The cache is NOT at the posted coordinates
About This Series
This Calgary Puzzle Solving 101 Series (CPS101) is based on the original Puzzle Solving 101 Series by ePeterso2.
The first 12 caches in this series help you build your puzzle-solving skills. Each contains a lesson focusing on a specific skill, examples of how to use that skill, an actual puzzle to test that skill, and a cache to find as a reward. Study the lesson, solve the puzzle, and you'll have the location of a cache.
When you enter correct coordinates into the geochecker, a piece of information will be revealed that is required for the final exam (this cache).
There are two reasons for the 5-star difficulty rating of this cache: the driving distance between the other caches in the series, and the number of puzzles in the final exam. The difficulty lies in the amount of effort needed to complete the exam, not in the difficulty or complexity of the puzzles along the way. If you've been paying attention to the lessons in this series, you should have no trouble passing the test. Don't be afraid to try anything you've learned.
If you can find this cache, then you truly have the skills to go find any other puzzle cache out there.
One final request: Like ePeterso2's final, before you head out to log a find on this one, bring along a fun little word, math, logic, or trivia brain teaser with you to share. Include it in your entry in the log book ... and don't forget to write the answer at the back of the logbook!
A few "Rules"
- Never ask for help with a puzzle on public internet forums (e.g. Groundspeak forums or the calgary cachers forums)
- Never post the solution to a puzzle or give the final location anywhere on the internet
- Finding the final cache without actually solving the puzzle doesn’t justify a "find"
- Working in groups to solve a puzzle is fine, so long as someone in the group hasn’t already solved it and is just giving hints
If you get stuck on a puzzle, the cache owners are more than willing to give you a little hint. After all, we want these caches to be found!
Puzzle lessons
- Getting started (GC2W5RD)
- Tactics (GC2R1AD)
- Translation (GC2T6WA)
- Simple Substitution ciphers (GC2W5R8)
- Other ciphers (GC2VW33)
- Steganography (GC2KJAJ)
- Trivia (GC2QZD5)
- Wordplay (GC2RJDZ)
- Visual puzzles (GC2Q45B)
- Mathematics (GC3GP30)
- Logic (GC2VXVY)
- Lateral thinking (GC2QKXT)
Thank you notes
The inspiration for this series of caches is the Puzzle Solving 101 series by ePeterso2 in Florida. His series has featured several time on PodCacher and has inspired many other geocaching communities to either hold puzzle solving workshops or implement their own (semi) final exams. We thought it would be good to have a local series of caches that would teach the Calgary (and area) cachers the fine art of solving puzzles. We have modified the series a little bit to adopt it to the puzzles that are found in and around Calgary. Unlike most of the other implementations, we have create new puzzles for most of the lessons as well as for the final. We hope you enjoy the series, solving the puzzles and finding the caches.
CanadianRockies, Everhollow, One Bad Ant and Rustywa
Other lists, caches and resources
| Other puzzle solving series |
| ePeterso2 original puzzle solving 101 list |
The original |
| C.S.U Puzzles 101 |
The Fresno implementation of ePeterso2's series. |
| NorCal Puzzle Solving Lesson |
Northern California's implementation of ePeterso2's series. |
| Okinawa Puzzle Solving 101 |
An implementation of ePeterso2's series in Japan |
| A guide to solving simple puzzle caches |
This is an interesting series of puzzle caches with the same intent but a different setup. It incorporates visiting local sites to get the required information. |
| Some hints on solving puzzle caches |
This page provides background information on the previous link. Many useful hints and tips. |
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| Puzzles to help you do puzzles |
| Scary Blue Question Mark 1, 2, 3 |
A series of three caches about solving puzzles. |
| How Do I Solve All These &#$@! Puzzle Caches? |
Useful page of how to solve several types of puzzles. It includes some puzzle questions to test your skills. |
| Solve this puzzle |
Long list of things to check for while solving puzzle caches. |
| Codebreaker Series |
A series of 3 five star puzzle caches dealing with ciphers followed by a bonus. This could be good practice puzzles. |
| A geocaching puzzle primer |
A puzzle to help you do puzzles. |
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| Resources |
| Riddle me this SWAG |
The South West Arlington Geocachers have put together a wiki full of useful tools for puzzles. |
| FlagMan's Puzzle Bookmark List |
This huge list contains links to useful sites and tools |
| Tips for solving puzzle caches |
The geocaching association of New South Wales has compiled a page with useful hints, tips and links on solving and creating puzzle caches |
| Jim Loy's Puzzle Page |
A long list of puzzles, with explanations! It contains math problems, logic problems, word problems and cipher problems. |
| Puzzle Solving |
WinterDragon's list of useful websites for puzzle solving. |
| I'd rather be caching Part 1, Part 3, Part 3 |
A series of articles on solving puzzles that contains good explanations and links to tools and websites. |
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| Puzzle Cache Creation |
| Puzzle construction tips |
Lists the elements that a well constructed puzzle must have. Mandatory reading for everybody that thinks about creating their own puzzle. |
| How to make a puzzle geocache |
Some tips for specific types of puzzle caches. |
| How to make a geocache puzzle |
Generic tips on creating a puzzle cache. |
| GBA Puzzle (Mystery) Cache FAQ |
Useful tips from the Geocachers of the Bay Area on creating a good puzzle. |
| Geocacher University: 7 Mystery and Puzzle Ideas |
Great page with ideas for creating a puzzle. Learn from their techniques and then adapt it for your own. |
| Discussion on creating puzzles |
A thread on the Wisconsin Geocaching Association Forums. |
| Geocacher University: Elements of Style in Geocaching |
Lists the elements that make a geocache great (Location, Challenge, Container) and how to improve your own caches on those points. |
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| Presentations and workshops |
| Puzzle Cacheing FUNdamentals |
Presentation by the Gecache Alaska group. Contains a good and concise overview of tips on solving puzzles. As this is a presentation, the focus in on graphics rather than on text. Highly recommended. |
| Tips and tricks for puzzle caches |
A powerpoint presentation on solving puzzle caches. |