GC5H215 521
Type: Mystery | Size: Large | Difficulty: | Terrain:
By: 3 Williams Kidz @ | Hide Date: 02/07/2015 | Status: Available
Country: United States | State: Colorado
Coordinates: N38° 58.720 W105° 02.487 | Last updated: 08/30/2019 | Fav points: 0
                       

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CACHE IS NOT AT THE ABOVE COORDINATES!!!

The cache name comes from what this cache involves: 5 puzzles, 2 ammo cans and 1 logbook to sign. Ever seen a single geocache with TWO ammo cans ?!?!

Almost all geocaching metal ammo cans are either .30 caliber (the smaller ones) or .50 caliber (the slightly larger ones). The final ammo can here is larger than either of those, and the first ammo can is significantly smaller than those (wink wink, nudge nudge).

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RECOMMEND HIKING BOOTS. THERE ARE NOT ANY CLIFFS OR DROPOFFS, and while the area around the final (second) ammo can is a bit steep, my 12 year old son and 9 year old twins had no problem with the hike. There is a trail that will get you to within about 150 feet of the final (second) ammo can. And, significant snow will make the hike much tougher. ALSO, WE DO NOT RECOMMEND THIS CACHE IN THE DARK -- TRYING to SOLVE THE 5th AND FINAL PUZZLE THAT IS IN THE 2ND AMMO CAN IN THE DARK WOULD VERY DIFFICULT.

There are 4 puzzles on this webpage that you will need to solve in order to get the coordinates to the first ammo can. In the first ammo can are directions to the final, in the format of "The final is xxx feet away on a bearing of zzz TRUE".


You will not need anything other than your wits and creativity to solve the 5th and final puzzle -- no paper, no writing stick, no calculator, etc. ALLOW YOURSELF AT LEAST SEVERAL MINUTES TO SOLVE THE FINAL PUZZLE AND GET TO THE LOGBOOK.

The 4 puzzles on this page are:

Jigoku -- same format as a 9x9 Sudoku, but you do not start with any numbers. Each square contains "<" (less than) and ">" (greater than) indicators to allow you to solve the puzzle by considering which squares could contain the lowest numbers or highest numbers, then the next lower or next higher numbers, and continuing until finished.

Kakuro -- another grid of squares in which you need to solve which digits fill the squares with no repetition of any digit in any row or column; rows and columns are 2 to 9 squares long, and you are given the sum total of the squares in each row or column.
A couple cachers have indicated that the attached Kakuro puzzle is a little fuzzy when printed. A larger version of the same puzzle is at:
521 Kakuro

Inky -- similar to a 6x6 Sudoku with digits 1 through 6 in each row and column; and, areas of the grid are contained within bold lines and contain a mathematical function -- digits within the bold area must satisfy the mathematical function. For example, if there are 3 squares within the bold lined area, and it has "6 X" as well -- the three digits, when all multiplied together, will total 6.

A logic puzzle -- in which you use several clues to solve (in this case) which hiker is on which trail, what type of tree he/she sits under, and how many geocaches they found.

The Jigoku, Kakuro and Inky puzzles have some squares with a shaded letter in them, that will be used to get the coordinates to the first ammo can. Numbers from the logic puzzle will also be used to get the coordinates to the first ammo can.

None of the puzzles are hard versions; the whole idea is to (perhaps) introduce you to a type of puzzle that you may have not seen yet, and to have fun!

The 5th and final puzzle is in the final container. You will NOT be able to get to the logbook without solving the final puzzle and per geocaching rules, YOU CANNOT CLAIM CREDIT FOR FINDING THIS CACHE UNLESS YOU SIGN THE LOGBOOK ! If you are having trouble solving the 5th and final puzzle, please do not break it! Just keep working on it. If at all possible, please post a picture of your log entry on the logbook but DO NOT include the final puzzle in your picture. ONLY POST A PICTURE IF YOU ARE SURE THERE IS NO TRACKING DATA ATTACHED TO YOUR PICTURE (e.g., exif data)

Again, you will not need anything other than your wits and creativity to solve the 5th and final puzzle -- no paper, no writing stick, no calculator, etc. ALLOW YOURSELF AT LEAST SEVERAL MINUTES TO SOLVE THE FINAL PUZZLE AND GET TO THE LOGBOOK.

Okay, time to get started! Print off each of the 4 puzzles, which are attached as pictures; note the shaded letters in four of the squares in each of the Jigoku, Kakuro and Inky puzzles, that will be used once you have the puzzles solved. And, from the Logic Puzzle:

M is the number of geocaches found by the hiker who sits under the oak tree, and
R is the number of geocaches found by Trail Tamer, and
U is the number of geocaches found by the hiker who sits under the aspen tree, and
W is the number of geocaches found by the hiker on Barr Trail


After you have them all solved, do the following math to get the coordinates to the first ammo can:

The first ammo can is at N 38 5A.BCD W 105 0E.FGH
A = J + K
B = L + M
C = N - P
D = Q - R
and
E = S - T
F =U x V
G =W + X
H =Y x Z

And to check your solution: A+B+C+D+E+F+G+H = 42

You can also check your answer for the coordinates to the first ammo can on GeoChecker.com.

CONGRATULATIONS to Rob14erGuy and Mr. FTF hartsdale for co-FTF !!!

CONGRATULATIONS also go to ernie66 for 2TF !!!

Good luck, and as always -- have fun !!!

Additional Waypoints

05/12/2019 By Dean & Chris
Finally. It seems like we started working on the puzzles a long time ago. Yet one of the puzzles gave us a huge headache. We needed a bit of help from the CO which he graciously provided. Today we went out for the second time to get the smiley. On our first try we only found the small container. We didn't have a necessary tool with us and the big one eluded us. Everything fell into place this time and we made the find and solved the final puzzle.YES! Kudos to the CO for a very nicely done cache. Sure deserves a favorite. Traded TBs here. 2 out and 3 in. Tftc.

04/21/2019 By RfloydIV
Here from KY visiting my daughter in Colorado Springs and finding some caches. This one had a bit of everything—fun puzzles, large and small caches, a couple of stops, some hiking, and a challenge at the end. I solved the initial puzzles last week. I drove up here and started the adventure in a bit of wind and cold. After stage1, I ascended to the final and sat down for the final challenge. Once I got started it went well. I signed the log, and by then the sun had come out. Thanks for the fun adventure! A fav!

11/22/2018 By gampa&gamma
Having celebrated our Thanksgiving a few days ago with a bunch of our friends from church, we decided to take advantage of this gorgeous Thursday to get up to Woodland Park and hike on some of our favorite trails.

This great cache was on the top of our list as the CO never disappoints with quality caches---from start to finish. gampa had solved three of the four cache-page puzzles a few weeks ago (and gamma got some internet help on the fourth :/ ). The coords indicated to us we would be in an area we wanted to clean up a few traditional caches. We encountered some dry trails, some slightly muddy trails and........yes! some trails with snow still on them!

gampa's eagle eyes spotted the container at the solved coords and then we were off to the final puzzle. gamma redeemed her fourth-puzzle short-cut by persevering (with very cold fingers) on the fifth and final puzzle. Since our kids used to play with this type of puzzle when they were young, we thought it would be fun to add the same reward to the puzzle container as we used to give to them---just a slightly lesser quantity--ha!

We signed the log----FINALLY!----discovered two trackables, and replaced the container as found. Off we went the the next cache with smiles on our faces for having enjoyed another classy 3WilliamsKidz cache. Thanks and Blessed Thanksgiving!

06/23/2018 By 3 Williams Kidz
Stopped by to do a bit of maintenance and drop off 2 trackables.

02/18/2018 By LostinDenver
Now that was an adventure! It started, honestly, only because of the big brains on @lasouthpaw. I couldn't have solved these puzzles by myself. After she did the heavy lifting by solving the puzzles, we met up with the intention of grabbing this cache and several others in the area. As geo-adventures go, this one was typical for me. Take the most difficult path in the snow (when there is an easier one). But we arrived at the final with a smidge of energy left... only to discover that we still needed our mental resources. We managed to solve the next puzzle and put ink on that impossible log book. We found a much easier route back to our parking spot. Thanks for an amazing cache. TFTC!

02/18/2018 By lasouthpaw
This one was a major adventure - loved it! I had mentioned to @LostinDenver at the puzzle event I'm decent at puzzles with numbers and logic puzzles. A couple weeks later he sent over this GC code and said check it out. I went to work and was surprised I was able to solve all of them. I thought the Jigoku would be the hardest, but once I thought out the logic of how to solve it the numbers fell into place. The Kakuro took some time, and the Inky flat out gave me fits. But I persisted and did a little happy dance when the checker gave the green light. Being the time of year it is, I thought we'd have to wait a few weeks to come after the final, but it was so nice out today we had to make the run. Made it to the first spot without any problems and forced the first ammo can to cough up its secret. Sometimes it pays to take a minute to plan, but we didn't do that. Instead we were so excited we just took off in the direction the arrow pointed. Definitely not the easiest route, but it was the more creative one. We made it through uphills with slippy snow, followed coyote (?) tracks, and finally realized we'd need to make a steep slip and slide decent across the ravine to the other side. Some on our feet, some crab walking, and a little bit on the ol' derriere. Once across we were able to navigate quickly to the second ammo can and sat down to work on the puzzle in the cache. It was pretty obvious what needed to be done, we just couldn't see how. Took a minute to look and think, then started working. Hearing that click and then the pop of the log container breaking free was pretty freakin awesome. The swag in the cache made me laugh, very appropriate. Left it for the next finders, though. Tucked everything back in place and headed back for the car. Definitely one of those caches that's more fun with a buddy. Thank you for the brain teasers and one of the more memorable caches I've found. #2126

08/15/2017 By Khoda
Caching in the Colorado Rockies and visiting my caching friend Hives in Colorado Springs.
Today's goal is to head toward Woodland Park and after logging the oldest in the state, find a number of challenge caches.

Amazing the difference at 9000 ft vs 14,000ft. Had a great time caching with Hives and trekking in the forest.

Great puzzle but road coattails on this one.

Many thanks to 3 Williams Kidz for placing this cache.

17 of 19 for the day
Time found/logged: 5:57:00 PM

TFTC TNLN SL

08/15/2017 By Hives
Today's journey with friend Khoda took us out to Tarryall and than back to the Woodland Park area for a number of challenge caches. It was a fairly taxing day but quite successful. Thanks to the COs for placing and continuing to maintain these caches. Had the initial stage of this one solved for awhile and just getting to the area to pursue it. All aspects of the cache were well crafted and definitely earns a Fav point. A little more of a trek to the final than I was expecting but worth it. Nice hide. SL. TFTC