ADVANCED WARNING (20 May 2025):
Commencing in April 2026, we will start to archive many of our caches as the maintenance load is becoming a major concern as our capacity to make regular visits to our caches declines. The date has been chosen so that, apart from unforeseen circumstances, all of our caches will be available to those visiting Tasmania for the Tassie Event in early March 2026. We are giving advanced notice so that all have the opportunity to look for any of our caches that they haven't found before they are archived. This is one of the caches we plan to archive.
Geocaching is fun and can become addictive. It comes with senses of achievement when a cache is found and frustrations when a DNF has to be logged or you do not have the right tool to retrieve a cache. In the beginning, traditional caches are generally tackled with confidence, multi-caches with some reservations and mystery caches or puzzles with apprehension. Over time confidence grows and the range of caching activities being tackled increase.
However the biggest hurdle for many new to caching are Mystery or Puzzle caches. Some new cachers avoid them - "I don't know where to start". Others ask more experienced caches but often get responses like "that is an XYZ type of puzzle - there is a tool in the toolbox - use that and it will be easy" but that often leaves the new cacher more confused and apprehesive than before, especially if they do not know what "XYZ type" means, they do not know what a toolbox is, and they do not know where to find it. Too many experienced cachers have progressed so far that they don't recall their first efforts in solving puzzles and the hurdles they encountered.
We have been approached by some less experienced cachers to help them get started with puzzle solving. In response we are meeting with them on a regular basis to take them through a structured puzzle solving program. The program makes no assumptions and takes the participants through some experiences designed to develop skills and confidence. The program does not aim to tackle every different type of puzzle but does aim to develop sufficient skills so that a new cacher will have a range of tools to explore a new puzzle and the confidence to try those tools.
At each of the sessions we introduce a concept or two, apply the ideas to some examples and then we ask the participants to try the ideas on some new puzzles which will be published after each session. Through this structured approach we hope to develop the skills and confidence of the new cachers and let them experience even greater enjoyment with geocaching. Experienced cachers should find these puzzles quite straightforward and are most welcome to solve them and find the caches - they are not restricted to those participating in the program.
Starting Puzzle Solving 1A
The coordinates for this cache are contained in the following text. Can you find the information to generate the coordinates?
Geocaching was originally similar to the 160-year-old game letterboxing, which uses clues and references to landmarks embedded in stories. Geocaching was conceived shortly after the removal of Selective Availability from the Global Positioning System on May 2, 2000, because the improved accuracy of the system allowed for a small container to be specifically placed and located. The first documented placement of a GPS-located cache took place on May 3, 2000, by Dave Ulmer of Beavercreek, Oregon. The location was posted on the Usenet newsgroup sci.geo.satellite-nav. Within three days, the cache had been found twice, first by Mike Teague. According to Dave Ulmer's message, this cache was a black plastic bucket that was partially buried and contained software, videos, books, money, a can of beans, and a slingshot.
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