STEP 1: Print out the puzzle elements. The “Related Web Page” option above will give you all you need on 2 pages. You can also print this whole cache page. NOTE: using the printer-friendly link above has a tendency to strip out the clue numbers. You can also print each image from your browser by clicking the links below the maps. Any option should work, either in color or black and white.
STEP 2: Solve the crossword puzzle. The answers are all geocaching related, including all the possible elements of a numerical waypoint in this part of the world. Three of the letters are already there, to assist you in starting and to keep things on track later on.
Across
- Cacher's bloodsucking enemy (Culicidae)
- Logless cache, now a "waymark"
- Hiding place, from the French
- Toys to trade (stuff we all get)
- James -, Robert Conrad role
- Signed but didn't take or leave anything (abbr.)
- Micro in a tube
- Dog tag wanderer
- Tea for -
- Cacher's bloodsucking enemy (Ixodidae)
- Line parallel to the Equator
- Learn something geological with this find
- - Flags (amusement park)
- Girl from the - Country (Bob Dylan song)
- The loneliest number you'll ever do
- Deadly sins quantity
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Down
- Geocaching outsiders
- Appreciated the hide! (abbr.)
- Ground -
- Quick drive 'n' find
- Shakespeare's 'Tempest:' Full fathom -
- Billion-dollar satellite system, so you can play this game
- Dogs Allowed, for example
- Out of luck, or blind (abbr.)
- Line running pole to pole
- Magic -ball, prognostication machine
- More than one stage
- Quick responder
- Handy helper (abbr.)
- Vivaldi's "- Seasons"
- Lamppost cache (slang)
- Cat o'- tails
- What you'd like to sign
- Clean up after yourself (and others) (abbr.)
- - to get ready
- Micro micro
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STEP 3: When the crossword puzzle is done, you’ll see 36 letters in the highlighted squares (all the squares where two words intersect). Take all the letters in order, left to right and top to bottom, and place them in the solving grid in the proper order, six to a column, in six columns. Those three starting letters are there to keep you on track.
STEP 4: Now place each letter’s numerical equivalent in the “numbers” column. There’s an alphabet table here for your reference. Again, the three starting letters have their equivalents already in place.
STEP 5: Add up the six numbers in each column and place each total in the proper field. Now perform the mathematical function indicated for each total to discover the values for a, b, c, d, e and f. Put those values into this formula:
N 41° 18.abc W 96° 07.def
and you’ll have the final coordinates.
STEP 6: Verifier method A: Your answer (a,b,c,d,e,f only) should consist of 28-down, 21-down, 29-across and 33-across in some order and configuration. Verifier method B:
STEP 7: Go out and find the cache! From the given parking, it's about .15 mile walk each way if you stick to the mowed trail. Bike-friendly by paved trail if you approach from the other side. Some bushwhacking. Please re-hide well.
ATTRIBUTION: The idea to convert the crossword intersections into a numerical code is from GC2WNHY, Auburns Cacher's Gold Rush Crossword Puzzle, by Prospector Oldwood.
Here's the smartphone QR code for this cache address; it's in the logbook, too, so you can claim me in the field.
