Good geocache maintenance is the story of two smiles. You earn a digital smiley for your Geocaching profile by finding a geocache. If you’ve found a well-maintained geocache it often leads to a real, in the flesh, teeth showing, ear-to-ear smile. Now, we’re on a quest for even more smiles.
It’s the perfect time to help.When you find a geocache, treat it with care and lend a helping hand if it’s necessary. After signing the log book, make sure the geocache is clear of debris and return it to the original hiding spot. If you notice the geocache is no longer water-tight, the log needs to be replaced, or anything else that needs some geocache love, submit a “Needs Maintenance” log on the geocache page. The geocache owner will receive a message and a red wrench icon will appear.
If the geocache is well-maintained, make sure to include a thank you to the geocache owner in your log. And, of course, don’t forget to smile.
Many anxious geocachers set alerts to ping them when a new geocache is published. Within minutes of going live, a geocacher rushed to claim the FTF (First to Find). In the case of one lonely geocache, in an uninhabited swath of Canada, it took nearly 12 years for a brave and determined geocacher to venture into the wilderness and sign the logbook. 4.5lb Walleye (GCDFB) was hidden June 23, 2001. It registered its first find on June 8, 2013 by geocacher Stormgren-X. Here’s his story.
The idea for finding this geocache came to Stormgren-X months before he set out. “I planned the trip myself over a six month period from researching the route, history, other accounts of this amazing canoe route, food, gear, and logistics of getting to the launch site and getting out and back home,” he said, “I was prepared to do the trip solo, but managed to convince my life-long friend to join me on this amazing journey along this historical canoe route.”
On the day before they left, Stormgren-X posted about their journey in the Geocaching Forums and included a link to the Spot tracking page, “I expected a few people on the geocache watchlist to perhaps follow along from time to time. By the time we reached Fort Albany and were set up in our lodge, I…was overwhelmed to see 375 replies to my thread. It was amazing and I felt great that so many people were watching and cheering us on…So many emails of encouragement and positive comments. We were pleased that we offered some sort of live entertainment and discussion to the geocaching community on our journey…”
From there, the real adventure began. The first two days of canoeing proved to be the most difficult. Stormgren-X recalls, “The winds and rain were non-stop and made for freezing toes and fingers, [and] poor morale…” After the initial problems, the weather cleared and made for an enjoyable trip. On the eighth day, they reached ground zero and finally found the geocache, “…I saw a foreign object. It looked like a rounded corner of something, and I grabbed it between index finger and thumb and pulled on it. I easily pulled it out from it’s hiding spot under the moss and yelled at Gord, “Here it is! I found it!”I placed it on the ground and immediately took notice that it was intact and contents were still inside.”
Found it! Stormgren-X with the 4.5lb Walleye.
Regarding the trip, Stormgren-X said, “The eight and a half days we spent on this arctic watershed adventure is one I won’t soon forget. Being immersed in that environment, without communication with the outside world, and seeing so few people was so refreshing from the busy and modern life we are so accustomed to. The historic places we visited and the thoughts of men and women who toiled in this land to make a life for themselves was astounding. Many times we felt so small and insignificant in such a vast wilderness, but so connected to it at the same time. To travel 435 km along such a huge waterway and not see many people, any roads, bridges, railways, dams, or industry is something difficult to find in this world. I consider myself lucky to have experienced the voyage and the great memories.”
Before we get started with the very first Geocache of the Week: Video Edition, a quick note: the video contains spoilers with permission from the geocache creator.
Some geocaches are found easiest at night, others during the day. And some, like this week’s Geocache of the Week, are easiest at low tide (high tide would require SCUBA gear). Check out the video of geocacher Skwarepeg as she journeys into the River Thames in search of Father Thames & the Mermaid (As tides go by) (GC3KG2m).
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gdFztOz1zGg&hl=en_US&version=3]This difficulty 3, terrain 2 geocache was created by 83cad. When asked about his inspiration for this geocache, he cites his grandaughter. She likes going to London and the beach, so this location provided the opportunity to do a little bit of everything she enjoys in one day. And regarding all of the positive logs and favorite points, he said “When I get positive logs from people I don’t know or never met, I feel a tremendous satisfaction in knowing that we are all sharing a common enjoyment.”
Sunny London from near GZ. Photo by geoacher Von-Horst.
There are many different geocaches that are easiest to find with certain conditions. What’s your favorite “condition” dependent geocache?
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.
Discover a piece of Canadian history this summer with the Heritage Hide’n’Seek GeoTour. On this tour, you’ll make your way to 16 geocaches in northern Ontario that will teach you facts about fascinating people, places and events that helped shape Canadian history.
You’ll have the opportunity to find urban and remote geocaches in locations like Algonquin Park, James Bay and the Manitoba border.Developed by Parks Canada, the Heritage Hide’n’Seek GeoTour is set up as a game where geocachers earn points by finding geocaches and correctly answering questions on the passport. The point values for each geocache are determined by the effort required to find it. Anyone who collects 100+ points is eligible to receive a collectible coin from Parks Canada.
Like what you see? You still have time to submit your own geocaching video! See details below.
Click the image to learn more
Earn a spot for your geocaching video on the big screen. Enter your geocaching video into the first annual Geocaching International Film Festival (GIFF). GIFF will showcase the best videos from geocachers around the world. You could win a 5-year Geocaching Premium membership, a personalized trophy and more!
Prizes will be awarded for the following categories:
Best Cinematography
Most Instructional
Most Inspirational
Most Creative/Experimental
Most Adventurous
Audience Award
Make sure you read the Official Rules before you submit your video. If your video is selected as one of the top videos, it will be shown to hundreds of geocachers on August 17, following Geocaching Block Party in Seattle.
Don’t wait: videos must be submitted by July 7, 2013. Good luck!
