Geocaching HQ Lackeys attend dozens of Mega and Giga-Events around the world, shaking hands, sharing stories of adventure, and of course, geocaching! AngryBeesy is an Associate Product Owner, Web at Geocaching HQ. He recently traveled to Iowa to attend MOGA 2026 (GCB40XQ)

The MOGA Mega-Event in Des Moines, Iowa (March 28, 2026) delivered exactly what you’d hope for—great people, creative challenges, and just enough chaos to make it memorable.

The weekend kicked off with registration and competition signups. Hosts Marsha and George (gmsnrich) were already in full stride, managing a turnout that exceeded expectations. The energy was contagious—everywhere you turned, cachers were reconnecting, swapping stories, and sizing up the weekend ahead.

At Marsha’s suggestion, I signed up for the signature orienteering competition—something new for me, but too intriguing to pass up.

Saturday was the main event. After a quick breakfast, I headed to Saylorville Lake for the orienteering singles competition. The challenge began with a GPX file containing 30 checkpoint locations. The course lived up to its warning: bushwhacking was not optional. Reeds, thorns, and stubborn undergrowth stood between me and the first few checkpoints. Thankfully, later segments followed an equestrian trail, offering a bit of relief. I managed to find and punch five checkpoints before realizing I’d ventured over a mile from the start.

Five out of 30 didn’t sound like much… until the awards ceremony revealed I’d actually won my age bracket. A surprise, to say the least!

Still, the real MVPs were the volunteers—standing out in 29°F weather with a stiff lake wind, guiding participants and collecting punch sheets. That’s dedication.

Back at the hotel, the rest of the event buzzed with activity: a scavenger hunt, poker run, bingo challenge, and vendor booths packed with creative cache containers, geocoins, and handcrafted wood displays. Add in new Adventures, fresh caches, and even a reverse Wherigo geo-art, and there was no shortage of things to explore.

Sunday morning brought a hearty breakfast courtesy of the hosts—biscuits, pancakes, and sausage—before the final CITO and goodbyes. Then it was time to hit the road… or perhaps track down a few of those reverse Wherigos.

A huge thank you to everyone who made MOGA 2026 such a success. I’m already looking forward to next year!