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Post by caprahircus on Nov 30, 2010 8:35:12 GMT -9
I agree, and it basically comes down to the "dreaded" numbers. I think we are where we can define the outer limits for the Platinum level. The bronze level needs a determination of scope that is hard enough to be a challenge, but not so difficult that it takes an insane cacher to reach it. With the gold and silver, I think it would be simply a decision of whether or not to include the inner scope boundary or the outer scope boundary.
I think adding additional levels would do much but complicate it.
I was also thinking of an embroidered patch for the Alaska Challenge Series (Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum). Under this would be an embroidered banner patch for each distinct challenge area (e.g., an Anchorage banner, a Kenai banner, a Mat-Su banner, and so on). You would earn your patch with the first challenge completed at that level and add banners for each additional area at the same level. That would allow us to add other regions as cachers desire in the future.
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Post by SSO JOAT on Nov 30, 2010 8:57:47 GMT -9
These are the geographic zones I've been playing with. If you open up the polygon builder tool (link below), you can just copy the block of coords and paste it into the small text box at the top right, and then click the "load shape" button next to it. Major Kenai Zone: 60.466358,-150.508575 60.229585,-150.998840 59.789234,-151.067505 59.595883,-151.409454 59.633046,-151.655273 59.710019,-151.859894 59.772646,-151.900406 60.040160,-151.736298 60.236062,-151.445847 60.374163,-151.402588 60.531617,-151.314011 60.721907,-151.445847 60.786484,-151.259766 60.870157,-150.868721 60.675533,-150.508575 60.466358,-150.508575 Minor Kenai Zone: 60.868987,-150.869064 60.675196,-150.510635 60.467035,-150.510635 60.241174,-151.080551 60.265364,-151.328430 60.266045,-151.435547 60.373824,-151.401901 60.531617,-151.312637 60.721571,-151.443787 60.785646,-151.259766 60.868987,-150.869064 And then I roughed in a major Seward Zone, tucking it in tight with the Anchorage/Girdwood zone that LBK defined in a previous post: 60.978437,-149.850769 60.432832,-150.191345 59.927496,-149.460754 59.972882,-149.317932 60.803404,-148.345642 60.966443,-149.029541 60.910409,-149.133911 60.914414,-149.350891 60.978437,-149.850769 The problem I have with that Seward/Whittier zone is that it will be considerably more difficult than Anchorage or pretty much anywhere else due to the number of extremely remote caches. Note that zone has a whole list of unfound caches that have gone several years without a FTF logged as of yet. And then there are the boat-only caches in PWS. So I think that zone needs to be reduced a bit to eliminate some of the extreme remote caches while preserving the sweep concept. Like I said, it was a first draft rough in. I wanted to confirm that you were including Girdwood in your Anchorage bowl sweep as LBK drew his box. Here's a direct link to the GSAK Google map tool... gsak.net/google/polygoneditor.html?minlat=45.290983&minlon=-152.517067&maxlat=66.358067&maxlon=-122.413617
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Post by ladybugkids on Nov 30, 2010 10:46:15 GMT -9
The problem I have with that Seward/Whittier zone is that it will be considerably more difficult than Anchorage or pretty much anywhere else due to the number of extremely remote caches. Note that zone has a whole list of unfound caches that have gone several years without a FTF logged as of yet. And then there are the boat-only caches in PWS. So I think that zone needs to be reduced a bit to eliminate some of the extreme remote caches while preserving the sweep concept. Like I said, it was a first draft rough in. LOL! Nobody said it would be easy to do a sweep. My share of gas for a 1/2 day PWS boat rental was $150 to get two caches out there around Esther Island to add a page or two for the Southcentral Alaska DeLorme Challenge (now, there's a challenge that I don't know will ever be met!). It cost me another chuck of change to take the ferry to Cordova to add another page. Other pages are going to cost airplane flights to post earthcaches. I think you'd be all right drawing a line between Portage and Whittier to define the Kenai boundary. Going out to PWS is probably a bit too far east. The "Welcome to the Kenai Peninsula" sign on the highway doesn't appear until one starts the climb up Turnagain Pass. I'll reiterate my comment about the Anchorage Bowl boundary I drew...I didn't spend any time refining it...that's up to Capra Hircus. Don't want too many cooks ruining the soup.
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Post by caprahircus on Nov 30, 2010 17:00:27 GMT -9
I think we don't want to try and make sweep areas contiguous. That was not my intent originally when this idea was conceived. I just figured that the would be centered around Alaskan population concentrations.
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Post by caprahircus on Nov 30, 2010 17:02:17 GMT -9
The southern extents of the outer boundary for Anchorage is to Indian (Indian-Arctic Trail). Girdwood may or may not pan out to have a Challenge.
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Post by SSO JOAT on Nov 30, 2010 20:17:17 GMT -9
Shaved down the Seward-Hope-Whittier zone quite a bit and made sure each point is aligned with a unique landmark. Cuts off the PWS boat only areas. There will still be plenty of challenge to get all the remote hiking and mountain climbing caches along the Seward highway.
60.967859,-149.768887 60.936187,-149.567013 60.908406,-149.411659 60.896301,-149.253902 60.855948,-149.059410 60.845120,-148.988385 60.778650,-148.665619 60.007568,-149.333725 59.983017,-149.388313 60.437152,-150.194778 60.967859,-149.768887
And then the minor Seward zone might be something like this...
60.064840,-149.443588 60.077859,-149.342651 60.512019,-149.309692 60.543522,-149.569931 60.532293,-149.581089 60.481924,-149.416122 60.189671,-149.591217 60.064840,-149.443588
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Post by SSO JOAT on Dec 2, 2010 7:25:28 GMT -9
Had a "flash of JOAT" moment last night and put together the attached table. Being the visual kind of guy that I am, I made a couple tweaks and also laid down some additional criteria for the geographical zones... which I tagged as "Cheechako" and "Sourdough" areas. Attachments:
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Post by caprahircus on Dec 2, 2010 8:37:36 GMT -9
I KNEW I could count on you to help me focus on clean definitions. I believe I like your table. This weekend is my target for identifying the coordinates of the polygon intersections that would define the two areas for Anchorage.
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Post by caprahircus on Dec 5, 2010 8:17:08 GMT -9
Slowly making in-roads ... Here's where I am Sunday morning: - 00 - Whereigo
- 02 - Multi (Halfway through the UV Cache)
- 00 - Virtual
- 16 - Mystery (with two solutions complete)
- 48 - Traditional
That's 66 total remaining. Of that, 4-5 of the Mystery caches are going to take significant effort (including Doug's last one that still remains unfound) and some 15-20 of the traditionals that are way UP or way OUT there (meaning late next summer probably)!
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Post by SSO JOAT on Dec 6, 2010 0:55:57 GMT -9
16 - Mystery (with two solutions complete) 4-5 of the Mystery caches are going to take significant effort (including Doug's last one that still remains unfound) Soooo, if I solve a puzzle, I can no longer ethically help anyone else with it. However, for a puzzle that has not been solved by either, working in group fashion is perfectly fine (off line, of course). Doug and I teamed up on a couple KK puzzles via email. Without that combined effort, I'm pretty sure that "Bushwacker" would still be unsolved. Just sayin' BTW, I'll be in Anchortown Tuesday afternoon and staying the night. Have some biz to take care of first thing Wednesday morning and then heading home to Soldotna for my Christmas break. ;D
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Post by caprahircus on Dec 6, 2010 4:24:48 GMT -9
I agree with that view of Puzzle solving, although I have not been averse to asking for hints!!!
We need to touch base and see if we can meet for a bit!
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Post by SSO JOAT on Dec 6, 2010 7:55:37 GMT -9
Yes. Pick a cache... or a place. What time are you available?
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Post by caprahircus on Dec 6, 2010 13:44:02 GMT -9
I get off of work at 5:00. Where are you going to be hanging your hat?
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Post by SSO JOAT on Dec 6, 2010 21:01:23 GMT -9
I get off of work at 5:00. Where are you going to be hanging your hat? I'll be at the Coast next to GC2HAG6. Give me a call when you get off work.
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Post by NorthWes on Dec 7, 2010 10:52:02 GMT -9
I get off of work at 5:00. Where are you going to be hanging your hat? I'll be at the Coast next to GC2HAG6. Give me a call when you get off work. Uh huh - I see how it is - using that place south of GC2HAG6 as a rendezvous! Well, it's not like it hasn't happened there before... too funny, though.
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Post by SSO JOAT on Dec 7, 2010 15:27:27 GMT -9
The last time I was staying here and had some geocaching related stuff going on at the same time, we had that impromptu flash mob at the missing puzzle cache event. Any new puzzles published today?
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Post by caprahircus on Dec 7, 2010 15:43:54 GMT -9
I've not received any notification as of right now. Feeling hungry to solve something?
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Post by caprahircus on Dec 11, 2010 15:20:57 GMT -9
It was a great day to be out. I cut out three more traditionals and knocked off one of the last two multis. Only Davemeister's UV cache to finish the last three stages.
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Post by caprahircus on Dec 18, 2010 10:38:39 GMT -9
Last multi done! I may go try to get the newest little niggling cache near Potter's Marsh today before flying out. We'll see. Who knows how far backward I will move in my 3-week absence!?
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Post by NorthWes on Dec 22, 2010 9:26:15 GMT -9
Last multi done! I may go try to get the newest little niggling cache near Potter's Marsh today before flying out. We'll see. Who knows how far backward I will move in my 3-week absence!? Aaaahhh... now we're making headway in your treatment with this admission that flying to the land of the Illini is backward progress...
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Post by tomanoble on Dec 25, 2010 22:07:09 GMT -9
Hmmm, I wonder where a nice informative sign might be located so another multi can appear nearby to keep Capra Hircus in the game.
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Post by SSO JOAT on Dec 28, 2010 20:51:17 GMT -9
Don't worry, in the event that I get Illogical Illusions solved, I've got a nice JOAT puzzle all primed up and ready to place in the Anchorage bowl.
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Post by caprahircus on Dec 29, 2010 2:48:42 GMT -9
Well, it hasn't been too bad so far with only the four new postings. But I'm not holding my breath that things will remain static. Especially not with TAN's devious hint about another multi! Yes, I still have most of the brain-benders hanging in the wings.
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Post by davemeister on Dec 29, 2010 16:57:50 GMT -9
I am making a night cache as we speak. I have the first stage up and should have the last stage up tomorrow. I'm making it a combo UV/night cache and hope to have it published New Years Day.
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Post by SSO JOAT on Dec 29, 2010 19:56:54 GMT -9
Hey, if you don't mind sharing... what product did you find for the UV aspect that works? I've been looking around the net and haven't found much to work with.
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Post by caprahircus on Dec 30, 2010 3:13:46 GMT -9
The little UV lights that are used to scan currency, bed linens, upholstery, etc. seem to work fine. You can find them as inexpensively as $3-$4 or as expensive as the $500 CSI lights. It was a fun cache!
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Post by davemeister on Dec 30, 2010 15:02:26 GMT -9
I got a UV marker and the pen light dor about $12 at Office Max...not in pen/pencil area, they are where the security items are.
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Post by SSO JOAT on Dec 30, 2010 20:40:03 GMT -9
UV light I've got. Some cheap markers is about all I find online for the creation aspect. Will check out the one at Office Max next time I get around one. Imagine a mystery cache that gets to bear all these attributes... flashlight, UV light, special tool, and wireless beacon. Then you'll begin to see how devious the dark recesses of my puzzling mind formulate a cache creating challenge.
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Post by caprahircus on Dec 31, 2010 3:01:12 GMT -9
That's it! I'm sending you one of those long sleeved jackets with the buckles on the back!
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Post by ladybugkids on Dec 31, 2010 8:05:19 GMT -9
Believe it or not, there are more devious minds out there...
I recently saw a proposed cache that included the following:
1 A solve at home puzzle, which would result in a "code". 2 At WP1 (at listed coords) you can start a Wherigo cartridge which leads you to WP2 after entering the correct "code". 3 At WP2 you will find a QR code that leads you to WP3. 4 At WP3 you will encounter a Chirp, which will guide you to WP4. 5 At WP4 you would need some special equipment (a homemade circuit board) to get to the coordinates for WP5. 6 WP5 .... WPx. 7 WPx will lead you to a physical cache, which will contain a letterbox stamp.
So, if this was your cache, would you list it as a multi-, a mystery, a wherigo, or a letterbox?
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