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 (the 13th cache in the series).
Lesson 08: Wordplay
Wordplay puzzles come in many forms but they all deal with spoken or written words. Here are a few common types of word puzzles you're likely to encounter as a puzzle solver. Each type has a web link where you can learn more about that type of puzzle and how to solve it.
Word Search
With a word search, you are given a list of words or phrases and an arrangement of letters. The letters are typically in a grid, although they may be in a shape that fits the theme of the puzzle. Words are arranged in the grid horizontally, vertically and diagonally. Some word search puzzles have an added bonus - when you have found and circled all of the words, the remaining letters in the grid will spell a mystery word or phrase.
Acrostic
An acrostic puzzle consists of a grid and a set of clues. Next to each clue is a list of blanks for writing the answer to that clue, one letter per blank. The blanks are all individually numbered and correspond to spaces in the grid. When you have solved all of the clues and copied all of the letters into their corresponding spaces in the grid, the grid will spell a quotation. If you read the first letter of the answer to each clue in order, it will typically spell the name of the person who gave the quote and possibly the source from which it was taken (usually a book or movie).
Crossword
A crossword is a word puzzle that normally takes the form of a square grid of black and white squares. The goal is to fill the white squares with letters, forming words or phrases, by solving clues which lead to the answers. The black squares are used to separate the words or phrases. Squares in which answers begin are usually numbered. The clues are then referred to by these numbers and a direction, for example, "4-Across" or "29-Down".
Anagrams
Anagrams can be used in many types of wordplay puzzles. Keep your eyes open for words that can have their letters scrambled to become different words.
Fill-In
With a word fill-in, you are given an empty grid and a list of words. Your job is to fit all of the words into the grid, one letter per square, using each word exactly once. These are really more logic puzzles than word puzzles.
Cryptogram
A cryptogram is a simple substitution cipher - one letter is replaced by exactly one other letter. A cipher text message is given that includes the spaces and punctuation of the original text. Your job is to figure out the original message.
Resources
Even the most avid puzzle-headed weenies get stuck sometimes. Here are some resources that such folks use to break through those roadblocks. This is far from an exhaustive list, but it should be a good basis to get you unstuck and on your way to the solution.
- Merriam-Webster's Dictionary - A great resource for words, offering an online word lookup (including pattern matching) and thesaurus.
- One Across - A great tool for solving crossword puzzles. It can search for answers based upon either words, word patterns, or the clues themselves. Can also help with anagrams, cryptograms, and general word lookup.
- The National Puzzlers League - The web site of the nation's biggest and oldest collection of puzzle heads. Contains word lists, solving tools, and all sorts of other goodies.
- I, Rearrangement Servant (Internet Anagram Server) - Give it a word or phrase, and it'll spit out more anagrams than you can possibly imagine.
Practice Puzzles
Puzzle 08: Elvis #1 Songs
A fallen phrase puzzle looks a little like a crossword puzzle but is meant to reveal a hidden message when the jumbled letters at the bottom of each column are entered into the correct square directly above the column. You are looking for 8 digits: N 50° 5x.xxx W 114° 0x.xxx
Elvis - #1 Songs
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
A |
|
|
|
|
|
|
S |
O |
|
|
|
|
U |
P |
|
|
|
|
| |
E |
N |
O |
|
M |
|
|
A |
N |
D |
|
H |
R |
|
E |
|
|
H |
E |
O |
G |
T |
|
| S |
U |
W |
H |
Y |
D |
E |
|
L |
O |
T |
|
O |
H |
U |
E |
K |
|
U |
O |
L |
I |
L |
|
| I |
R |
E |
D |
N |
O |
U |
|
A |
G |
N |
D |
Y |
O |
L |
B |
E |
|
C |
R |
U |
L |
H |
E |
| A |
O |
V |
U |
N |
V |
E |
R |
T |
E |
L |
O |
S |
T |
M |
R |
N |
F |
F |
R |
A |
R |
N |
O |
| S |
N |
C |
L |
E |
R |
S |
C |
I |
O |
F |
E |
N |
E |
O |
P |
A |
T |
A |
N |
N |
E |
H |
G |
| L |
H |
O |
E |
O |
D |
E |
D |
O |
L |
N |
W |
E |
O |
D |
O |
E |
T |
O |
L |
I |
T |
T |
T |
Update November 5, 2020
The location of the cache has been flooded by beaver activity in the area. Please perform the following projection on your solved coordinates to get the new location:
Distance: 157.045 meters
Bearing: 218.812°
The geochecker has been updated to check the projected coordinates.
