Geocaching

As with all puzzle caches, the container is not located at the posted coordinates. They represent a random location in Texas. This is no ordinary puzzle cache, however...

The Texas County Challenge

First Five Cachers who have completed the Texas County Challenge:
Cacher	Completion Date	Cache Logged Date
1. txoilgas	April 2, 2007	May 16, 2007
2. Blizzard	July 13, 2007	September 8, 2007
3. Little Red Wagon	August 1, 2007	September 8, 2007
4. enduroking	August 5, 2007	September 8, 2007
5. les7h	September 16, 2007	January 5, 2008

What is the Texas County Challenge?

Texas is a massive state with 254 counties spread out across over 268,000 square miles. The goal of this cache is to find a cache in each and every county in Texas! The final cache location can only be logged after successfully finding a cache in each county. This is the oldest and by far the most difficult county challenge cache. A Texas County map can be obtained here.

The preferred method to confirm your finds will be for you to prepare a shared bookmark list with the county name and cache name (example). This will be the quickest way to confirm your finds. If you need to use an alternative method for this confirmation, please contact us and we will work with you. We will review the list and generate a map showing their locations in order to verify the list. Once the verification process is complete, you can visit the location for the final cache. The find cannot be logged until the final physical container is found and the logbook inside signed!

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Based on feedback from and incidents seen with similar challenges in other states, some basic guidelines need to be laid out:

1. As mentioned above, the posted coordinates are not the actual coordinates for the cache. The actual cache may actually be quite some distance from these coordinates!
    
2. Generally accepted rules, guidelines and conditions for logging a cache apply. These must be bona fide caches listed on Geocaching.com that you have personally (physically) found and logged. You may include caches found prior to the creation of the Texas County Challenge so long as they meet all other challenge requirements.
    
3. All cache types count as finds for the Texas County Challenge except for locationless caches.  We are a friendly state, so even events and CITO events may be included.
    
4. While county lines occasionally move and different versions of various maps may differ in exact boundary lines, the county lines derived from the information in the cache owner's copy of Google Earth will be considered definitive.  Please feel free to check your GPX file with Google Earth prior to submission!
    
5. While you may have others with you when you find the final cache, only those who have fulfilled ALL criteria for this cache will be allowed to log it as a find. Find logs by other cachers who have not completed the challenge will be deleted.
    
6. Cache finds submitted for completion of this challenge will go through a verification process conducted by the previous finders and/or cache owners.
    
7. When in doubt ask—we can discuss it or even seek guidance from others, but the final decision rests with the cache owner.
    
8. The first 5 cachers who complete this challenge will receive a small commemorative gift at the completion of the challenge.
    
9. A picture at each cache location is not a requirement, but would greatly be appreciated. Upload pictures to the individual cache logs, not to this listing. Of course you can also post your favorite pictures of your adventure here as well.
    
10. Remember that this is a game and is supposed to be fun!

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Many thanks go out to Haicoole for the original idea for this type of challenge cache and to Moun10Bike and Prime Reviewer for advice and assistance with the description. Many thanks also go to the previous owners and custodians of this cache — M-T-P, Blizzard, and txoilgas. Forums have been established for discussing this cache on Facebook, Google+, and the TXGA website.

       

Others who have completed the Texas County Challenge:
Cacher	Completion Date	Cache Logged Date
6. Vinyl Slider	April 13, 2008	September 6, 2008
7. rilekyle	May 4, 2008	September 6, 2008
8. Doc Geo	May 26, 2008	September 6, 2008
9. Cal125	October 11, 2008	March 2, 2009
10. ALOFT23	December 31, 2008	March 11, 2009
11. DE_Cryptoman	January 18, 2009	April 7, 2009
12. Fatfogy	May 14, 2009	May 30, 2009
13. tlien11	June 8, 2009	June 11, 2009
14. Drives	August 22, 2009	September 28, 2009
15. Argus-	September 28, 2009	November 23, 2009
16. She & He	October 25, 2009	December 1, 2009
17. redcar	December 18, 2009	January 21, 2010
18. Indigo Parish	December 20, 2009	February 6, 2010
19. Zeppocruz	January 21, 2010	March 13, 2010
20. No Muggle	January 24, 2010	April 2, 2010
21. BeeCubed	February 20, 2010	April 5, 2010
22. Entwined55	May 30, 2010	June 12, 2010
23. TeamTerz	June 7, 2010	June 28, 2010
24. Wademercer	July 8, 2010	August 30, 2010
25. Skootercolumbo	July 10, 2010	September 4, 2010
26. zoothornrollo	August 5, 2010	September 25, 2010
27. Chiliqueen	October 3, 2010	December 4, 2010
28. 6Shooter	October 3, 2010	December 4, 2010
29. golfman	August 8, 2010	March 2, 2011
30. zrvers	August 20, 2010	March 27, 2011
31. jdzimman	December 23, 2010	March 27, 2011
32. ocrazys	July 30, 2011	July 31, 2011
33. SEMIK	August 7, 2011	August 13, 2011
34. Nov64	September 3, 2011	November 26, 2011
35. snowman99	December 3, 2011	December 9, 2011
36. tamiuron	November 27, 2011	January 4, 2012
37. Swampfires	March 3, 2012	March 10, 2012
38. Love Cachers	March 24, 2012	April 24, 2012
39. Pappy'sPosse	April 25, 2012	May 17, 2012
40. bittybit	July 7, 2012	September 1, 2012
41. HoustonControl	July 8, 2012	September 1, 2012
42. djbtex	August 17, 2012	October 15, 2012
43. HippoFan	September 3, 2012	October 22, 2012
44. thenkengrene	October 7, 2012	October 28, 2012
45. 1linden	October 15, 2012	October 29, 2012
46. Backwards Charlie from Austin	August 12, 2010	January 14, 2013
47. QuadWrays	March 11, 2013	March 16, 2013
48. Leprechaun49	March 11, 2013	March 16, 2013
49. 1st Sgt	February 13, 2013	April 7, 2013
50. acclanman	March 23, 2013	April 5, 2013
51. TreyB	March 23, 2013	April 5, 2013
??. harbhippo	February 17, 2013	Pending