Photocross PDX
The cache is not at the posted coordinates. Solve the following puzzle to learn the true cache location.
A crossword puzzle follow-up to Metro West X...with a twist!
Rather than words for clues, this version uses photographs. Each photo is intended to bring a phrase, name, word or song title to mind. Many probably fall under the definition of rebus. The ideas and photos are (mostly) original. That means you should expect some groan-inducers! And, yes, it did take a LOT of time to construct. Any idea how hard it is to find an active ant bed in early spring? Or get your geodog to pose with letters on her head?
You can solve the puzzle online by clicking the following applet link:
Photocross PDX Puzzle Solver
No registration is required.
No personal information is required.
The applet is supplied by a well-known and respected publisher and is widely used in education.
The photo-based clues include "?" links. Click on the link to view the photo.
Each photo clue includes a series of numbers, such as "5/2". This is a hint that indicates both the number of words and the number of letters in each word. The "5/2" clue indicates a five-letter word and a two-letter word.
I considered a number of ways to provide extra hints, since, um, some of these may be less than easy to solve. Rather than include hints for each clue, I decided to fill in the crossword with a bunch of extra clues (not based on photos) which will provide quite a few of the letters you will need.
Gamarnas (and the Web sites used to solve them) are your friends!
Notes on the solver applet:
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Click the clue you wish to enter an answer for. Then type in your answer.
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To change direction of typing, press the right- or down-arrow keys.
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Click "Revert" to clear your entries and start over.
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Click "Save" to save your progress so far. A URL is displayed at the top of the page. I never found it necessary to note or save it. Your work should appear automatically when the puzzle is reloaded.
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When you enter the last letter, and the grid is completely filled, and all letters are correct, the cache coordinates will appear. If you need to display the solution again, delete any letter in the puzzle, save it, then restore the letter.
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If one or more letters of a filled grid are incorrect, nothing will happen.
If you get stuck or the solution won't display, please let me know. You can even send me the URL to your puzzle and I will be glad to help fill in anything missing or make suggestions.
Coming up with the ideas for the photo clues was addictive and obsessive. I have enough for another puzzle in fact. If you come up with your own ideas, please forward them to me for possible use in a follow-up. That should induce an extra-loud groan!
Headed to Salt Lake City? The same solution will work for Photocross SLC.
Special FTF Prize: A $20 gift certificate to a nearby family restaurant!
Enjoy the puzzle and the cache outing!