Komplete Geocaching, Illinois Style Mystery Cache

The cache is not at the posted coordinates. You must solve a puzzle to get the correct coordinates and read the cache page for the requirements to log this cache! Please read the entire cache page.

The Requirements:

In order to qualify to log this challenge cache you must find or have found 1 cache for each possible terrain/difficulty combination as shown in the matrix below, as is normal for a challenge of this type.

I want to add another dimension however- time. Therefore, you will also need to find or have found 1 cache placed in each of the 1st seven years of geocachings existence (2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 & 2006). Finally, you will also need to find or have found a cache in each of the 12 months of the year (the month of your find is what matters here, not the month the cache was placed).

Any particular cache can only be used for one of the above criteria.

That makes a total of 100 caches that you will need to find in order to log this cache: 81 + 7 + 12.

Amongst the 100 caches you must include the following types of caches: Traditional- , Multi- , Unknown- , Letterbox Hybrid- , Virtual- , Webcam- , Earth- , Event- , CITO- ; and the following sizes of caches: micro- , small- , regular- , large- , other- , virtual- , not chosen- .

50% of the finds must be within the state of Illinois.

25% of the finds must be within the GONIL area (the Illinois counties of Boone, Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Grundy, Kane, Kankakee, Kendall, Lake, McHenry, Will and Winnebago).

The GONIL finds can count towards the Illinois finds.

Additional rules:

1: All caches found prior to the published date (7/1/08) of this listing DO count - you do NOT start from 'zero'.

2: All finds used to qualify for this challenge must be on caches that were published before 7/1/21, with the exception of 'event' style caches (Event & CITO). In those cases the cache can only be used for its type and month found- not for the difficulty/terrain matrix or year placed. This is to avoid 'dummy' caches being listed just to meet the requirements of this cache. The exceptions may be (at the cache owner's discretion) caches published that satisfy a D/T combination that didn’t exist or were rare prior to the publication of this cache. Those exceptions may be added if there is adequate evidence that they are indeed the D/T combination stated. In the event that such a cache becomes allowed, the placer will not receive credit for the D/T combination of the stated cache. They will still be required to go elsewhere to satisfy that D/T rating.

In the interests of keeping things 'fresh', the date requirement will be updated yearly on this caches anniversary date. The new requirement date will be the previous years anniversary date.

Since the caches needed for the 'months' requirement are dependent on when they are found rather than placed, those 12 can be claimed on caches published on any date and are granted a general exception to this date requirement.

3: All finds must be listed on this website. Caches listed on other websites are not allowed.

4: Generally accepted rules, guidelines and conditions for logging a cache find apply. You must physically visit, locate, sign the log (if applicable) and log your find online for all the caches you claim for this challenge. You also need to meet all other requirements listed on the cache page, if there are any.

5: Caches that have had their difficulty and/or terrain rating changed are generally not acceptable. If it appears they were changed solely to aid in the logging of this cache they will be put on the 'off limits' list. If a change occurs before you submit your bookmark list for verification you will need to find another cache to replace that combo. If it happens after you have requested verification but before it has been done I will decide at that time what will need to be done. After you have logged a find you will not need to worry about it- unless it was done with nefarious intentions.

6: Caches in which the ratings have been inflated- such as, but not limited to, 'liars caches', are ineligible as far as D/T ratings are concerned. They may possibly be used for type, size, date placed or month found.

7: Any other false manipulation of a caches information may lead to it being added to the 'off limits' list and therefore unable to be claimed for the purposes of this challenge.

8: You can't claim finds on caches you own.

9: This cache can't count towards any of the requirements.

10: For the purposes of this challenge the posted coordinates of all caches will determine which state and/or county they can be claimed for.

11: If it turns out that any specific cache, for any reason, needs to be considered as off limits and unusable for this challenge I will list them here:

GC1JXR6- NOT IN THE DITCH
GC1NK7J- 1 Nothing But Coins Till You Swap
GC1NK7Z- 2 Not Another Micro
GC1NNJM- 3 Not Another Nano
GC1NNK6- 4 15” X 3” Green Tube, What Else?
GC37JA2- Earthcache Challenge!
GC3DX00- Lake Shore Pavilion
GC39ZW8- Smoke 'em if you got 'em
GC3C6ZJ- "Mark it zero!!!"
GC3KV6N- Over the river and thru the woods
GC17PV2- PU, what a stinker!

Verification:

To verify your finds you will need to keep a bookmark list so that I will be able to run a pocket query from it. Make sure to include this cache. Make note on the individual caches in the bookmark list what criteria each one is being used for, including extra credit items. For an example, see my bookmark list here. Notify me when you have finished the requirements, but before you attempt a find, either thru a note on the cache page or an email. Please allow 1 week for me to verify that the requirements have been met. It will most likely take far less time than that but I cannot guarantee it. Once I have verified that you have met the requirements I will send you an email confirmation. You are then free to hunt the cache when/as you can.

Logging:

To log the find online you must, of course, get to the right coordinates and sign the log. The last thing requested is a photo of you and the logbook posted with your 'found it' log. Any other pictures of your journey are welcome as well. If others are with you when you find this cache they can sign the logbook stating they were there but they may not claim a find unless they have also been verified. In other words, no pre-logging allowed- only signatures entered in the logbook after being verified will count as an official find. Find logs posted without prior approval, or those protested by other cachers for acceptable reasons, may be deleted immediately until resolved. Use common sense. If you cheat, you mainly cheat yourself. However, if you cheat, I will delete your log and post a note stating why I deleted your log. If you have already completed and logged a challenge of this type elsewhere, you are welcome to do so here as well, pending verification.

Please follow the above regulations to keep things fun, and fair, for everyone. Failure to follow them will result in your log being deleted.

The Matrix:

The Puzzle:

The cache is-

188,102,379.8 hair's breadths from the first cache I ever found;

95,929.383654 Royal Egyptian cubits from the first cache placed in the GONIL area;

31,331.071752 smoots from the toughest rated (terrain and difficulty added together- a 2/2 would add up to 4), original, not newer, virtual cache ever listed in the GONIL area;

2.0900705411 marathons from the coordinates attached to my log for the last locationless cache I ever did;

0.0005859872523 light seconds from the oldest 5/5 cache in Illinois.

You can check your solution to the puzzle here: .

The Cache:

The actual cache is a preform in the woods. While most caches of this type are easier finds than the 5/5 rating they are listed as, due to the special nature of the challenge, I have striven to make this one as close as possible to a true 5/5 all on its own. After you have found it, let me know what you think.

Extra Credit:

Finders will be ranked on the Komplete Kachers list based upon how many extra credit items they can claim.

For every extra credit item they will get 1 silver star- . For every 5 items they will get a gold star- . Extra credit items do not need to be included within the primary 100 caches- if you do include them there however, that's fine. Where possible have any extra credit item you are claiming on the same bookmark list you are keeping for this challenge. For those items that can't be put on a bookmark list include the information in your note on the cache page or email informing me of your completion of the challenge.

Extra credit items are:

Finding a Locationless- , Mega-Event- , GPS Adventures Exhibit- , WhereIGo- or APE- type cache (one star for each type).

Visiting or posting a Waymark- .

Finding a benchmark- .

Hiding a cache of any type.

Being 'First To Find' on a cache.

Finding a cache outside of the United States.

Finding a 'Premium Members Only' cache.

Finding a 'nano' size cache. This one might be tricky as it is not an 'official' size. Therefore there must be something on the cache page indicating the container is a 'nano'.

Moving a TB or geocoin.

Finding a cache on each day of the week (one star for all 7 days).

Note: Extra Credit items are not affected by the date restriction of Additional Rule #2 if they are being considered only for extra credit.

Disclaimers, other information & final thoughts:

I reserve the right to change the requirements, rules and extra credit items at any time. This may or may not affect those in the process of completing the challenge but will not do so to anyone who has already logged a proper find. It is possible that standings on the Leader Board will be altered by such changes.

Feel free to post a note if you are taking up the challenge and/or to let others know how far along you are.

Please do not use posts to the cache as a discussion forum. If you do wish to join a discussion, there is a thread on this cache in the GONIL forums here.

I don't expect this cache to have very much traffic. With that in mind- please do not leave TBs, coins or other trackable items in the cache. I wouldn't want to see it become a prison for those items. Temporarily 'dipping' them in and out is perfectly acceptable.

If you have any questions, comments or criticisms just send me an email. I'm open to suggestions for additions, improvements and/or changes and am willing to discuss things. Any final decision will be mine tho, as is my right as the cache owner.

Thanks:

To Kealia, for starting off this type of challenge.
To fizzymagic, for inspiring Kealia.
To those local cachers who helped me work out the puzzle and provided other input- you know who you are.
And last, but certainly not least, to Coyote Trust, for more help than this little blurb can do justice.

Updates:

4/2/10- New wording in Rule #2 to reflect my post on this date. This will be updated yearly.

3/3/12- Added 'Challenges' to the list of Extra Credit items.

1/6/13- Removed 'Challenges' from the list of Extra Credit items since they are no longer supported.

8/31/13- Woo Hoo! Finally qualified for my own challenge!