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Puzzle Solving 101. Eric Peterson – eric@puzzlehead.org. Geocaching. Geocaching is a real-world, outdoor treasure hunting game using GPS-enabled devices. “ The sport where YOU are the search engine” “I use multi-billion-dollar military navigation satellites to find Tupperware in the woods.”.
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Puzzle Solving 101 Eric Peterson – eric@puzzlehead.org
Geocaching Geocaching is a real-world, outdoor treasure hunting game using GPS-enabled devices. “The sport where YOU are the search engine” “I use multi-billion-dollar military navigation satellites to find Tupperware in the woods.” • Lag Pins
What is a Puzzle Cache? A geocache with a puzzle you have to solve for the coordinates Solve the sudoku puzzle Copy the numbers in the colored squares in the grid to the corresponding squares at the bottom of the page The result is the coordinates of the location of the geocache
OB Jets aka “The Guy Who Doesn’t Like Puzzle Caches” His question which triggered the genesis of Puzzle Solving 101: “Where the heck do you start?”
Puzzle Solving 101 Series of Geocaches Located throughout Broward County, Florida Each cache in the series teaches a different puzzle-solving lesson The lessons encompass all of the major types of puzzles used in geocaches
Puzzle-Solving Topics • Strategy • Tactics • Trivia Challenges • Wordplay • Mathematics • Logic Problems • Cryptography • Steganography • Lateral Thinking
Lateral Thinking Problem • Draw four straight lines, without lifting your pencil, which cross all of the dots
Lateral Thinking Problem • Draw four straight lines, without lifting your pencil, which cross all of the dots
Puzzle Solving 101 #1 – Strategy Exercise 1: No Wining Oliver and Mae are hosting a picnic for their friends. Oliver prefers wines from as far north as possible, while Mae likes wines that come from the westernmost vineyards. Oliver and Mae each chose a red, white, and sparkling wine to bring to the picnic. Based upon their choices, can you determine where the picnic will be held?
Puzzle Solving 101 #1 – Strategy Exercise 1: No Wining N 26o 5.258’ W 80o 16.948’ Oliver and Mae are hosting a picnic for their friends. Oliver prefers wines from as far north as possible, while Mae likes wines that come from the westernmost vineyards. Oliver and Mae each chose a red, white, and sparkling wine to bring to the picnic. Based upon their choices, can you determine where the picnic will be held?
A Real-World Example See how the red/white pattern differs from the other lanes?
A Real-World Example Red Herring – Hidden message in Morse Code! Y R R O S
A Real-World Example There’s a hint in this image to the solution of the puzzle …
The Puzzle Should Match the Location Pool Balls = Billiard Balls = N 26 35.320 W 80 05.706 5 0 0 3 2 6 2 6 0 7 0 8 3 5
Your PS101 Diploma This Certificate certifiably certifies that _______________________________ has completed the requirements of the Puzzle Solving 101 Series and thus having shown proficiency, determination, and outright insanity is hereby awarded the title of Puzzle-Headed Weenie Series Geocaches GCYXZ1–GCYXZ9, GCYXN0 _________________ ePeterso2, PS101 Series Creator
skiplondon Puzzle Solving 101 Finalist
lorriebird Puzzle Solving 101 Finalist
antimony13 Puzzle Solving 101 Finalist
First-to-Find the PS101 Final Exam lorriebirdAND antimony13
First to Get onto the Dean’s List skiplondon DEAN’S LIST RULES: 1st RULE: You do not talk about DEAN’S LIST. 2nd RULE: You DO NOT talk about DEAN’S LIST.
PS101 Goes Viral • 4/17/2009 • WINSLMA creates a copy of PS101 in Charlotte NC • 5/20/2009 • PS101 Mentioned on the Podcacher Podcast • 2/20/2010 • Interviewed on the Cache-A-Maniacs podcast • 5/20/2011 • PS101 is named Geocaching Puzzle of the Day • WINSLMA
Remote Solver Travel Bug • Canada • Israel • Bulgaria • Scotland • Britain • Japan • Australia • A Travel Bug is a trackableitem • Solve the 9 PS101 puzzles plus the first 6 puzzles of the Final Exam • Compute and enter the confirmation code • Receive the tracking code that allows you to log a find on the Remote Solver Travel Bug • Florida • New Hampsire • New York • Michigan • Texas • Ohio • Kentucky • Wisconsin • North Carolina • California • Idaho • Oregon • Washington
The Puzzle Solving Education Network Copies of PS101 and caches inspired by PS101 around the world Dorking, UK Bratislavskýkraj, Slovakia Victoria, BC Redmond, WA Bend, OR Red Bluff, CA Fresno, CA • San Diego, CA Lansing, MI Kingston, ON Charlotte, NC Toledo, OH Princeton, NJ Middleton, NS Okinawa, Japan PS101
Feedback • “I have learned SO much from doing them. Thank you, thank you, thank you.” • “Thanks for everything you went through to make this wonderful experience for all of us involved. I can’t wait to see what you come up with next.” • “Wow, that was quite a series!! I only wish we had started it sooner. ” • “There is only one word for this series, BRILLANT!” • FL Piratelorriebird The Wench
For More Information Blog – puzzlehead.org Email – eric@puzzlehead.org PS101 – puzzlehead.org/ps101or coord.info/GCYXN0