Solving a puzzle cache with brute force
I am not one for puzzle caches. In fact, as a general rule I avoid them. Most times it’s simply because I really suck at trying to solve them. But every once in awhile I do one or go out with someone who has it solved and hence I am slowly approaching my 100 puzzle caches found. However, there is one in Moncton that I tried for awhile ago without actually solving the puzzle. It’s this cache.
I have heard through the grapevine where the final for this cache is so I had contemplated going to try and find it without the final coordinates. I got a hint as to the whereabouts from another cacher so in early June, I set out to try and find it. I spent a good hour in the area searching through every tree and shrub I could find, but came up with nothing. I put the cache on my watchlist and decided I would try for it another day.
Now, the fact is, I am just too lazy to watch all of the movies, and for me, there’s a sort of challenge in whether or not I can find it using other means other than what the original hider had in mind. After all, the idea is to solve for the final coordinates right?
Well, given the information provided on the cache page, today I decided to try and use a bit of logic. A checksum is given and portions of the coordinates are also given. Knowing that the numbers displayed would need to be added to the numbers not displayed gave me a number for both north and west. I knew that the last 3 digits for both would have to add up to this number in order for the checksum to be right. For example, if the north coordinates were shown as “N 23 31.BCD” and the checksum was 18, I know that B+C+D must equal 9. Using similar logic, I figured out the same kind of number for the north and west coordinates. This meant I now had a means to try and figure out about where this container would be.
I then did some math, and wrote a little program to help me, to figure out every possible 3 digit number that would “fit” within the parameters given. Knowing where the general area is, I used Google Earth to narrow down certain numbers. If you go too far in any direction, the numbers would be too low/high so it helped me create a “range” for which this cache could be in. Other numbers were easy to figure out because when I created a waypoint in that general area, they were always the same and when I plugged them into the puzzle, they worked with the other numbers I had already figured out.
After I had the possible area figured out, I then converted that into 130 different sets of possible coordinates. I then exported those coordinates from GSAK into Mapsource, Google Maps, and Garmin Basecamp to overlay their locations with an actual map. This then provided me with a good idea of where exactly the cache could be. But more importantly than that, it helped me eliminate where the cache could not be based on the land area, roads, etc. A large chunk of the sets of coordinates were overlayed on water and highway so I immediately knew to steer clear of those areas. Of the four “groups” of coordinates I plotted, it would seem that the cache itself would likely be located in one specific area. An area I did not check when I was there last. Not having my GPS with me, I couldn’t go out and test it so I had to wait until that evening to go and try out my plan.
I got home tonite, had supper, and then headed out to try and find this cache. I figured I would try in the opposite end of the area I was before and see if I had any luck. It was quite a hike through a lot of the tall grass and I did get to the first area and no luck. I then saw another area where it could possibly be but it also meant that I would be passing by a pile of trees. Since I knew the container was ground level, I figured I would check. No luck.
I then proceeded around a pile of reeds and then spotted what looked like a pretty cool looking tree. I thought to myself, if I was going to hide a cache, I would hide it there. I then spotted what looked like a reflection of some kind. At first I thought it might have been a small animal but as I got closer, it was indeed a plastic container filled with toys. I had found the cache!
Signed the log and replaced it and felt a serious sense of accomplishment. I took about an hour today to do all of the “calculations” and I think it payed off in the end. It may not be the way the cache owner intended folks to find it, but it certainly worked. Cross one puzzle cache off my list.
That’s not fair… You can’t just play this game any way that makes you feel good. Thats not what Geocaching is about, it says so in the place where it says that. If you want to play by your own rules you should be useing the other site. 😉
Aha, now I know where it is, my turn to try to get it…..lol
I actually marked the final location on my GPS so I’d have it for reference. It’s actually pretty close to the “middle” of the general area.
I like most puzzle caches. The ridiculously difficult ones I don’t particularly enjoy though. Once my caching numbers got into the thousands, I begin to look for some variations in the game. For a while, I chased travel bugs and coins. Lately, I have been trying to build up my puzzle and multi finds.
Like many of my caching pals, if I’m out caching and someone else has the puzzle coordinates, I have no problem logging the find without actually having solved the puzzle.
Puzzles that don’t have a “geochecker” link on them, I’m not likely to try for it unless I’m absolutely certain of the location.
This cache made me think about how many old puzzles are out there that have not been found in a while and probably won’t be anytime soon. So I did a query and noticed about 6 older puzzles around the area that have not shown any signs of life in a few years, 3 #1scout, 2 Fantastic Wizard and 1 Funky Nassua puzzle (probaly still there just way to hard to solve). Two of the #1scout puzzles seem to be gone,impossible to solve or missing. It drives me nuts when the owners know there are problems and they don’t fix it. Some of these may be ok but I don’t want to waste time trying to figure out a puzzle for nothing.
Ma pretty well figured this one out by going to IMDB and other movie sites. We then double checked with Zor to confirm our answer.
We want to go find it soon before it gets archived because of its location.
Hey Rev, which puzzles exactly are you talking about ( GC code number). Are the two by Fantastic Wizard these — Glowing Adventure (a cache for incepit) GC128DQ and The New Woodland Wizards Midnight Quest GC17434 .I have been thinking about trying these for a while.I really like the night caches.I also like to torture myself too with difficult to find caches ( Bridgedale Multi and #1 Scout Adventure Series – Rescue – SOS ). Just today I started the All Corners of Moncton Puzzle Cache – GCJARF.Went to all the locations and collected information but a few are hard to figure out exactly what info is required.Sent an e-mail to FunkyNassau but I am not sure if he will reply.If anyone can help me with this one it would be appreciated.
Yes I think those are the two. I usually avoid puzzles and wait to go with someone else or get the coords for them. If puzzles didn’t take up space I would never do them but I like to know where they are so I can hide with more confidence in some areas where there may be puzzles finals I don’t know about. I think the seed coords for puzzles should be within 100 meters of the final so we would know that it could be within 261 meters but not let someone make a lucky guess at it.
I have a puzzle out there that doesn’t need math or google or computer skills, or ability to solve puzzles from magazines. It is based on one of Islander’s puzzles from Nova Scotia.
It is one of those puzzles that you have to look at and then you get an idea and you yell EUREKA!!! I am surprised that so few people have solved it. Although when I look at the geochecker attempts, I see that some people actually did yell EUREKA but then made a mistake when doing the coords.
http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?wp=GC23M68#
For those of you who like the challenge of our logic puzzles, we just placed our first original logic puzzle in Gatineau. The 10 previous ones placed in Gatineau were all copies of NB puzzles.
http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?wp=GC2DAR7