It has always been interesting to me how there is such a difference between the United States and say for example Europe when it comes to Mystery and Puzzle Geocaches.
In many other countries besides the US a good ole' Mystery cache is craved to be discovered and yet in the USA I have seen the exact opposite. Now I am not talking in absolutes here. There are plenty of geocachers in the US that love to pursue Puzzle Geocaches but as a norm, not so much. We tend to like the traditionals while the rest of the geocache types are found with much less frequency.
I am curious as to why. Do we as geocachers prefer the quick and easy instead of actually having to use our brains? Is it intimidating to have to solve a logic problem or heaven forbid a mathematic formula? As a joke I have stated in many a conversation, "How do you stop 30 geocachers in their tracks..? Give them a math problem :)". It would be sad but I have actually been there during an event and never saw so many blank faces pop up during a puzzle cache we were all trying to resolve. So is that it, we give up or don't try because we are intimidated? I will be straight out and say there are Geocaches in the Raleigh, NC area that I just stand their and shake my head. We have six or seven major colleges here and a lot of the professors are geocachers. I don't stand a chance but I do try. At least if I can't do some of the more complicated mathematical ones I do love the other problem solving ones.
How do you feel about Mystery and Puzzle Geocaches in your area? Are you a save them for a rainy or snowy day kind of geocacher or do you even try at all? Are you a mystery guru and eat them up? What are your favorite types? I would really like to know what you think.
-HHH
