Year: 2013

/ Eric Schudiske /

Master the 5 Ways to “Log Your Visit”

Navigating the “Log Your Visit” Options

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The latest evolution of the Geocaching.com geocache details page serves up a new big button labeled “Log your visit.” And with big buttons comes big responsibility. With one click, you’ll uncover 5 different log types. Here’s a quick field-guide to help you navigate to the best option.Leaving the correct log type is all part of the geocaching experience. If you aren’t sure if you should leave a DNF or a Needs Maintenance, or you need help deciding if you should use the powerful Needs Archived option, try just leaving a note. Geocachers who have that geocache on their watchlist will see your note and will most likely be happy to help you out.

 

  • Found it – It’s a well-earned smiley when you choose this option. You’ve found the geocache and physically signed the log sheet. Now begin the over-sharing. What was your adventure like? Did you meet new people? Did you see a turtle? We want to know. Tell that story, upload a picture, thank the geocache owner, and you’re in business.
  • Didn’t find it (aka: DNF) – We all have these days. This is a really important option. It alerts other geocachers that this geocache might be more difficult than first thought or might not even be there. If you leave a detailed note they’ll know the whole story, like if there’s evidence of a critter making off with the geocache or too many muggles in the area to make the find. A DNF is a badge of honor and it’s easy to go back and          turn a DNF into a “Found it.”
  • Write note – “There’s serious road construction leading to the geocache.” That’s a perfect example of a nice note. It’s not a “Found it” or a “Did not find,” it’s a way to ‘note’ify (yeah, we did that) other geocachers of conditions that affect finding the geocache, like “a new bee hive is in the area, bee* careful.” (*yeah – we did that too)
  • Needs Maintenance – The logbook is full, the geocache is cracked, or the camouflage is a little tattered—these are all good reasons to log your “Found it” then, log a separate “Needs Maintenance.” The geocache owner will appreciate your help and geocachers will appreciate the insight.
  • Needs Archived – Whew, well, this is the big one. Take a deep breath and count to 10, maybe even count to 100. This is a rarely used logging option and there’s more math involved. Use this option if the geocache has many DNF’s and “Needs Maintenance” logs without a “Found it” log.

Log Type Bonus Round! There are 2 more log types for Event Caches. An Event Cache allows you to meet your local geocaching community, swap stories, trade tips and plan geocaching outings.

  • Will Attend – It’s our version of RSVP’ing. This lets the event organizer know you’re planning on adding your wit, charm and presence to the event.
  • Attended – This is the “Found it” for events. You earn a smiley and an opportunity to leave a log with a great big ol’ ‘Thank You’ for the event organizers, as well as stories from the event.
/ Eric Schudiske

Final Week to Vote as Rand McNally and Geocaching Team Up for Best of the Road 2013

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It’s that time of year again for Rand McNally’s search for the best small towns across America! The annual Best of the Road program seeks America’s favorite towns with populations under 150,000 in multiple categories, including Most Beautiful, Most Fun, Friendliest, Best for Food and Most Patriotic. And, new this year, in association with Geocaching.com and the Rand McNally Foris Outdoor GPS, Best of the Road is searching for the Best Town for Geocaching.  Help us during our campaign to find the towns with the best travel experiences and visit bestoftheroad.com to vote!

/ Eric Schudiske /

Announcing the July 2013 Geocacher of the Month

The earned, never for sale, Geocacher of the Month geocoin (sun flare optional)
The earned, never for sale, Geocacher of the Month geocoin (sun flare optional)

The power of the worldwide geocaching community came calling for this Geocacher of the Month. The common denominator for all three nominees was the passion each nominee poured back into their community. From award-winning creative hides, to geocaching events that leave people talking, to a geocaching online platform that keeps people talking, these geocachers are all winners.

The Featured Geocacher of the Month is named by Geocaching HQ after reviewing community input and blog comments. After tallying the sentiment and reading the comments, Mollov has been officially named the Featured Geocacher of the Month for July 2013.

Mollov - Geocacher of the Month
Mollov – Geocacher of the Month

One comment shows Mollov’s 360 degree passion for geocaching and its community, “Mollov is one of the most active geocachers in Bulgaria I know and probably the most enthusiastic one as well. His geocaching activities do not end with finding, hiding and maintaining geocaches. If you have seen any of his geocaching adventures on Youtube, or read any of his geocaching articles on his blog, or attended any of the events organized by him, then you probably know why Mollov deserves to be selected as Geocacher of the Month. For all the rest, it would be enough to say that Mollov’s devotion has made geocaching a much more popular activity in Bulgaria. His dedication to the game deserves to be recognized not only in his own country but by the wider geocaching society as well.”

Mollov will receive the earned, never for sale, collector’s edition Featured Geocacher of the Month Geocoin, along with a Featured Geocacher of the Month hat and a certificate acknowledging his contribution, signed by two of the founders of Geocaching.com. See a list of all the Featured Geocachers of the Month here.

If you know an outstanding geocacher who should be considered for the honor, send an email to geocacherofthemonth@geocaching.com. Every nomination must follow these requirements. Please include:

  • Your name, the name of your nominee, their username
  • A picture of the nominee
  • Description (200 or more words) explaining why he or she deserves to be the Featured Geocacher of the Month

Please inform your nominee that you have submitted them for the award. Nominations for Featured Geocacher of the Month are accepted at any time.

Congratulations again to Mollov for being recognized as the Featured Geocacher of the Month for July.

Meet some of previous Featured Geocachers of the Month

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8cGOns2eBMQ]

/ Derek H /

Geocaching tip #37: Read the Description — Mechalumpus (GC1W1ZD) — Geocache of the Week

The Mechalumpus reveals itself! Photo by geocacher feathertop.

For many geocaches, the hard part is finding the actual container. Most of us have seen geocaches that are hollowed-out bolts, some that look like rocks or plants, and some that are so tiny, you need a magnifying glass to see them. The good part is once you hold those geocaches in your hand, the hard part is over. On the flipside, you have geocaches like this week’s Geocache of the Week, where finding them is just the beginning.

Mechalumpus (GC1W1ZD), placed with land-owner permission in Western Australia is fairly easy to find. Minus the trees and the camouflage paintjob, it’s hard to miss. And just like all geocaches are supposed to be, this one is waterproof. And then the geocache creator, roymerc, went a step further to make this geocache muggle-proof. However, this had the side-effect of making it geocacher proof as well—unless you read the description. Geocachers are privy to a small bit of information that makes this geocache a tad bit easier to open: a secret toolkit hidden just meters away. Even though you have to use the secret toolkit to open this geocache, it still only receives a difficulty rating of 1.5 and a terrain rating of 2. In fact, the description states that the geocache owner’s grandchildren figured it out in less than 10 minutes. (Consider that a challenge.) Roymerc had this to say about creating the geocache, “So, the challenge is: find the tool box (easy) and figure out which tool is required, and how to use it.  The reward is to see the red hatch cover with its bulbous wobbly eyes appear. Kids love this! And that’s the aim of the game.”

Nearly 150 geocachers have figured out the combination to open this geocache and over 60 of them have left favorite points. While this might not sound like a lot to those of us in major metropolitan areas, this geocache is one of the most well-loved in Western Australia. Geocacher sylken had this to say in their “Found It” log, “What a fantastic design. We very quickly had the required tool box in hand and after a bit if poking, prodding, twisting and turning geohubby worked out the solution and Mr Mechalumpus himself appeared….and with a very smug look on his face I must say! We signed the log, feeling pretty smug ourselves by now, replaced the tool box and then started on our return journey.”

Lots of happy geocachers! Photo by geocacher Team M-B

Regarding all of the positive logs and favorite points, roymerc said, “They’re a delight and makes the effort worthwhile. My policy is ‘finding the cache is just the beginning of the fun.’ ” We couldn’t agree more. This geocache is a total package: great journey, amazing container, innovative idea and great logs. What’s your favorite “total package” geocache? Tell us in the comments.

Continue to explore some of the most engaging geocaches around the globe. Check out all the Geocaches of the Week on the Geocaching blog or view the Bookmark List on Geocaching.com.

If you would like to nominate a Geocache of the Week, send an email with your name, comments, the name of the geocache, and the GC code to pr@geocaching.com.

 

Bonus spoiler pic of the geocache mechanism, courtesy of roymerc:

Cutaway view of the geocache.
Cutaway view of the geocache.