Hello! This series will take you to various locations throughout the Issaquah Highlands focusing on the retention ponds. The coordinates for this cache are random, and do not take you to any physical cache! While you work your way through the series, be sure to answer the question on the lid of each cache to get the coordinates to the final bonus cache. After you have gone to all 6 caches, plug in the numbers and the coordinates will take you to the final!
If you start at the coordinates of cache 1 and work your way to cache 6, it is about 5 miles. However, if you don't want to walk, each cache is located close to a parking area so you can always drive.
The final cache is a decorated ammo can hidden in some trails behind one of the retention ponds.
The series:
- The Water You Drink
- Microplastics, say what? [Archived]
- Storm Drains
- Dangers to Wildlife
- Global Change[Archived]
- What Next?
- Final Bonus Coordinates: 47.ABCACDB, -122.EEECFBA (This is in DD format, you can copy paste to Google Maps and it will get you there. If you want to use the solution checker on geocaching.com, you will need to convert these coordinates to DDM formal).
Thank you for doing this geocache!! Congrats to DM&K Cachers for being the FTF!
Edited February 20th, 2023:
Unfortunately, two of the caches have been stolen several times so I have decided to archive them. To get the coordinates I will include their information paragraphs below. Thank you!
#2 Microplastics, say what?
This cache will take you near 3 retention ponds! Cache In, Trash out! You might notice some trash on this trail. Often plastic bottles, plastic bags, fast fashion, etc. become microplastics (extremely small pieces of plastic debris) which end up in these ponds and eventually our drinking water.
Question:
Pick the correct answer to get the value for B.
Where do microplastics come from?
(B=9) Fast fashion
(B=2) Plastic grocery bags
(B=7) Plastic water bottles
(B=3) All of the above
#5 Global Change
You guessed it another retention pond, but this is a smaller one. If you park at the coordinates provided, you will walk by a park, playground, basketball court, community garden (off to your right), and a nice green patch of grass! Recycled plastic is used in many things including the playground you just walked by and probably the shoes you are wearing! Adidas and Parley partnered to make over 11 Million pairs of shoes, made of 100% recycled ocean plastics.
Question:
Pick the correct answer to get the value for E.
How many pairs of recycled plastic shoes did Adidas and Parley produce in 2019?
(E=1) 5 pairs
(E=5) 20 million pairs
(E=2) 150 thousand pairs
(E=0) 11 million pairs
Edited July 16th, 2024. Sadly another one bites the dust. Unfortunately, I am away for college and while I have someone who can check on them, there is no one to replace them. Hopefully, the series can still be informative and fun, it will just be a little more reading and a little less caches. Thank you!
#6 What next?
One more retention pond, a big one known as South Pond. Some of the ways people help prevent the increase of microplastics in this pond (and eventually the Puget Sound) is by picking up litter, using reusable bags, and buying products made of natural fibers.
Pick the correct answer to get the value for F.
(F=0) Pick up Litter
(F=9) Use reusable bags
(F=5) Purchase products made of natural fibers
(F=1) All of the above.