Solvable in the field, this is a multi-staged puzzle that uses information on this page to reach a final solution and is my first hide ... good-luck and have fun.
The summer months or after school, when the weather is nice, can experience a high volume of muggle traffic in the area. Open parking is available along the street and all stages are within a short walking distance of the posted coordinates.
Listed as a small for the final container size, although the actual capacity to hold additional swag is quite limited, so please, bring your own writing implement. Weather should not be an issue when seeking this cache.
Only those that actually sign the log can post a "found it" log, otherwise your log may be deleted. Overly ambitious cachers may try to brute force a solution at the final stage, but I cannot image how long that would take. Don't lose heart, the final stage is solvable with the information presented on this page and please reset and hide the final container as you found it so the next finder gets the same experience.
Stage 1: The posted coordinates will bring you to a sign that you will need to use to determine the coordinates for stage 2.
N 45 ab.cde W 093 vw.xyz
Use the area on the smaller brown metal sign that is within the white border to answer the following...
a - the total number of loons that are on the sign.
b - the total number of words that are within the white border of the metal sign.
c - the number of letters in the third word from the end of the phrase on the sign.
d - the number of letters in the third word from the beginning of the phrase on the sign.
e - the number of geometric shapes used to draw the state of Minnesota on the sign.
Use the wooden park sign to answer the following...
v - the total number of (pine) trees routed into the wooden sign.
w - the number of 4-letter words on the sign.
x - the number of letters in the middle word.
y - the number of fasteners visible from the front that holds the name of the park in place.
z - total number of the letter "R" plus total number of the letter "W" on the wooden sign.
Stage 2: Micro. Contains the information needed to find the coordinates for the next stage.
Stage x: You will know when you have reached the final.
Final Stage: I suppose you could brute force a solution, but with 429,981,696 possible solutions that will probably take a while.
It would be much easier to use the information that is on this page.
Be careful of any "red herrings" that may lead you astray.
A dictionary of common geocache terms may or may not be helpful.
GroundSpeak has a glossary of geocaching terms in their Help Center. Some of the following terms are listed in the glossary and some are just terms that I have picked up since I started geocaching.
- bookmark
- geocache
- latitude
- reviewer
- waypoint
- found it!
- muggles!
- ammo box!
- ammo cans
... and far too many others to list.
You may find the first hint helpful if you are trying to brute force a solution in the comfort of your geo-mobile away from prying eyes of local muggles, especially during winter months.
Cache was okayed by Lino Lakes Parks Supervisor.