Skip to content

Pentominoes - The Next Generation Mystery Cache

Hidden : 12/13/2023
Difficulty:
3 out of 5
Terrain:
1.5 out of 5

Size: Size:   micro (micro)

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

Watch

How Geocaching Works

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

Geocache Description:


DO NOT GO TO THE POSTED COORDINATES.  That is Phoenixville Rec Center with Basketball, baseball, pickleball, disc golf, shuffleboard, yoga, and dirt bike course (where I imagine is full of life during the games).

Solve the puzzle to determine the Final Coordinates.  Where I imagine has little life.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Over 40 years ago I got as a gift a set of Pentominoes (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pentomino).  I came across it recently and rediscovered the variety of challenges they had to offer.  You can assemble the 12 pieces into 2-dimensional rectangles, letters, and designs; or 3-dimensional cubes, staircases, and designs. The more I manipulated them, the more they took on a life of their own.

I thought surely there's a fun puzzle using these shapes.  Maybe I could use number logiC on way- points or coordinates using the different pieces?  Maybe give directions to create a design that hinted at the final location? For the life of me I couldn't figure out anything clever until suddenly the game was afoot! (to quote Shakespeare and Sherlock Holmes)

Here's the puzzle that emerged.  Solve for  N40 07.XXX and W 075.31.YYY

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Chmmyr: Ernq gur qrfpevcgvba pybfryl. Bayl bapr vf arrqrq vs lbh ner gubebhtu. Uvqr: unatvat va n gerr. Or Jvfr.

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)