May 20, 2013 / Eric Schudiske

5 Sharable Tips for Logging Your Next Geocache

geocaching inspiration — You find a geocache in an inspiring location, what log do you leave on the geocache page for the cache owner and other geocachers?

Here are 5 quick ways to inspire your fellow geocachers with your next log entry. It’s easy to share too. Just forward this email to your fellow geocachers and watch the geocache-logging knowledge spread.

1)	Tell Your Story – The geocache log you write is like the preview to a movie. You’re telling geocachers about an adventure they could experience. Maybe your journey involved seeing the first leaves of spring, looking out from a mountain top or meeting other geocachers on the trail. Your logs help other geocachers decide if the geocache looks fun and exciting enough for them to find.
2)	Add a Picture – A picture of a geocacher’s crooked smile after a find says a lot about a geocache. It’s easy to upload pictures on-the-fly with the Geocaching mobile app. If you’re wondering about the power of a picture in a log, check out the 1000 most recent log images. It’s an ever-changing visual gallery of geocaching pictures from around the globe.
3)	Name Some Names – Geocaching is all about community. Share the geocaching usernames of those who joined you out in the field. It’s a quick way to help build the local geocaching community and it makes meeting people at Geocaching Mega-Events or Event Caches easier.
4)	Add a Favorite Point – Favorite Points let you compliment the geocache creator and nudge other geocachers to check out this geocache. Only Geocaching Premium Members can earn and award Favorite Points, but everyone can see them. Learn how to use Favorite Points here: Geocaching.com Presents: “Favorites”
5)	Say Thanks – It’s easy. Watch this, “Thank you for reading this Geocaching Weekly Newsletter.” It feels good. When you log a geocache and say “thank you” it means so much to the geocacher who hid and maintains the geocache. And don’t forget, if the geocache needs maintenance, leave a “Needs Maintenance” log.

Geocaching Tech Update

The Geocaching Weekly Newsletter is receiving a facelift. You’ll see an updated design with streamlined entries for Nearby Events and Recent Geocaches. Expect it to be in your inbox within a week or two.

May 20, 2013 / Eric Schudiske /

Announcing the April 2013 Geocacher of the Month

MulderNScully - April 2013 Geocacher of the Month — MulderNScully – April 2013 Geocacher of the Month

The April Featured Geocacher of the Month nominees contribute to their local geocaching communities and inspire geocachers around the world. They not only hide quality geocaches, but make sure those searching can contact them to make the find, if necessary.

Thank you to all those who supported the nominees. Those not chosen as the Featured Geocacher of the Month will receive a gift of appreciation from Geocaching HQ.

The Featured Geocacher of the Month is named by Geocaching HQ after reviewing community input and blog comments. We all won seeing such great examples of how the geocaching community works together. After tallying the sentiment, MulderNScully have been named the Featured Geocachers of the Month for April 2013.

MulderNScully have been geocaching since 2008. They’re known for challenging geocachers with inventive Puzzle Geocaches. They support their local geocaching community by organizing events. One geocacher who commented about MulderNScully wrote, “My vote is for Mulder and Scully. They have been mentors to many new cachers and are always willing to give a helping hand to a fellow cacher and some of my most memorable caching adventures are because of them. They aren’t about the numbers, they are about the places geocaching takes us to.”

MulderNScully will receive collector’s edition Featured Geocacher of the Month Geocoins, along with Featured Geocacher of the Month hats and a certificate acknowledging their contributions, signed by two of the founders of Geocaching.com. See a list of all the Featured Geocachers of the Month here.

Featured Geocacher of the Month Icon

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 MulderNScully for being recognized as the Featured Geocacher of the Month for April.

May 19, 2013 / Eric Schudiske /

The Most Found Geocache in the World

Prague bridges geocache (left) Terekza geocache (right) both found more than 12,400 times — Prague bridges geocache (left) Terezka geocache (right) both have been found more than 12,400 times

The ‘most found traditional geocache’ in the world is a distinction that’s currently neck and neck. Two traditional geocaches both have more than 12,400 finds. That’s more than twice as many finds as the Geocaching HQ geocache in Seattle and more than any other traditional geocache in the world.

Prague bridge 1 - Karlov most — Prague bridge 1 – Karlov most

The most found geocaches are both hidden in the capital city of the Czech Republic, Prague. In fact, they’re just across the famous Charles Bridge from one another. The geocaches each rack up about five “Found it” logs during the work week and about 15 “Found it” logs each weekend. As of this writing, Prague bridges 1 – Karluv most is currently a few finds ahead of Terezka.

Prague bridges find count Both of these geocaches have several similarities. Both offer tourists a chance to discover more than the average traveler and they’re both micro caches with interesting camouflage. While each of these geocaches has unique qualities that make them incredible finds, there are certain traits that help boost them to the top of the find count. If you’re looking to hide the next most-found geocache, take note:

1) They’re placed in inspiring locations that are well-traveled by tourists.

2) The geocache pages tell an interesting story in more than one language and include pictures.

3) They geocaches are not too hard to find. They have clear hints and easy-to-find spoilers.

4) The geocaches are well maintained.

Geocacher Benjo5 owns and maintains Prague bridge 1 – Karluv most. And while this is the most popular of his 26 geocaches, it was his very first hide. He says, “When I wanted to make my first cache, I have seen that Charles bridge, one of the top monuments of Prague and whole Czech Republic is without a cache. It is the oldest bridge in Prague, so I made a cache about it. And as I felt to make just one cache about the most famous bridge a bit unfair thing to the other bridges, I started to make a Prague bridges series, publishing every month one cache about a bridge. The series is numbered chronologically, as the bridges were built.

Charles bridge was my first cache and I wanted it to make it easy for everyone, so it is totally non-problematic 1/1 geocache. But not even in my dreams would I imagine in the day of placing, that it will be once the top visited of those 2.000.000+ geocaches [in the world]”

The owner of Tereka, termiter.cz, owns just two geocaches.

While the find counts for each of these geocaches is incredible, it’s not all about the numbers. Each geocache that’s hidden has a different purpose. Some geocaches are designed to be so difficult and rewarding they’re found just a handful of times a year (if that many). It’s all part of the allure of geocaching. You’re able to choose your own adventure.

Thank you from Geocaching HQ to both geocache creators for providing memories for thousands of geocachers.

See below for the most found traditional geocaches in the top 5 geocaching countries.

Germany – Alexanderplatz more than 9,850 finds

United States – Original Stash Tribute Plaque more than 6,700 finds

Sweden – OTTT #2 – Changing of the Guard more than 4,600 finds

United Kingdom – From a Swan to the Canary: Tower – Save me! more than 4,500 finds

Canada – Banff Micro Cache more than 2,500 finds

What do you think make the elements of a geocache that draws in thousands of finds? Add your comments below.

May 15, 2013 / Derek H /

Don’t forget to bring proper headwear. – Head Case (GC2TD8M) – Geocache of the Week

Geocachers wear many hats—explorer, adventurer, stealth agent, pirate, and climber, just to name just a few. Sometimes, like in the case of this week’s Geocache of the Week, the hat geocachers wear is actually the geocache itself. To earn your smiley for Head Case (GC2TD8M), located near Denver, Colorado, USA, you’ll have to make sure your head is in the game.

Geocacher 2muchsoccer33-5 tests the Head Case for any signs of mutation.

The hunt for this difficulty 2, terrain 1.5 geocache starts with a clever story told by the geocache creator Ecylram. The Head Case began as a micro container. However, due to mysterious circumstances and nearby military testing, the original container mutated into what it is now. Geocachers are tasked with ensuring that the Head Case remains locked in its container, making sure that no further mutation has occurred and signing the correct log (which is easier said than done).

When asked about what inspired this geocache, Ecylram said, “I wanted to place a geocache that offered an interactive experience for the geocacher that was unique. I took the “find the log” idea and twisted it by having a log for each day of the month. The cacher is required to sign the log that corresponds to the find date.” He went on to add, “I then wanted to add humor to the find so I decided to attach the log containers to a wearable hard hat. I then built a large wooden container to protect the hard hat from the elements and to provide a place for swag and trackables. I then started work on writing a story for the cache description that tied together the unique cache and the location. Once I decided to go with a mutant cache theme the story wrote itself.”

Found the correct log and no new mutations to report! Photo by geocacher Grandma Nan.

Since the geocache was placed, over 200 geocachers have earned their smileys and awarded the geocache over 140 Favorite Points. However, the best part is looking through all of the amazing photos posted in the Found It logs. Geocacher Chihuahuahs-3 (C3) wrote, “We were in the area today checking on one of our nearby caches and decided to stop by this one to show our grandchildren what a cool cache this is. The two of them had a ball getting in to the cache then finding the log!!! Our grandson was the lucky winner. He also could not resist putting it on his head! Does it tingle!?!?!? Thanks so very much for adding a very special element to our wonderful Easter weekend with our grandchildren”

And the geocache creator loves reading the logs as well, “I’ve absolutely loved the response. Most cachers seem to really enjoy the experience and have written some wonderful logs. I wish I could thank each one in person for their thoughtful logs and favorite points… Also, look for my next cache “Tin Man” to be released in the end of June. It will be a 6 1/2 foot-tall ‘robot’ made out of 14 ammo cans. It will be very memorable.”

The hat you have to wear is obvious with this geocache, what other “hats” have you had to wear while geocaching? Tree climber? Scuba diver? Super Hero? 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.

May 14, 2013 / Derek H /

Finding Health and Good Habits with Geocaching

Earlier this month we received an email from a geocacher named Karen. In her email, she described how geocaching has completely turned her and her husband’s lives around with more exercise, lower blood pressure and a slimmer waist line. Then, her husband, Mike, sent an email to elaborate on their story. We love reading stories like this and can’t help but share it with Karen and Mike’s permission and an ear-to-ear smile across our faces.

After retiring, Karen and Mike found themselves with a few bad habits: eating more and being less active than in previous years. That is, until a local outing for retired and active police officers. This is where it all began to change for Mike and Karen. “…Officer Sean Sullivan was present at this one. At the end of our dinner, he showed me a key ring of “path-tags”. They, of course, looked cool and he told me he has collected them “Geocaching”. I didn’t know what he was talking about. He explained the whole process to me that evening, and I was intrigued,” said Mike.

Later, Mike dug out his older GPS device he had used for boating. Admittedly, he hadn’t learned to use it properly, but spent a few days reading the manual and getting the basics down. From there, Mike and Karen created a Geocaching account as NHBucket and set out for their very first geocache. “We ventured out and found my first cache (Rhoades Cemetary Pt 2, Alexandria, NH)….in thigh-high deep snow. I was hooked, right then and there,” Mike wrote.

Since they earned their first smiley, Karen says, “We have gone geocaching in New Hampshire in Andover, Franklin, Tilton, Laconia, Lochmere, and Belmont. We took a vacation last week in Maine and spent every day geocaching.” During that vacation in Maine, the couple found 47 geocaches. And they’ve begun to see the benefits, too. “Mike and I are both benefiting from geocaching because it makes exercising fun. Before we know it, we have walked 6 – 10 miles a day. Mike is also seeing his diabetes come under control with his numbers dropping,” said Karen. Mike added, “In the couple months since, I’ve lost 20 pounds, I eat less, have reduced my [blood pressure] & [blood sugar] levels overall, and just plain feel better about myself.”

Mike and Karen have shared the geocaching love with others, as well. “I’ve taken my wife, my 16-year-old son, and my 8-year-old grandson out geocaching. I’ve also introduced my brother Chris, and his wife, Carla to geocaching…Now, she (Car-Crazy) is hooked with the GC Bug worse than me. AND, she “hooked” her father (Yogi1940),” said Mike.

Thanks Mike and Karen for sharing your story with your fellow geocachers. If you have any inspirational stories about how geocaching has changed yours or someone you know’s life for the better, share it in comments below. Happy geocaching!

Official Blog

Year: 2013