If you hide an EarthCache this requirement is exempt from the rule that the date the cache was hidden must be before the start of the game.

Host an event. Your event must be listed at Geocaching.com and must be published before the game ends (although the event can take place after the game ends). This requirement is exempt from the rule that the date must be before the start of the game. Note that according to cache guidelines, event caches should be submitted no less than two weeks before the date of the event, so plan accordingly.

Hide a large physical cache, i.e., a container of at least 18 liters (4 Imperial gallons). Your cache must be listed at Geocaching.com and must be published before the game ends. This requirement is exempt from the rule that the date the cache was published must be before the start of the game.

Hide 3 Mystery/Puzzle caches. Your caches must be published on Geocaching.com before the end of the game. Points cannot be claimed until the caches are published. Be careful you don't run out of game time before the cache reviewer publishes your caches. Your hides for this requirement are exempt from the rule that the date the cache was hidden must be before the start of the game.

Hide 6 Traditional caches that are easily findable in the snow. Your caches must be published on Geocaching.com before the end of the game. Points cannot be claimed until the caches are published. Be careful you don't run out of game time before the cache reviewer publishes your caches. Your hides for this requirement are exempt from the rule that the date the cache was hidden must be before the start of the game.

Earn a point for each consecutive day you go caching during the game. You may find more than a single cache each day. You can count any string of 1 or more days for this one. These finds may be also be claimed as part of another requirement if necessary. The caches found may be published after the start of the game.

Find 3 Mystery / Puzzle caches in one day. This type of cache is not found that often, and there are plenty of easy ones out there (check out Fudgy Fest 2012).

There are 2 types - weekly and monthly. Weekly bonuses are valid starting on Sunday and expire at the end of Saturday. Monthly bonuses are valid for the entire month. Bonuses may only be claimed once.

Since we all have so much, I thought it would be a nice Christmasy gesture to make a donation to the Food Bank, or donate a toy or winter coat or something to those that perhaps are not as lucky. Just post a note that you made some sort of contribution. You can elaborate if you like. Sometimes there is a good story around the giving.

Post your note and I will donate either 5 or 15 points to your total.

Week of Dec 1 to 7 bonus #1
Fire!

The week looks like it will be a cool one, so this week's bonus is to get a photo of yourself by the fire. It could be a bonfire outside, or in your fireplace, or in a hotel lobby or ....
You can score your choice of -2 or +5 points for this.

Week of Dec 8 to 14 bonus #2
Frosty!

The weather remains pretty darn cold. Frosty even. Hmmmm. That reminds me of a popular Christmas special that should be on soon. See if you can find Frosty (or one of his relatives) and take a photo with him.
You can score your choice of -2 or +5 points for this.

Week of Dec 15 to 21 bonus #3
Tasty!

it's almost Christmastime. People have made plans and are getting ready to visit friends and family. Part of that preparation is the goodies. At my office we have "Gluttony Week" where the staff bring treats everyday. It's a bit like a week long potluck of goodies. It's great - really gets me in shape for all that eating coming up I. The next couple of weeks. So for this weeks challenge - do something with treats. Make something and take it not your office, or just take pic of it, or destroy an entire pan of Naniamo bars.
You can score your choice of -2 or +5 points for this (and maybe add a couple of pounds).

Week of Dec 22 to 28 bonus #4
Lights!

Time to take a snapshot of the tree. But not the traditional Christmas tree. Find your alternative Christmas tree. This year we decorated our Ficus tree (the offical tree of Festivus), the Christmas Cactus as well as the traditional evergreen tree. So post a photo of an alternative Christmas tree!
You can score your choice of -2 or +5 points for this.

Short Week of Dec 29 to 31 bonus #5
Party!

Its almost the New Year. I will be writing 2013 and cheques and forms for the next 2 months until I get into the hang of 2014. For the next couple of days, you can practice by finding the biggest "2014" you can and getting a picture of it (with you in the shot if possible). Could be tricky since those big electronic clocks probably will not show 2014 until January, but maybe you can find a party where 2014 is displayed. You can do this on Dec 31 at 11:59 PM and post it later.
You can score your choice of -1 or +3 points for this. And you can probably guess what the other part of this week's bonus will be.

Short Week of Jan 1 to 4 bonus #6
Resolve!

Time to make you New Geo's Resolution. What will you aim for in 2014? A thousand finds? Hitting 10,000 finds? Filling in your Difficulty / Terrain grid? Going to the Mega event?

Let me know and it will be worth your choice of -1 or +3 points.

Week of Jan 5 to 11 bonus #7
Bedtime!

Its a cold and windy night and I am stumped for a January month bonus as well as weekly bonuses - so I need a way to take my mind off my woes. And what better way than a bedtime story. So post a favorite tale (you can make it up if you like) and I will just kick back with a cup of cocoa. And maybe you will also send me an email with ideas about what bonuses you would like to see. Maybe they will show up here in the next couple of weeks. Or even next year.

Week of Jan 12 to 18 bonus #8

Dreams!

Suppose you happened across a cache that would pay your way for a trip anywhere in the world (provided you went caching when you got there). Where would you go? Are there any particular caches you desire to get? Sask Extreme 01? The ISS cache? Maybe the last APE cache?

Week of Jan 19 to 25 bonus #9
Puzzle!

This week was going to be about doing a jigsaw puzzle, but my cats destroyed my puzzle when I was about three quarters done! So instead, just solve this little puzzle, and email me the correct answer and it will be worth your choice of -2 or +5 points. You can take multiple guesses until you sort it out. TPOFOFNTSFTFENSNTTTE.

Week of Jan 26 to 31 bonus #10
Switch!

This will be a co-operative effort. Post a challenge, and then someone else can chose to accept it. You cannot do your own challenge. Multiple people could do the same challenge.

You can score your choice of -2 or +5 points for this.

Sponsors

Sponsored in part by the good people at LANDSHARKZ and GEOWYRM'S.