This cache is named after the children's game of Chutes and Ladders because you can find the final cache by either taking a shortcut (aka climbing a ladder) or going the long way (aka sliding down a chute).
Use the signs and other items around the Fish Hatchery to solve one of the puzzles below. The Fish Hatchery closes at dusk and the park closes at 11pm.
PUZZLE #1 -- LADDER -- Offset to the Final Cache
If your GPS unit(or phone) supports the ability to project a waypoint and you feel like doing so, then solve this puzzle to get the bearing and distance to the final cache.
A = The number of double concrete bays the fish are kept in, plus 1.
B = The sum of the digits of the speed limit on the roads that border the Fish Hatchery.
C = The number of words on the side of the hill PLUS 1
D = The number of letters in the name of the Foundation that operates the fish hatchery
Bearing = 1AB.4 degrees
Distance = 0.CD miles
My GPS unit was set to use True North. I projected the waypoint while standing in the parking lot at the coordinates listed for this cache.
PUZZLE #2 -- CHUTE -- Coordinates to an Intermediate Stage
If your GPS unit(or phone)does not support the ability to project a waypoint or you don't feel like doing so or you can't find the final cache using your projected waypoint, then solve this puzzle to get the coordinates to an intermediate stage that contains the coordinates for the final cache.
Note: Finding this intermediate stage IS more difficult than finding the final cache container, but that's the point of the "chute". Recently (Mar 4, 2006) a cache seeker found a mushroom nearby that had coordinates written on it that led to private property 15 miles away. This is not part of this cache. All parts of this cache are inside Powder Mills Park.
UPDATE 08/15/25 There is now a short handle shovel at this point. Ignore that also.
A = The number of letters in the name of the Foundation that operates the fish hatchery
B = At the rustic bench, the number of letters in the first name of the tribute person PLUS 2
C = At the rustic bench, the number of letters in the last name of the tribute person PLUS 1
D = The number of 18-foot tall duck statues at the Fish Hatchery.
N = 43 02.7AB
W = 77 28.7CD
All observations for solving this cache can be done from the Fish Hatchery from plaques, signs and other general observations about the hatchery. The questions have been updated as of August 2025.