GC1JXK9 Path of the Zodiac #4: Cancer
Type: Mystery | Size: Small | Difficulty: | Terrain:
By: EarthCurrent @ | Hide Date: 05/01/2009 | Status: Available
Country: United States | State: Colorado
Coordinates: N39° 00.374 W108° 38.070 | Last updated: 08/30/2019 | Fav points: 0

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This is a puzzle cache. The physical cache is not at the above listed coordinates. In order to locate the cache you must decipher the true coordinates from the puzzle below. Good luck.

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This is one of fourteen caches that make up the Western Sky portion of the Path of the Zodiac series of caches. Thirteen of the caches composing this portion represent the thirteen constellations that occupies the ecliptic that defines the Western Zodiac. The fourteenth cache, Path of the Zodiac: The Western Sky, can only be located after the initial thirteen caches in the portion have been located and the clues they contain gathered. The order in which these thirteen caches are found does not matter, but finding all of them is a requirement to seek out and log the fourteenth cache. In mythology, the constellation of Cancer represents a tiny crab that played a minor role in the tale of the Twelve Labors of Hercules. One of the Labors was to defeat the Hydra, a menacing multi-headed beast. During the battle, the goddess Hera, who was no fan of Hercules, ordered the crab to try and distract Hercules long enough for the Hydra to gain the upper hand. Being a tiny crab all it could do, however, was latch onto Hercules' toe. Sadly for the crab, this wasn't enough, and he was crushed underfoot by the undistracted Hercules as the battle continued. Despite its failure, Hera was impressed with the little crab's bravery so he was raised into the heavens as a constellation; albeit a very small and dim one. While the stars that make up Cancer's constellation aren't very bright, you might need to be in order to solve the Riddle of Cancer. Figuring it out will lead you to the cache, and hopefully to a better end than that of the crab. RIDDLE OF CANCER When you find the cache remember to record the clue contained inside the container. You'll need it if you are looking to complete the full series. Outside of providing a coordinate checker for each puzzle, I will not give personal help, hints, etcetera until the whole of the Path of the Zodiac series have been completed by a few cachers. It's the only fair way to do it as completing this series should be considered something of an accomplishment and making it to the end should go to those who make it there on their own devices. Cachers that have worked out a puzzle are discouraged from giving much away if asked for help in order to keep up the level of challenge provided by this series.

Additional Waypoints

07/01/2019 By eyekwilt2
I was solving some other Colorado puzzles when one of the cachers I asked for help on one suggested that if I just liked solving puzzles in general that I might enjoy these. So I looked them up and started solving, never expecting to find them. But then plans had a way of changing things and we found ourselves on a road trip to Denver and going right past them.

We decided to stay a night in Grand Junction to see how many we could find. Today we got a later start than we hoped for (that darn time change stuff) and in this heat, that hour made a difference. I had no idea what order we would search for these but we wanted to minimize exposure to heat. I smiled when I saw that this was our first find f the day since it is my birthday sign.

The puzzle ended up being solved by default. After looking over the possibilities and trying a few things, I ended up using the one last technique that might work. I thought I was going to have to have Zircon101 help with it, but I lucked out and found a tool that I could use. The find was pretty straight forward. TFTC

03/25/2017 By jasperdakota
Visiting from Denver for the weekend with geokid and geodog Dakota. All the caches found today are in great shape. Thanks for the great puzzle! SL.

09/21/2015 By coloradobob
I can't believe I made this puzzle this hard. I was looking at the answer dozens of times but something just didn't click. GREAT series of puzzles. SL

05/23/2015 By Pohka
This one was a total pain to solve. Hidden, different than I thought though. I'm in a toss up on if this one or Gemini is toughest; I think both should be 5's. As for the find, a nice quick one and thankfully so given how beat up I was from hiking all over the place. TFTC, a great series!!

03/24/2015 By kgid185
This one was the second hardest of the puzzles to solve. Simplicity can be a challenge.

Started this series in winter of '11- '12 after Wife had surgery. About 6 months later had the series solved. Got interrupeted in completing the finds as later that year she was diagnosed with Thyroid Cancer. 2 Surgeries that fall, a few more interruptions. Finally making to find and log these. Thought this would be a fitting Milestone as this is my 300th cache. Now that things are rolling smooth, Wife has started series too!

Cache is in great shape, last found 6/5/12. SL TFTC Looking forward to find the rest.

06/05/2012 By Pauleefox
Last of the 13, now on to the final.