Year: 2013

/ Derek H /

The Two Millionth Active Geocache – Overwatch #1 (GC46N4E) – Geocache of the Week

Just one of the many congratulatory images left in a note on the two millionth geocache.
Just one of the many congratulatory images left in a note on the two millionth geocache. Uploaded by geocacher paparazzi patsy, who added, “enjoy the honors of being the CO of the 2,000,000th cache!! And CONGRATULATIONS to the FTF!!!”

Last week, we hit a major Geocaching milestone: our two millionth active geocache. This feat happened only three years after the millionth geocache, which means our favorite activity continues to grow by leaps and bounds. To continue the celebration, this week we’re featuring the geocache that put us at the two-million mark: Overwatch #1 (GC46N4E) near Alice Springs, Northern Territory, Australia.

Part of the Geocaching congratulations package sent to rAMPant_1 from Geocaching HQ.
Part of the Geocaching congratulations package sent to rAMPant_1 from Geocaching HQ.

Take one look at the log book and you’ll see just how excited the Geocaching community is about the two millionth geocache. There are more than 1500 notes from geocachers all over the world sending congratulations and well wishes to the geocache creator, rAMPant_1.

Geocacher TheRadioheads writes, “Wow, what a milestone to have: we would like to add our congratulations on having the 2,000,000th cache published.” Geocaching HQ got in on congratulating rAMPant_1 by sending a Geocaching care package. The package includes personal tags from those that work at Geocaching HQ and Lackey Geocoins. Who knows, they may end up as swag in the 2,000,000th active geocache.

And that geocache is no walk in the park. The difficulty and terrain are both 3.5 and the search includes a scramble up a short, steep slope. From ground zero, you’ll get an amazing view of Alice Springs and the surrounding country.

View to the west from ground zero. Photo by the FTF, geocacher tttedzeins.

So far, Overwatch #1 only has one find by geocacher tttedzeins, but we’re guessing that this geocache will have plenty of “found it” logs soon.

Note posted on the "Overwatch #1"
Note posted on the “Overwatch #1”

Are you planning on making the trip to Alice Springs to log the two millionth active 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@groundspeak.com.

View from the site of the two millionth geocache. Photo by the FTF, geocacher tttedzeins.
/ Eric Schudiske /

What 2 Million Active Geocaches Means to Me

instagram 2 millionTwo million active geocaches is a big deal. But at the end of the day, two million active geocaches is a number. It’s hard to even imagine. Here’s a little perspective on the magnitude of two million. It takes you more than four months to blink two million times. About two million babies will be born around the world this week. And students spend two million minutes to complete four years of high school classes in the United States.

Two million active geocaches though, means adventure is closer than ever. Active geocaches can be found in more than 180 countries. Those at Geocaching HQ in Seattle weigh in on the significance. Cathy Hornback at Geocaching HQ has more than 11,000 finds. She’s been geocaching under the username Prying Pandora since 2003. She says two million active geocaches takes Geocaching into the mainstream, “It means we’re no longer the biggest game that no one has heard about.”

Jenn Seva, MissJenn, at Geocaching HQ says congratulations goes to geocache hiders, “Thank you so much for those quirky gems and amazing locations. Thank you also to those who take the time to award Favorite Points so that it’s slightly easier to choose my destinations.” (You can thank a geocache hider by sharing this video)

Recent "Corporate Day" at Geocaching HQ (no one really dresses like this)
Recent “Corporate Day” at Geocaching HQ (no one really dresses like this at HQ)

MissJenn also helped power the worldwide geocaching volunteer community. Each of the two million active geocaches has volunteer reviewer fingerprints on them. Each geocache was individually reviewed. She says volunteers should take a moment to enjoy the milestone, “Being a steward of the game takes a lot of time and dedicated effort. Please take a moment to bask in a bit of the  glory: beam with pride! Take a look at this awesome community that you have helped to create: one geocache at time, one forum thread at a time, and one translation at a time.”

Geocaching is now more than 12-years-old. Jon Stanley, Moun10Bike, has been geocaching since its infancy. He works at Geocaching HQ and says, “At the outset, I had no idea that this great game would ever get this big. When I placed Idaho’s first geocache back in 2000, there were less than 40 geocaches in existence, and I naively placed a hitchhiker in the geocache with the idea that it might someday visit every geocache in the world. Now we’re at two million. My hitchhiker, poor little Stash Hopper never had a chance!”2 million geocaches in 1 minute player image

But Jon reminds us, “Remember, it’s not about the numbers! For this game to continue to thrive, we all need to become stewards of the game and push forward to new heights of creativity, cooperation, and commitment!” Well said.

Share your comments below. What does reaching two million active geocaches mean to you?

 

/ Eric Schudiske /

Celebrating Two Million Geocaches

 GooglePlus_Cover_940x180_vFINAL

2 million reached!
Homepage counter at 5:11 am Seattle time on February 28

Join Geocaching in celebrating a major milestone! The 2 millionth active geocache was published on February 28 at approximately 5:11am Seattle time. It’s located in Australia. The 2 millionth active geocache is Overwatch #1 (GC46N4E). The traditional geocache is rated a terrain 3.5, difficulty 3.5 and promises to take geocachers to a lookout over the city of Alice Springs.  As of 6:12am Seattle time, the geocache has not yet been found.

To celebrate this milestone – Geocaching will be rewarding the global community with previously unreleased Geocaching Souvenirs. Hundreds of thousands of geocachers will receive never-before released country and region souvenirs. Find details here. Geocachers also have a new way to thank geocache hiders. Share this new “Thank a Geocache Hider” video with those who place and maintain geocaches so many enjoy.

Click to see the latest Geocaching Souvenirs release
Click to see the latest Geocaching Souvenirs to be released

Don’t forget to spread the word about geocaching by checking out and sharing the Celebrating 2 Million Infograph, and the videos 2 Million Geocaches in 1 Minute and Travel Bug® Travels.

 

/ Eric Schudiske /

New Geocaching Souvenirs – Celebrating 2 Million Active Geocaches

 

GooglePlus_Cover_940x180_vFINAL

Geocaching is celebrating the 2 Millionth Active Geocache by rewarding geocachers with more than a dozen previously unreleased Geocaching Souvenirs. Souvenirs are digital post cards for your profile. You earn a souvenir by finding a geocache in a specific country, like Spain. The virtual pieces of art are displayed on your Geocaching profile page, as well as on the Geocaching iPhone, Android and Windows Phone 7 apps.

Geocaching will release five souvenirs shortly after the 2 Millionth Active Geocaches is reached. We’ll release five Geocaching Souvenirs each work day until all previously unreleased souvenirs are available to geocachers.  After all the souvenirs are released no more state or regional souvenirs are planned. Nearly a hundred souvenirs already exist! See a selection of the most popular Geocaching Souvenirs offered on Geocaching!

The Geocaching Souvenirs Below were Released on February 28, 2013

Austria
Austria
New South Wales
New South Wales
Dublin
Dublin
Spain
Spain
Sweden
Sweden

The Geocaching Souvenirs Below were Released on March 1, 2013

Norway
Norway
Connacht - Ireland
Connacht – Ireland
South Korea
South Korea
Hungary
Hungary
Western Australia
Western Australia

 

 

The Geocaching Souvenirs Below were Released on March 4, 2013

Queensland
Queensland
Iceland
Iceland
South Africa
South Africa
Japan
Japan
Lienster - Ireland
Lienster – Ireland
France
France

The Geocaching Souvenirs Below were Released on March 5, 2013

Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Ulster - Ireland
Ulster – Ireland
Victoria - Australia
Victoria
Northern Territory - Australia
Northern Territory
South Australia - Australia
South Australia
Finland
Finland
Netherlands
Netherlands
New Zealand
New Zealand

The Final Geocaching Souvenirs Below were Released on March 6, 2013

Luxembourg
Luxembourg
Munster - Ireland
Munster – Ireland
Australian Capital Territory
Australian Capital Territory
Tasmania
Tasmania
Switzerland
Switzerland
Denmark
Denmark
Latvia
Latvia
United Kingdom
United Kingdom

See a selection of nearly 100 more of the most popular Geocaching Souvenirs offered by Geocaching!

/ Eric Schudiske /

Thank you to the Geocache Hiders Video – Celebrating the 2 Millionth Active Geocache

 

GooglePlus_Cover_940x180_vFINAL

Geocachers around the world can join in the celebrating the 2 millionth active geocache. Share this video with your favorite geocache hider to say a big ol’ “Thank you” for the adventure. And a big thank you from the entire geocaching community to all those who hide geocaches, creating memories for thousands of people everyday.

[vsw id=”goAfLm3Njvo” source=”youtube” width=”425″ height=”344″ autoplay=”no”]

Don’t forget to spread the word about geocaching by checking out and sharing the Celebrating 2 Million Infograph, and the videos 2 Million Geocaches in 1 Minute and Travel Bug® Travels.