Jan 2026 - Grateful Dead

Tap on any hint box to view it.

Location - Estimated Prophet

  1. Replace a single letter in the last word of each line to make the lyrics rhyme, and make sense.
  2. The corrected words, in order, are: AID, DOUGH, RAID, GROW, EARS, TEARS
  3. Note the letters in the original (incorrect) words and the replacement letters in the corrected words.
  4. Do a similar switch of incorrect letters and their corresponding correct letters for the automated response: CW”FSLBW”C CLBL
  5. DE“GRATE”D DATA

U.S. Blues

  1. Each of the nine flowers contains all but one letter that can be used to spell out a noun that connotes a personal virtue.
  2. The nouns that are spelled out (clockwise, from top) are: NOBILITY (Given), HONESTY, POSITIVITY, SYMPATHY, INTEGRITY, CHARITY, COURAGE, RESILIENCE, STRENGTH
  3. The missing center letters spell out (clockwise, from top): TOP PETALS
  4. What do you think “TOP PETALS” refers to?
  5. The top petals of each flower (clockwise, from top): BETSY ROSE

Cryptical Envelopment

  1. Cryptic clue techniques: Across: (5) Double Definition; (9) Homophone; (10) Assemblage; (11) Container; (12) Deletion; Down: (1) Assemblage, (2) Deletion, (3) Hidden Word; (4) Assemblage + Reversal; (6) Double Definition; (7) Anagram; (8) Assemblage
  2. The answers to the cryptic crossword clues are Across: (5) QUARTER; (9) LICORICE (10) COTTON; (11) SAPPHIRE; (12) LEMON; Down: (1) CALAMINE, (2) PLUM, (3) CARROT; (4) PASTA; (6) RELISH; (7) LEATHER; (8) TOMATO
  3. In the diagram of the backpack, what do you think the colors are for?
  4. Why do you think there are dots on each word and each color?
  5. What would happen if you drew lines through the word dots and the respective color dots?
  6. Note which letters are crossed by these lines.
  7. The letters in the crossed lines, in order, clockwise from top left corner, spell out the solution: RUING THAT BAG. [Also, the leftover letters spell out: MARKED LTRS SPOOF THE SONG DOIN’ THAT RAG.]

The Warlocks

  1. Starting at the top and going clockwise, for reference sake, label the six maze puzzles I, II, III, IV, V, VI. Maze I has been started for you. Which of the other five mazes might be the easiest to start with?
  2. Maze V (the lower-left maze - containing the four zeros) is a good one to start with since it has the lowest numbers and will therefore probably have the simplest path.
  3. The first six moves for maze V are left, up, left, up, left, up, which takes you to the 4 and you must decide whether to go left or right. Which direction if the only feasible one to take?
  4. At the four, the path must go to the left (clockwise) since going to the right ends along a perimeter with nowhere left to go.
  5. Use this sort of logic to find the path for each of the six puzzles that obey the rules (i.e., where the path touches the number of sides for each hexagon as noted within each hexagon). If you need them, the next six hints give you starting and ending portions of each maze path.
  6. Orienting each puzzle so the numbers are right-side-up (and beginning with the the arrow at the bottom as 00), label each vertical line in the hexagonal grid 01, 02, 03…22, 23

              22   23
    
       19   20   21
    
    15   16   17   18
    
  10   11   12   13   14
     
     06   07   08   09
    
        03   04   05
    
           01   02
          
           Dancer

    Each path crosses vertical lines as well as many diagonal lines, but the sequence of the vertical lines alone is sufficient to define any given path. Maze I: You are given that the path starts by crossing vertical lines 01, then 03, then 08 (and the requisite diagonal lines that connect them). The path ends by crossing vertical lines 18>21>23. Can you complete the middle portion of the path from there?
  7. Maze II: starts with 01>04>08. Ends with 16>19>22. Can you complete it from there?
  8. Maze III: starts with 02>05>08. Ends with 15>19>22. Can you complete it from there?
  9. Maze IV: starts with 02>05>06. Ends with 17>21>22. Can you complete it from there?
  10. Maze V: starts with 01>03>06. Ends with 18>21>23. Can you complete it from there?
  11. Maze VI: starts with 01>03>06. Ends with 18>21>22. Can you complete it from there?
  12. The completed paths are as follows:
    I: 01>03>08>12>16>17>18>21>23
    II: 01>04>08>14>18>17>16>19>22
    III: 02>05>08>14>18>16>11>07>06>10>15>19>22
    IV: 02>05>06>11>12>13>17>21>22
    V: 01>03>06>10>18>21>23
    VI: 01>03>06>10>11>07>08>12>16>17>18>21>22
  13. For each puzzle, count the number of crystals that the path runs through.
  14. In clockwise order from the top, the number of crystals in each path are: I=4, II=20, III=19, IV=11, V=1, VI=18. What do you think these numbers tell you?
  15. The numbers of crystals for each path denote a letter according to the numbered index (e.g., 1 = A, 2 = B).
  16. Look at where the dancers are pointing.
  17. The letters associated with each dancer are placed in boxes corresponding to the direction of their hands.
  18. DARK ARTS

Jam

  1. Finger positions for strings 1, 2 and 3 are the same for frets 1 and 3. String 1 has a total of only two notes. These are on frets 1 and 3. All other frets of string 1 can be deduced to be “off.”
  2. Fret 2 has a total of 3 notes. String 1 is “off” so you can deduce the rest of the fingering for fret 2. It is one of the three “palindrome” frets.
  3. The total notes on string 3 is seven, so there is only one “off” fret on string 3. Since fingering for frets 1 and 3 are identical for string 3, they both must be “on.” Same logic applies for frets 4 and 7 at string 3.
  4. Fret 1 has met the criteria of 3 notes, so you can complete marks for that fret. You can also note that fret as another of the three “palindrome” frets (with fret 2 and another unknown fret).
  5. Fret 3 cannot be the unknown “palindrome” fret or it would be identical to fret 1. You can complete fret 3.
  6. String 4 has met its number of notes with frets 2 and 3 as “on.” You can mark frets 4 through 8 on string 4 as “off.”
  7. Look at the layouts for each fret and the total fingers on each fret. You can deduce that there is only one possible fret that can be the last “palindrome” fret.
  8. Recall that frets 4 and 7 are identical. Looking at the total number of fingers on string 5 should allow you to figure out the rest of the fingering on string 5.
  9. Complete the rest of the puzzle using total fingers on each fret and string. The finished puzzle consists of eight lines of five consecutive on/off values: X=ON=solid circle O= OFF=open circle
    Fret 1: X O X O X (palindrome #1)
    Fret 2: O X X X O (palindrome 2)
    Fret 3: X O X X O
    Fret 4: O O X O X
    Fret 5: O X O O X
    Fret 6: O X X O O
    Fret 7: O O X O X
    Fret 8: O O X O O (palindrome 3)
  10. What code do you think might be used here?
  11. Translated to binary, and read from top to bottom, the lines read, UNVEILED

High Time

  1. If each “piece” in the “Schedule” sign is a three-letter piece of a word, what does the blank-box-blank (___[ ]___) format of the answer table imply?
  2. Each constructed word will be made of seven letters: a three-letter piece from the sign, then a missing letter, then another three-letter piece from the sign. For example, “Related to song” would be MUS[I]CAL.
  3. We are told “Some of the pieces shown will not be used. Others will be used multiple times.” What do you think is meant by the text “Those are the breaks?” Do you see any “breaks” in the puzzle?
  4. The breaks in the underlines of each “piece” in the Schedule sign indicate how many times the piece gets used to make up answers.
  5. The combined words that are formed from the pieces and the missing letters are (from top to bottom): MUSICAL, TORNADO, AIRSHIP, ATHEIST, TORMENT, SENATOR, DESPAIR, ISTHMUS, AEROSOL, REFRAIN, IMPEDES
  6. The center letters of the combined words indicate that the answer to the puzzle is “IN SEMAPHORE.” Do you see anything in the puzzle that could be transformed into a semaphore or half of a semaphore?
  7. Each of the two pieces for each word are shown under a specific time on the schedule board. The hour hand for each time reflects one of two semaphore components (e.g., 9:00 connotes a semaphore flag pointing directly left).
  8. Combine the semaphore pointers associated with each of the two word pieces to make complete semaphore symbols.
  9. The semaphores, from top to bottom, spell out: COSMIC SANDS

Meta: Playing in the Band

  1. After populating the grid with the letters to the five puzzle answers, you should be able to see letters that can be linked in any direction (with paths never crossing) to form music-related words.
  2. The linked “strands” spell out: DRUMS, KEYBOARD, BASS, VOCALS, GUITARS. What phrase can you connect together with the letters remaining in the grid?
  3. The final strand is: DANCING IN THE STREET.

Bonus: Turn on Your Lovelight

  1. One of the best places to start is with the 3,2 diagonal line. If there are only six squares to fill in, how must they be filled? Likewise with the 2,3 diagonal.
  2. Next consider the 1,1,1 diagonal lines. Those should be ones you can fill in with certainty.
  3. Continue with this sort of logic to complete the nonogram. The shaded in squares should resemble the image of McKernan on the right. Look at the unfilled squares.
  4. The unfilled squares spell out: FOLD LINE AB TO CD [pigpen grid]. OPEN. FOLD LINE AC TO BD [pigpen grid].
  5. Fold the sheet in a way that brings dotted line segment AB to just touch dotted line segment CD. What do you notice?
  6. Do the symbols created look like any particular code?
  7. The decoded pig pen codes reveal the first word: DEAD. What do you think comes next?
  8. Fold the sheet in a way that brings dotted line segment AC to just touch dotted line segment BD. What do you notice?
  9. The decoded pig pen codes reveal the second word: AHEAD.
  10. DEAD AHEAD