String Figure It Out Mystery Cache
Kabutroid: Archiving geocache in order to close this account. The geocache container will be picked up when possible.
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Size:  (small)
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CACHE IS NOT AT THE POSTED
COORDINATES
They will take you to a parking lot most central
to all of the possibilities.
Everyone has seen them (or at the bare minimum, heard of the game
"Cat's Cradle"), yet few are aware of how to create them. How
familiar are YOU with string figures, and would you be willing to
learn how to make one to find a geocache?
This cache is dedicated to a little known hobby of mine which I
have practiced and played around with for years. String figures are
seen by many as a simple waste of time, and are generally
disregarded as any kind of art form or skill. Few people know how
to make them, and those that know how will keep it to themselves to
avoid looking silly. I wish to break this stigma, and teach people
a little bit about the string figure hobby that is taking the world
like molasses running uphill.
If you can follow these simple instructions, starting at the
position shown above... you will have your coordinates. Take note
that you can use your middle-finger instead of your index-finger to
make virtually all string figures (in the pictures below, I may be
using one or the other, whichever is more comfortable to use for
that particular figure).
Instructions (and some
definitions you may find handy)
1. Insert right index-finger from below into left-hand palm
string and extend hands, picking up the left palm string with the
right index-finger.
2. Insert left index-finger from below into right-hand palm
string and extend hands, picking up the right palm string with the
left index-finger.
3. Release both thumbs from their loops.
4. Pass both thumbs underneath and past all strings, and
return with the far little-finger string on the backs of the
thumbs.
5. Pass thumbs over and into index loop from above and
return with the far index string on the back of the thumbs.
6. Drop all strings from little-fingers.
7. Pass both little-fingers towards you overtop of the near
index string and pick up the far thumb string from below. Return
back to position.
8. Drop all strings from thumbs.
9. Pass thumbs over both index strings and under the near
little-finger string. Reach thumbs into little-finger loops from
below and return with near little-finger string.
10. There is a string that goes from your thumbs directly to
your little fingers, overtop of the index loops. Pass both your
thumbs under the near index-finger strings, up into the index loops
OUTSIDE the palm string, and return with the near index string.
This should be done right next to the index-fingers, closer to the
hands than the palm string. Do not do this step on the inside of
the palm strings, closer to the center of the figure.
11. There should now be two strings on the thumbs, the upper
string that you just placed there, and the lower string that has
been there since step 9. Take the lower thumb strings and take them
off of the thumbs, going overtop the upper thumb strings. The upper
thumb strings should remain, and the lower thumb strings should now
be forming a small triangle with what had been the palm
string.
12. Dip the index-fingers from above into the triangles I
just mentioned, and leave them there.
13. Release all strings from little-fingers. Do not worry if
the lower, original strings on the index fingers drop off
accidentally as well, but try to keep them there for a better
looking final figure.
14. If they have not already, drop the original, lower
strings from the index fingers while rotating your hands downwards
and away from you. Keep the index string pinched in the bend of
your index fingers.
15. As your palms face away from you, the index strings
should now be safe from falling off, and you will have your final
figure.
Now...
what
did
you
make? Each picture linked has six possible figures. Pick the
letter corresponding to the string figure you just created and find
the cache at the coordinates below:
A:
B:
C:
D:
E:
F:
G:
H:
I:
J:
K:
L:
|
N49 49.495 W097 08.040
N49 49.638 W097 08.534
N49 49.213 W097 09.210
N49 49.506 W097 08.599
N49 49.737 W097 08.471
N49 49.601 W097 08.957
N49 49.151 W097 08.456
N49 49.780 W097 08.731
N49 49.369 W097 08.207
N49 49.772 W097 08.189
N49 49.035 W097 07.919
N49 49.494 W097 08.824
|
M:
N:
O:
P:
Q:
R:
S:
T:
U:
V:
W:
X:
|
N49 49.326 W097 08.467
N49 49.765 W097 08.633
N49 49.122 W097 09.061
N49 49.214 W097 08.626
N49 49.327 W097 08.699
S00 31.662 E166 56.986
N49 49.715 W097 08.330
N49 49.376 W097 08.302
N49 49.603 W097 09.162
N49 49.495 W097 08.178
N49 49.665 W097 08.783
N49 49.599 W097 08.390
|
Or... if you can't succeed in making the string figure, do not wish
to attempt, or are otherwise unable to solve the puzzle... you can
always visit every single location an hope to find the cache by way
of brute force. It WILL be hidden however, for this is the way of
Zebeth.
I have personally visited
almost every coordinate to
confirm that it would be a plausible location that a small-sized
cache would be capable of being placed... JUST to make sure it's
difficult, if not impossible, to completely disregard some of the
possible locations.
Original contents are:
Logbook, pencil, and a sharpener
Rubber chicken
Blue bouncy ball
Toy car
Chainmail ball
FTF prize (handmade stainless steel chainmail bracelet) &
certificate
My fourth cache, and my first puzzle, which I hope you enjoy toying
with. I love string figures, and hopefully some people may have a
greater appreciation for the art form after completing the puzzle.
If anyone wishes, they can also
contact me for instructions or help with the other string
figures shown. Final note/warning though... if your name isn't in
the logbook, it isn't on the website :P. The logbook pages can be
seen over
here, updated whenever I'm able. Also, please refrain from
posting ANY spoilers, be it implying which option the cache is
located at, or even which it is NOT located at (except perhaps the
kitty-cat one). If any spoilers are posted, I'll be deleting the
log immediately, and will email you a copy of it, requesting that
you repost after making some changes I'll inform you about.
Sorry... I just really want people to try making string figures
:).
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Hfr n fgevat gjb zrgref ybat, naq pbaarpg vg jvgubhg ovt xabgf