Ask Signal is back! This edition answers geocachers’ questions about collectible trackables and hosting events when traveling. Read on for all the information and details.

How do I host an event when traveling?

The process of submitting an Event Cache for an event you’re hosting while traveling, and getting it published, is pretty much the same process as if you were hosting an event in your hometown, but it requires a little more research and advance planning.

First on the to-do list is to pick a good location. This requires a little more research since you’re picking a location that you may have never visited before. It may be tempting to pick a transit center as a location if it’s on your trip itinerary, but the guidelines point out that airports, cruise ship ports, and train stations as inappropriate event locations. The location and time should be accessible and well suited to the intention of socializing with geocachers.

Finally, try and submit your event for review with plenty of advance time. The earlier you submit it, the more time you have to work with your reviewer in case any details about your event or its location need to change. At a minimum, submit your event two weeks before your intended date.

Can you explain what collectible means when I am setting up a trackable? Can someone keep it, or is it just for discovering?

If a trackable is “collectible,” any geocacher can move it to their Collection. If a trackable is “collectible,” it can travel and move from cache to cache, but once a trackable is in a Collection, it can only be Discovered.

A trackable should be marked as “collectible” if you plan to keep it for display or allow others to discover it.

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