Year: 2014

/ Eric Schudiske

Announcing the January Geocacher of the Month

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

Geocachers from around the globe commented on their favorite geocachers, even if they only know them through their glowing reputation. It’s a small geocaching world out there and through nominees,  the worldwide community learned about three amazing geocachers this month.

Each of the nominees is already a winner, with a prize package headed their way. But only one geocacher can be named Geocacher of the Month.

All the nominees add an important contribution to their local communities and inspire the global geocaching community. Each will receive special recognition for their contribution to the adventure of geocaching. Before naming the Geocacher of the Month, Geocaching HQ  reviews community input and blog comments. Each comment is read and posts in native languages are encouraged.

A geocaching pioneer from a progressive geocaching state in the U.S. claimed the title of January’s Geocacher of the Month: MikeOtt.

One comment reads, “He is not the reason I joined Geocaching but he is certainly one of the reasons I am still involved. He has taken a huge role in our state with organizing events and special caches. He has a unique way of finding the “right spot” for a cache. Always an educational experience in one way or another. Thanks. Mike for all you do for new cachers as well as veteran cachers!!”

MikeOtt is one of geocaching’s top geocache makers. Celebrate makers, learn the craft of creating clever geocaches and earn a new digital souvenir for your geocaching profile at a Maker Madness event near you.

MikeOtt - January Geocacher of the Month
MikeOtt – January Geocacher of the Month

If you know an outstanding geocacher who should be considered for the honor, send an email to geocacherofthemonth@geocaching.com. 

Every nomination must include the following items and abide by the following guidelines:

  • 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 Geocacher of the Month

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

Congratulations again to Mike  for being recognized as the Geocacher of the Month for January.

/ Derek H /

Don’t look down! — Vertical Limit I: Die Brücke (GCZVW2) — Geocache of the Week

Gear up to get down—carefully. Photo by geocacher p-boro
Gear up to get down—carefully. Photo by geocacher p-boro

Geocache Name:

Vertical Limit I: Die Brücke (GCZVW2)

Difficulty/Terrain Rating:

1.5/5

Why this is the Geocache of the Week:

Between inviting forest trails, urban jaunts and neighborhood parks, it’s easy to forget that there’s a whole other side to geocaching—the adrenaline-fueled adventure sport that only the skilled and brave take part in. This Geocache of the Week serves a gentle reminder of the exciting T5 and those that throw fear to the side to earn their smileys. If rappelling off of bridges isn’t necessarily your thing, that’s okay. T5’s take on many different shapes. For the seafaring, geocaching pirates, there are plenty of boat-in and scuba caches. For the forest dwellers, try a tree-climbing cache. And if you’re a rock climber (like the author), there are plenty of geocaches that can only be accessed via fifth-class terrain. There are tons of options. The only requirement for a T5 is that it must require special equipment to access.

# of Finds:

885

# of Favorite Points:

416

What the geocache owner, TUTANCHAMUN, has to say:

“Some years ago when I did with with a friend of mine some rock climbing and we thought about creating a special geocache. We never thought that this cache will exist such a long time and will get so popular.[…] I am pleased that Vertical Limit I is alive and I think it is accountable to let this cache stay, it is not so extremely dangerous. An important thing I want to say to the community: Enjoy geocaching in nature, search lovely places,  search funny and extraordinary caches but don’t hunt only for points along the road every 0.1 miles. Quality not Quantity!”

What geocachers are saying:

[All logs translated from German]

“A great geocache, there are far too few of this kind… :-)” – Chaosjan

“This was so worth it!  A fantastic adventure, that was a lot of fun for everyone.” – DaDieDose!

“This Bridge was on our bucket list for a long time and today it is finally happening. […] A really great location that literally screams for you to rappel down!” – Nuuskamuikkunen_01

Read More Logs

Photos:

Multi-abseil! Photo by geocacher andine
Multi-abseil! Photo by geocacher andine
Found it! Photo by geocacher Evelyn&Andreas
Found it! Photo by geocacher Evelyn&Andreas
I hope you're not afraid of heights. Photo by geocacher ruby74
I hope you’re not afraid of heights. Photo by geocacher ruby74

See More Photos

What fears have you conquered (or would you conquer) to earn a find? Post your stories and photos 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.

If you would like to nominate a Geocache of the Week, leave a comment below with the name of the geocache, the GC code, and why you think we should feature it.

/ Eric Schudiske

France’s First GeoTour

estuaire du Payre

Are you ready to participate in one of the first GeoTours in continental Europe? Do you want to discover a territory in a fun and unique way?  The Southwest Vendéen GeoTour might just be your next geocaching destination. Thanks to 150 new GeoTour geocaches you’re able to discover the region through a dozen geocaching loops.

You’ll discover the watery wonder of the Marais Poitevin, the Côte de Lumière, the countryside, lakes, rivers, cultural and historical heritage. The circuits are designed to be made on foot along a loop and some are designed for biking.

Join the teams that will participate in the inauguration of the GeoTour during the long weekend of the Ascension, on the 29th May through to the 1st of June. Keep your eyes on the global GeoTour directory to see the new pin appear on the map. No fewer than six events are spread over four days to discover this little corner of paradise.

Want to see a little more? Visit the YouTube channel of ExploCacheurs, follow them on Twitter @explocacheurs and Facebook.

A special commemorative Geocoin will be in play for the first visitors finishing the circuits.

/ Eric Schudiske /

DNF for the Good of All Humanity

MailerImage_03032014_DNF-Good_vFINAL_Blog

If you’re just joining the geocaching adventure, DNF stands for Did Not Find. It’s a log type when you’re searching for a geocache, and guess what, didn’t find it. But what you should also know, is that a DNF log can transform into a “Found it!” The log type doesn’t mean you’ve given up, it means, well, that you didn’t find the geocache—this time. A DNF also means, “I care.”

When you log a DNF, you’re telling geocachers that the geocache may be more difficult to find than anticipated or may even be missing. You’re also letting the geocache owner know that they may need to double check that their geocache container can still be found at the posted coordinates.

If you’re a geocacher who’s logged one of the millions DNF’s posted to Geocaching.com so far, thanks from the geocaching community. It’s a small way to help ensure the quality of geocaching. Plus, you can always go back and search again. Who knows, maybe this time you’ll catch a break and log a “Found it!”

Share the geocache that you’ve DNF’d the most in comments below.

 

/ Derek H /

This one is a shoe-in. — Tree of Soles (GC27XEW) — Geocache of the Week

The Tree of Soles. Photo by geocacher RebelGTP
The Tree of Soles. Photo by geocacher RebelGTP

Geocache Name:

Tree of Soles (GC27XEW)

Difficulty/Terrain Rating:

1.5/1.5

Why this is the Geocache of the Week:

In my opinion, one of the coolest parts of geocaching is finding places you never would’ve seen before. Whether it’s a scenic lookout, a city park, a landmark—or in this case, something a little stranger. One of the running themes in the Found It logs for Tree of Soles is that it never would have been visited had there not been a geocache there. Think about your neighborhood, is there a secret amazing place that people should know about? It doesn’t have to be elaborate, just a new discovery to add a little delight to their day. If there is, consider hiding a geocache there and share that place with the world.

# of Finds:

149

# of Favorite Points:

25

What geocachers are saying:

“Wow…we’ve been to a ‘mug tree’ and we’ve been to a ‘shoe corner’, but we’ve never been to a ‘shoe tree’ until today!  Life is full of surprises…thanks for bringing us here!” — JustUsTwo

“We added two pairs!!! My mom says her friend has been tossing her shoes into this tree since she was a teenager!! Too funny! They also call this ‘Roller Coaster Road’. I wonder how many pairs are lying in the woods here?? TFTC!” – getn froggy

“Awesome sight. Threw some wayward shoes back up there where they belong. Once again geocaching takes me to another cool place I never knew about.” – Aiwendil67

Read More Logs

Photos:

There's something special about this place, but I can't quite put my foot on it. Photo by geocacher madameyounger
There’s something special about this place, but I can’t quite put my foot on it. Photo by geocacher madameyounger
Sunset at the tree of soles. Photo by geocacher MASIE2012
Sunset at the tree of soles. Photo by geocacher MASIE2012
Walking a mile in these shoes may prove to be difficult. Photo by geocacher TomEagle55
Walking a mile in these shoes may prove to be difficult. Photo by geocacher TomEagle55

See More Photos

What’s your favorite thing you’ve seen that you never would’ve discovered without geocaching? Post your stories and photos 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.

If you would like to nominate a Geocache of the Week, leave a comment below with the name of the geocache, the GC code, and why you think we should feature it.