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.
You do not need to find all 56 picture clues to solve the puzzle. The only ones required to find the final coordinates are #s 2, 11, 16, 20, 26, 30, 35, 38, 46, and 56. The intermediate clues are provided to help you find the others. The 56 pictures found in order trace a route of about 1.5 miles through the Hosford-Abernethy neighborhood. Each consecutive clue is no more than 350 feet away from the previous clue (most of them are much closer together), 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 #56 is within a few blocks of the final cache location.
Congratulations to wesser26 for FTF!
General hints: All viewpoints are inside the area bounded by SE 12th Ave, SE Division, SE 26th Ave, and SE Powell. The final cache location is outside the boundaries but just by a few blocks. You do not need to cross 12th or Powell. If you find all the clues in order you will cross Division twice, both times at marked crosswalks.
Final Location: This octopus was originally hiding under a rock, but scuttled away too quickly. The new container is attached to a fence.
To solve the puzzle for the final cache coordinates, find the solution to the 10 problems below. Each letter A - J will be a number 0-9. Then assemble the clues as follows for the final coordinates:
N 45 AB.CDE W 122 FG.HIJ
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, we recommend looking it up in a mapping app.
A: First digit of the street address of image 2.
B: First digit of the street address of image 11, minus 1.
C: First digit of the street address of image 16, plus 1.
D: Second digit of the street address of image 20, minus 1.
E: First digit of the street address of image 26, minus 1.
F: Second digit of the street address of image 30, minus 1.
G: Second digit of the cross street of this intersection, plus 2.
H: First digit of the street address of the building this sign is associated with.
I: What color are the petals on the flower immediately to the right of this one?
Green: I=6, Purple: I=7, Blue: I=8, Yellow: I=9
J: First digit of the cross street of this intersection, minus 1.
Checksum A-J: 32
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 entirely paved. Some intersections may not have curb cuts.
If you'd like to print out the pictures from home, full-size images are available here:
Clues 1-28
Clues 29-56
Happy hunting! If you get completely lost feel free to message me for a hint.
The original set of pictures was taken in March 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!
