Introduction to Waypoint Projection in Geocaching
In the hobby of geocaching, waypoint projection is a common technique used in Multi-Caches, Puzzle Caches, and Letterbox Hybrid caches. Instead of giving the final coordinates directly, the cache owner provides a starting location (stage 1) and instructs the geocacher to project a new coordinate by traveling a specific distance along a certain bearing (azimuth).
For example, a puzzle might instruct you to: "Project 350 meters at 125 degrees from the posted coordinates." To solve this, you must apply spherical trigonometry to project the starting latitude and longitude coordinates to the destination coordinates.
While handheld GPS units often have a built-in projection feature, using a web-based projector is faster and more precise for prep work. When studying probability maps or character arrays for cache puzzle codes, you might also use tools like the D&D Stat Roll Calculator to compare probability weights.