GCMV0F LSA - Computer Sciences
Type: Mystery | Size: Regular | Difficulty: | Terrain:
By: hiking_fool, adopted by WingsAndTales @ | Hide Date: 02/12/2005 | Status: Available
Country: United States | State: Colorado
Coordinates: N38° 51.644 W104° 50.299 | Last updated: 08/30/2019 | Fav points: 11

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This cache is from a half-mile to a mile hike (one way) and will require some bushwhacking. The posted coordinates are for a possible parking spot.

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John was a programming fool. He could code in FAP, MAD, FORTRAN II, and even in the newest languages, COBOL and JOVIAL. In addition, John was an expert on the operating systems for a variety of machines including the IBM 7090, the UNIVAC 1108, the CDC 6400 and the latest, the IBM 360. But when it came to the IBM 029 Keypunch, he was a dunce. When he went to punch a card (in the IBM 029 code, of course) with the coordinates for his LSA – Computer Sciences cache, he neglected to toggle the Print switch. On top of that, he left the 64-Character alphanumeric machine in Alpha mode when he punched in the numbers. Bummer.

The posted coordinates are for one parking place, but perhaps not the best one. If school is out, a closer parking spot is at N38 52.001 W104 51.338. Or, park at N38 51.431 W104 50.225, where there is a good trail and 4WD track for most of the way. Regardless, it’s going to take a bit of route finding and bushwhacking. (If you start at the school, you might want to cross to the north of the drainage as quickly as possible.)

4-25-05 UPDATE: It looks like I underestimated the terrain rating so I've upped it a couple of notches.

You can check your answers for this puzzle on Geochecker.com.

Additional Waypoints

08/18/2018 By Pohka
Decided to go out for a walk and grab this one. Came from the west side and had a nice hike, interesting seeing the homeless/moonshiner camp (tarps strung up as you walk down from the school. They’re on the far side and no threat but worthy of keeping an eye open). Hiking toward the final made for a choice which isn’t bad, just lots of toad stickers around there. Cache is in great shape, appreciate the placement and keeping Johns cache going.

04/25/2018 By UMass72
After a couple of bad weather days, today I got out with the geohounds, CJ & Ami. Solved the puzzle and had a nice push from RickP. Scouted out parking spots on Google Earth and made the 1/3 mile from there to GZ, even finding an easy spot to jump a small stream. Coordinates spot-on and nice to find an ammo can with the original 2005 log book; sat down (cactus everywhere) an read some of the early entries. Left a pair of sun glasses, took an AA set of wings (but no tail!), signed log and left calling card. TFTC

04/03/2018 By RPieperCO
Thanks for the great puzzle and cache! I've looked at this puzzle countless times over the years. Giving it a few good efforts here and there but just never really getting anywhere. A few weeks ago I sat down to finally figure this out. Unfortunately I was met with the same garbledygook I had in my notes previously. Then out of the blue the light came on and I noticed the missing information I needed!! Wow! I hate when a puzzle is way harder than you think but so simple and all the information is available!

Today after work I headed over to make the find. I initially chose the wrong route to the cache causing a lot of pain! Man, as previously stated the amount of vicious cacti in the area is overwhelming! Back on the trail and a much longer but easier route I made it to the GZ. LOVE when you find an old cache and its all original including the log. I always enjoy going back and reading the stories from 13+ years ago! Added my signature to the log, and snagged the coin. All is perfectly well.

As always it's great to remember one of our past great cachers. He will be missed for these amazing puzzles and hides. Rest in peace Hiking_Fool.

12/03/2017 By OR85OR450
Hmm... Well I barked up the right kind of tree for a couple days trying to solve this "D2"; just the wrong one of them so to speak. When I finally got to seeing what the trick was, it fortunately fell between asking the CO for some thoughts and hearing back from her.
I used the JHS parking lot on the weekend and enjoyed a walk down through this area. Cache was in sparkling condition after the two year wait... it is weird to look up the jeep TB which has been sitting here: I know the cacher in Texas who searches frequently across the site for jeeps which have become lost in inactive user's inventories and makes replacements. This one made its way to Colorado before I ever started caching! I traded it out for a coin. On the way back thru the school I took a walk around (a) the dirt running track for the first time in 38 years (holy moley !!!) and found a lucky penny

12/03/2015 By hartsdale
Out for a hike this morning to look for this one. ( been saving this one for a while )

I think that many years ago that me and a few friends made quite a few of these trails back in here on motor cycles and four wheel drives. ( fun in the mud )

I had trouble with chads on my punch card?

Thanks for a fun container to find!

HD

11/23/2015 By ryoungsteeple6
This one was a long time in the making. This was the first cache I ever tried to find upon starting to play after accidentally stumbling upon one. Didn't know what the blue pin meant until I got to where it was and couldn't find anything. Turns out I didn't have anywhere near the expertise to solve it so there it sat. As it is one of the closest ones to my house every time I open the app it's there haunting me unsolved. Now, thanks to my good friend Shifty LaRoux I have it and the smiley array I see from home is nearly complete. Good to knock this one off. All is well with the cache. I went ahead and dropped a TB as finding one this important to me warranted more than a simple exchange.

07/16/2015 By huffinpuffin2
Solved in the cold of a Wisconsin Winter, and recall using the word 'ingenious' to describe the twisted challenge. It was a big help that one of us actually cut their chops on FORTRAN, COBOL, and compiled them on a B6900........oh so old........

Fast forward to this HOT day to track this cache down! Did a bunch of backtracking to finally get to the right spot. Cache is in great shape and in a very unexpected hide! Nice view with a breeze! Once we restashed the cache, we hiked back out and came away with some sort of micro-arrows in our skin.....that's a new one for us! We thought the cactus was annoying, but at least they have visible spears!

Many thanks hiking foot and WingsAndTales for this excellent puzzler and hide! We had a blast from start to finish!

This entry was edited by huffinpuffin2 on Friday, 11 September 2015 at 23:37:59 UTC.
Always nice to see the original log still in place

See 2009 entry re: 'Damn Cactus'. Too Funny & True
Yep! There's Dang Cactus in there!
View from near GZ - makes it EZ now, right?

04/15/2014 By WingsAndTales
LSA - Computer Sciences was transferred from hiking_fool to user WingsAndTales

10/03/2013 By Harpster68
Was able to use my truck to get in and fairly close before having to walk up to the cache site. Made the grab and then got out of there. Thanks.

07/03/2013 By GoMRT
FTF in 18 months! I don't need a revival cache but this 2 in four months. Still here in a peaceful spot. Bushwack is right!! To get here I had fjord a running creek, squeeeeze through Barbie's wire, crest two hills, avoid cacti left and right and dodge a watching scrub jay. Did I mention dirt ski downhill with boulders avalanche style? Fav pt for the adventure and prelim work.

Loved the puzzle. Straight forward with a lesson to help. Hated comp sci in college, but this was a good one to remember what was before the vax I tried to learn on. Toggle on and a straight edge helped a lot. Maybe Mr. Fool can give a remember me cache beer prize since I made sure this one still exists?? Thx for da cache....now, can I get an airlift outta here????