The North Carolina DeLorme Challenge Mystery Cache

As with all puzzle caches, the container is not located at the posted coordinates. They represent a location close to the geographical center of North Carolina. This is no ordinary puzzle cache, however...

In January 2004, Haicoole unveiled the California DeLorme Challenge. Many states and regions now have their own.

The DeLorme Atlas & Gazetteer is published for all 50 states. These maps are a favorite among travelers and outdoorsmen and are available at many locations, including online directly from DeLorme. The goal of this cache is simple: To find a cache on each and every page and block of one edition of the North Carolina State DeLorme Atlas & Gazetteer. The final cache coordinates can be obtained by successfully finding at least one cache on each page of the Atlas.

Based on feedback from and incidents seen with DeLorme Challenges in other states, some guidelines need to be laid out:

1. As mentioned above, the posted coordinates are not the actual coordinates for the cache. The cache may actually be quite some distance from these coordinates! [Hint: Where are most of OzGuff's hides?]
   
2. Generally accepted rules, guidelines and conditions for logging a cache find apply. These must be bona fide caches listed on Geocaching.com that you have personally (physically) found and logged under your Geocaching.com handle. You may include caches found prior to the creation of the North Carolina DeLorme Challenge so long as they meet all other Challenge requirements.
   
3. All cache types count as finds for the DeLorme Challenge with the exception of events (e.g., regular, Mega, CITO, and Lost and Found) and locationless caches.
   
4. If a North Carolina DeLorme Atlas page includes space not located in North Carolina, only caches in the North Carolina portion count. We will go off of the posted coordinates for a cache when determining in which state or page a given cache falls.
   
5. FOR EDITIONS 1-7: There are seven pages with more than one map block: 30, 68, 70, 71, 79, 80, and 86. For pages 68, 79, 80, and 86 a cache find in any one map block fulfills the requirement for that page. For pages 30, 70, and 71, caches must be found in all map blocks to fulfill the requirement for those pages. [For those who are wondering why there are no pages 44 and 45 they are in the middle of the atlas -- the centerfold if you will -- and show the entire state of North Carolina.] FOR EDITIONS 8-10: There are only three pages with multiple blocks -- 28, 29, and 86. Page 28 requires a cache find in only one of the blocks; pages 29 and 86 require cache finds in all map blocks. FOR HIGHER EDITIONS: Contact me for any issues with regard to multi-block pages.
   
6. If you find that there are no caches on a particular page, I recommend that you contact a cacher local to that page and ask that they hide a cache.
7. While you may have others with you when you find the final cache, only those who have fulfilled ALL criteria for this cache will be allowed to log it as a find. Find logs by other cachers will be deleted.
   
8. When in doubt ask —- we can discuss it or even seek guidance from others, but the final decision rests with the cache owner.
   
9. Remember that this is a game and is supposed to be fun!
   

Many thanks go out to Haicoole for the original idea for this cache and to the other cache owners who have taken the idea and run with it for their own states. (And especially to Moun10Bike! I stole most of the above text from his Washington DeLorme Challenge!]

The easiest way to check your progress is to keep track of your Challenge finds via a Bookmark List. [See my Challenge Bookmark List for the suggested format.] Please also include the Challenge on your Bookmark List so that I will easily be able to download your selected caches. When you are done or almost done contact me by email -- ozguff@gmail.com. I will then review your Bookmark List in order to verify the 77 or so caches. Once everything checks out, I will then send you the correct coordinates for the final cache! The find cannot be logged until the physical container is found and the logbook inside signed. The cache is located just off of the Mountains-to-Sea trail.

And while you are traveling around the state finding caches to complete the challenge, if you feel the urge to hide some other caches for those traveling behind you, be sure you will be able to properly maintain them per the guidelines for placing a cache. Leaving geotrash out there will give us all a bad reputation.

Don't forget to work on the North Carolina County Challenge at the same time!

Geo-Checker 1st-7th editions OR Geo-Checker 8th edition

FTF HONORS GO TO BEENTHERE309!!!

Cachers who have completed the DeLorme Challenge:
[Clicking a photo should take you to their online log.]