This caching EVENT starts with a 3 part multi-puzzle cache to find the coordinates for the confluence. The final location is used with the permission of the property owners. We will meet at the confluence any time after 12 Noon on Sunday, August 22 in Helena, Montana; plan about an hour to finish the puzzles once you reach the first coordinates above. All cachers of any level welcome and encouraged to come. Come meet some of the handles you see in the log books. Bring a potluck dish to share; we will do the burgers.
Afternoon events include:
- The GPS PentCachelon
On your mark, get those cords!
- The CachExam
How many Cache Facts did you collect to get here? Most right answers wins the prize.
- The Cache Prize Fight
May the best Stats Lock On!
Beginners and Old Pros have equal chances in all the events.
Now for the Puzzle!
First, go to the coordinates listed above; this is NOT the confluence, just the first place to collect clues. Park at these coordinates and take a tour of this special place. You need to find the date the Pioneer Cabin was built and the date the restaurant was first used as an apartment building for single men. BUT, be sure to read ALL 6 plaques because you need to collect facts for the CachExam later in the afternoon. Once you have all your facts and the two dates, you can calculate the new coordinates as follows.
- Subtract the two dates.
- Add 74. This number = ABC
- To the number in 1 above again, double it and subtract 6. This number = DEF
The Second set of coordinates are:
N 46 35. __ __ __ ABC
W 112 01. __ __ __ DEF
Drive to the location and park at those coordinates. Enter the building by the South door. Take the stairs you walk by and visit the huge three-story room with the paintings of early Montana explorers. Face South again and look at the two statues on the balcony. Find the last name of the couple depicted here, but make sure you look at all the statues you pass to collect facts for the CachExam later!
With this last name, assign the numbers 1 to 9 to the letters in order. Then use these numbers to fill in the blanks for the next set of coordinates.
The new coordinates are:
N 46. __ __. __ __ __ NL.MMD
W 112 00. __ __ __ EDA
This will bring you to the site of the confluence of cachers. May the force be with you. We look forward to seeing you wherever you hail from. Which reminds me, make sure you have your HOME cords marked in you GPS as a waypoint so you can check during the Cache Prize Fight. RSVP on the cache page as a note is not required, but would help for the burger count.