**Ignore bogus GeoArt coordinates, final container is here: N 43° 03.967′ W 112° 52.659′. This is a challenge cache - sign the log whenever, but to log as found online you need to also complete the challenge below**
**look at the waypoints for the first 3 in the series (GCBC2K1, GCBC2K2, GCBC2K3) - they have all all 217 points saved between them.**
Dr. Russell M. Nelson was a pioneering open heart surgeon. ON ONE DAY, November 9th 1955, Dr Russell M. Nelson Performed on the well HIDDEN organ of the heart - the first open heart surgery west of the Mississippi river when he repaired an atrial septal defect at Salt lake General hospital. This DIFFICULT surgery was done using his own designed and built heart-lung machine.
If that sounds like heart stopping TERRAIN, his research team also discovered they could safely stop the heart by adjusting the ratio of potassium and sodium in the blood then start it again by restoring the normal balance. Another TYPE of heart surgery he did was being the first to repair the tiny SIZE tricuspid valve regurgitation back in 1960.
Russell's challenge for you is to have found geocaches hidden on a single calendar date (MMDD) that collectively have at least 25 different sizes, types, difficulties, and terrains. It doesn't matter what year they were hidden, you can find them any datee, and they can be from any location. Much like surgery, everything needs to be PLACED together at the right time - the surgeon, the clinical supplies, the patient needs prepared, supporting staff, tools sterilized, uninterupted power supply... it takes a lot and so does this challenge.
See if you can pioneer your own heart stopping very busy day with this checker:
Here is the first quarter of this checker's output:
Notes on the series
If ever there were a movie, "Indiana Jones, mystery of the QR code" it'd look something like this. He'd find some sagebrush in the desert arranged mysteriously into a QR code and angrily declare to the land managers scoulding him for bringing an excavator, "that belongs in a museum". Get in the mood with this Indiana Jones mix. At GCBC2K1 you will find some supplies to help some of the troubles you may run into, such as dry logs in case one of them becomes waterlogged, and a bucket lid opener. I bulk ordered some easy off lids to make opening the 50 odd buckets easier. It's still tough, so this tool should make it easier. PLEASE RETURN UNUSED SUPPLIES BACK THERE.
Find out more about the series at the challenge compendium - that's where the QR GeoArt pings to.
Correcting coordinates
This would be all terrain 1.5 and stationed along the farm roads nearby, but when I asked the local farmers for permission I was met with pushback - the roads are dangerously busy during potato harvest and a car stopped on the side would be a major issue for their huge implements trying to pass. The compromise was to have them here on the desert, requiring some major hiking. Apologies, know that I tried to make it easy. By using bogus coordinates and compacting the physical locations close together, the hiking distance required to reach all 217 stages drops 4.5 miles to around 22 miles of hiking. It means a minor bother with coordinates but it's worth it. There are a few ways to fix the coordinates but the quickest is to look at the waypoints for the first 3 in the series (GCBC2K1, GCBC2K2, GCBC2K3) - they have all all 217 points saved between them. Next best options is on a computer using geocaching.com opening each page and copy/pasting the link into the 'enter solved coordinates' panel by clicking the 'pencil icon' - see images.
Housekeeping, access, and safety
The posted coordinates are as bogus as the illuminati and just there for the GeoArt. Copy the final coordinates in blue, click the pencil icon next to the cache page's posted coordinates, and you'll be able to paste and correct them. This can be reverted to the posted coordinates easily down the road so you don't need to save anything. This is much easier done on a computer ahead of time.
This area is high desert on BLM land, placed with permission (they know 200+ containers are out here, it took a few months of planning with them). The nearby homeowners know about this project and so does the manager of the corporate farm we are next to. Please park at the posted coordinates at the west end of Springfield Mosby Rd so we are out of their way. On final approach it's a gravel road - please drive 25mph or less so we don't get kicked out for a myriad of road maintenance issues. You'll see a trail meandering north west through the area (packsaddle) - I wouldn't trust my car on it but I won't tell you no. Beside Packsaddle and Springfield Mosby Rd, motorized vehicles cannot be in this area, so it's a hike by foot.
Bring plenty of water, sunscreen, thin layers and a hat to cover your skin, and extra supplies in the car. The most efficient route follows ascending numbers, starting at QR1 and finishing at QR217, which has you looping near the start periodically so you can stock up or even call it a day and come back later. This is nicest during spring or fall where temperatures are less intense. It's technically possible during winter and we have access, but with all of them on the ground, snow cover would make it miserable.
Wildlife does exist out here such as prickly pear cactus, antelope, snakes, lizards, skunk, and big game. I've only seen rodents, lizards, and antelope, but keep an eye out where you tread, just like geocaching anywhere rural in Idaho. Allegedly during summer nights above 70°F Forest scorpions and Northern Scorpions exist out here but I've sadly never seen them even with a few of us using UV flashlights. Medusa head, or 'cheat grass' as its known is the big ticket invasive species here. It'll get spiky seeds stuck in your socks. Wear gaiters and solid shoes without mesh it can stick to and you'll be fine.
Let someone know you're out here and when you'll be heading back. There is decent signal across every network I tried across this area due to the flat terrain. GPS works well too due to the lack of tree canopy, which sure is handy.
Extra hint - try looking at stuff hidden nearby on July 29th 2025 if you can't get traction on this challenge.