There is no cache at the posted location. Many thanks to the geocachers connected to the nearby "Simple Puzzler" for encouraging me to make this hide. We always could use more puzzles on the map, right?
January is "National Puzzle Month". Instead of putting out a new puzzle every week of the month, or something fun like that, I decided to just hide one new puzzle at the end of the month, as the 12 CoC series in nearby Glendale Valley certainly kept everyone busy towards the start of January (including our reviewer - many thanks again!)
January 29, 2019 was specifically "National Puzzle Day", so if there ever was a good time to hide just one new puzzle on the map, I guess this is it! (This cache was hidden just a few hours before 1/29/2019.)
Consider:
A hypothetical geocacher has hidden a bunch of geocaches in the counties of Cambria (F), Blair (Q), Clearfield (f), and Centre (q). But of all his caches, four caches, one hidden in 2009, one hidden in 2012, one hidden in 2015, and one hidden in 2018, are his absolute favorites. Of these four favorites, one is a traditional (D), one is an unknown/puzzle (E), one is a multicache (F), and one is a letterbox/hybrid (G). Since this cacher is also fond of many different containers, among these four favorites of his (in order of increasing size), one is a small PB jar, one is a plastic latching box, one is an ammo can, and one is a large plastic bucket. It is also worth noting that exactly one of each of these favorite caches is in each of the four counties where he has done his hiding.
Using the following clues, you must discover which hypothetical cache goes with which container, cache type, location/county, and hide year. This will lead you (eventually) to the final coordinates to the actual, real-world hidden cache after working through all the steps of this puzzle.
- The small PB jar cache was not placed in 2012.
- Of the bucket cache and the Clearfield County cache, one is an unknown/puzzle cache, and the other was hidden in 2012.
- Of the multicache and the Cambria County cache, one is an ammo can and the other was hidden in 2015.
- Neither the cache hidden in 2015 nor the ammo can is in Blair County.
- The container of the cache hidden in Centre County is larger in size than that of the cache hidden in 2015.
- Neither the traditional cache nor the cache in Blair County was hidden in 2009.
- Neither the cache hidden in 2012 nor the ammo can is a letterbox/hybrid cache.
This grid might first help to work out the logic before moving on to the next part...
Note that the "cacher" described here is just for the puzzle story. There is no actual cacher or geocaches that match these parameters (at least not intentionally). You can use the chart below once you have everything figured out. This will allow you to work out the next part of this puzzle and get closer to the real-world coordinates.
N = ([last digit of C] + [last digit of Z]) modulo ([last digit of T] + [last digit of W])
Now using the chart above and the values given for the different cache characteristics in the puzzle text, be sure to j.mp to NRBXUVY (note that the uppercase/lowercase of any substituted letters is important). If what you get back does not make sense, you might want to re-check your work.
A geo-checker is provided to make sure that you have the correct coordinates and add any additional information about parking, etc.
Note: The cache is too small for a pen or pencil, so please bring your own writing tool. The log slip is "Rite in the Rain" paper, so it should resist getting wet, however, a pencil will work best if the slip is wet when you go to sign it. If the slip is dry, a standard ball point pen will do fine. Water-based inks may not write on the paper very well and should be avoided if possible.
This puzzle was based on one I found and enjoyed solving at www.logic-puzzles.org. It was adapted for use with geocaching and some final touches added to it. If you like this kind of puzzle, then definitely check that out.
A congratulations on FTF goes to r.e.s.t.seekers and ted28285. Thanks for braving the arctic cold for the FTF!
This is a Green-Hippo cache