The criteria for solving these three puzzles are:
1. Change one letter at a time as you move down the rows, but not the position of the letter, to make a new word;
2. Move from the word at the top of the list through the rows to the word at the bottom;
3. Use the exact number of intermediate words as shown as rows for each puzzle;
4. Use only words in common usage.
PUZZLE A
Row 1 C O A L
Row 2 _ _ _ _
Row 3 _ _ _ _
Row 4 _ _ _ _
Row 5 _ _ _ _
Row 6 F I R E
PUZZLE B
Row 1 H O O K
Row 2 _ _ _ _
Row 3 _ _ _ _
Row 4 _ _ _ _
Row 5 _ _ _ _
Row 6 _ _ _ _
Row 7 F I S H
PUZZLE C
Row 1 T R E E
Row 2 _ _ _ _
Row 3 _ _ _ _
Row 4 _ _ _ _
Row 5 _ _ _ _
Row 6 _ _ _ _
Row 7 _ _ _ _
Row 8 B U S H
Add one thousandth of the sum of the numerical equivalents of all the letters in all the words to the posted N and W decimal minutes to find the coordinates of the micro cache.
Check here to see if you've nailed the coordinates: GeoChecker.com.
Note: So, you ask, “If the puzzles are so easy to solve, why the “3” difficulty rating?” Well … it seems they’re so simple that there are often many possible solutions. Sorry. I feel your pain, so am offering three hints.