Out of One's Element Mystery Cache
Hidden : 6/1/2020
Difficulty:
3 out of 5
Terrain:
4 out of 5

Size: Size: regular (regular)

Join now to view geocache location details. It's free!

Watch

How Geocaching Works
Looking for a different adventure?

Please note Use of geocaching.com services is subject to the terms and conditions in our disclaimer.

Geocache Description:


The cache is not at the posted coordinates.

Many geocachers feel out of their element when it comes to puzzles, believing they might lack the experience, familiarity, or expertise necessary to solve one. So, I thought it might be helpful to make a puzzle with step-by-step instructions. This puzzle includes crossword-like clues to define a word and some simple math to determine certain values that will lead you to a solution. There is one hitch: you need to figure out the source material for the words. Don’t worry, I have provided several hints throughout that should help!

Let’s get started. In order to solve this puzzle, the following steps need to be taken:

  1. Word. Using the given “crossword” clues in the table below, determine the corresponding, common 4-letter words. Four color-coded squares have been provided for your solutions.

  2. Total Word Value. Each word is comprised of two related but different parts and each part has a value associated with it. You need to figure out what those parts are and their values. (The color-coded squares may offer a clue!) Add these two values together and enter the result in the Total Word Value square. (This number will be used in Step 4.)

  3. Single Digit Coordinate. To determine a single digit coordinate for each word, calculate the difference in values of the two parts of each word. If the result is negative, don’t worry, just treat the result as a positive number. If the result is two digits, calculate the difference in the two remaining digits to determine the Single Digit Coordinate. For example, if one of the 4-letter words was “rate” and the value of the two parts of that word were 88 and 52, then the initial difference would be 36 (88-52), which then would be distilled down to 3 (3-6) for the Single Digit Coordinate.

  4. Solution. Rearrange the list of words based on Total Word Values from lowest to highest and then plug the properly ordered Single Digit Coordinates into N37 XX.XXX W122 XX.XXX.


This puzzle is the thirteenth in a series of puzzle hides that I have placed on Mount Tamalpais. The puzzles will range in difficulty but maintain higher terrain ratings. All of the hides are ammo cans. If you like puzzles, ammo cans, and adventurous hiking, this series should be right up your alley! All caches are hidden off the beaten path, and I would suggest taking a friend along.

Good luck, have fun, stay safe, and please return the cache as found or better!


You can validate your puzzle solution with certitude.

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Chmmyr: TrBPnPUr? Pnpur: Fcyvg qbja gur zvqqyr

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)


Advertising with Us

Inventory

There are no Trackables in this cache.

View past Trackables

What are Trackable Items?

Bookmark Lists

View all bookmark lists...