This cache complies with the geocaching policies for Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R) properties. Please respect park hours when caching.
The cache is not at the posted coordinates. Find the images and solve the puzzle to find the final location.
Congratulations to Mannard for FTF!
You do not need to find all 45 picture clues to solve the puzzle. The only ones required to find the final coordinates are #s 3, 11, 22, 28, 39, and 45. The intermediate clues are provided to help you find the others. The 45 pictures found in order trace a route of about 1.5 miles through the Foster/Powell neighborhood. Each consecutive clue is no more than 500 feet away from the previous clue, so traveling the entire route in order may be the only way to find the clues that matter, unless you know the neighborhood well. Viewpoint #1 is at the posted coordinates and viewpoint #45 is within 500 feet of the final cache location.
General hints: All viewpoints and the final cache location are inside the area bounded by SE 72nd Ave, SE Foster Road, SE 82nd Ave, and SE Powell Blvd. You do not need to cross any of these streets. If you find all the clues in order you will cross Holgate twice, both times at marked crosswalks.
Final location: Please cover this octopus with some natural camouflage after replacing the cache!
**Please don't report this cache 'missing' or 'needs maintenance' before messaging me to ask for a hint. The last 3 DNFs/maintenance requested logs resulted in me coming out to replace the container, only to find it was right where it should be. If you need a hint, please just message me and I will try to respond quickly**
To solve the puzzle for the final cache coordinates, find the solution to the 6 problems below. Each letter A - F will be a number 0-9. Then assemble the clues as follows for the final coordinates:
N 45 29.ABC W 122 34.DEF
Note that some viewpoints are from the side or back of a building, but to find the answer you may need to figure out the street address, which might require traveling around the corner to look for the number on the front. Then don’t forget to return to the original viewpoint before beginning to look for the next clue. If street numbers are not visible on the building, you can look up nearby buildings at https://www.portlandmaps.com and then browse around to get the exact address of the photo viewpoint.
A: Last digit of the street address of image 3, plus 1. **SEE NOTE, BELOW**
B: Third digit of the street address of image 11, plus 1.
C: Second digit of the street address of image 22, plus 2.
D: Last digit of the street address of image 28, plus 1.
E: Last digit of the street address of image 39, minus 1.
F: Second digit of the year the mural in image 45 was painted.
Checksum A-F: 29
If you find every clue in order and take no detours, the route is about 1.5 miles from start to finish. Based on the experience of previous finders of the similar puzzles, you can expect to walk 2-3 miles total when including wrong turns.
Note that you are trying to get to the viewpoints from which the photos were taken, not get to the items pictured. We strongly discourage everyone from climbing on strangers' rooftops. Pay attention to arrows, viewpoints from street corners, and foreground/background items in the pictures – they often contain clues about when/where to make a turn.
You can almost always see at least a hint of the next picture from the viewpoint of the previous one. Sometimes you may need to look behind you! When in doubt, continue in the same direction you were just heading and look for the next clue. It is not necessary to enter anybody’s yard to find any of the viewpoints or the final cache.
Accessibility: The route is flat and almost entirely paved. Some intersections do not have curb cuts.
If you'd like to print out the pictures from home, full-size images are available here:
Clues 1-25
Clues 26-45
Happy hunting! If you get completely lost feel free to message me for a hint.
The original set of pictures was taken in February 2022. I always appreciate tips from other cachers about repainted houses, boarded-up murals, disappearing lawn art, etc. If you notice that a viewpoint looks significantly different than the picture, I am especially grateful to those who are able to take a new picture and post it in a log or message it to me!
You can check your answers for this puzzle on GeoChecker.com.
More Little Pictures!
**IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT IMAGES 1-3** I have just been informed that the building at this location is scheduled for demolition in early 2023. If you happen to be searching for this cache at that time and I haven't updated the pictures yet, you should know that image #s 1-3 are (were) all on the property of the same public building. It should be pretty easy to find the address for image 3 even if everything on that lot is demolished, by just looking it up on a mapping app or googling the the name of the building, which should be posted outside the construction site once things are underway. If all else fails, feel free to message me for a hint and I'll get you pointed in the right direction.
