Author: Alex

Alex is a Community Volunteer Support Coordinator at Geocaching HQ. When things get crazy, she sends in the big puns.
/ Alex /

And the Nominees for November’s Geocacher of the Month are…

Each month, the global geocaching community meets three outstanding geocachers. As part of this community, your task is to help decide which one will be known forevermore as a Geocacher of the Month.

These exceptional people stand out among others for their demonstrated dedication to the game we all love. If you’re lucky enough to someday meet one of them, give ’em a high five. Each of the nominees below will receive a prize package from Geocaching HQ in Seattle, but only one will be the next Geocacher of the Month. A  panel from Geocaching HQ will use your comments, community input and other data to decide the winner.

Now it’s your turn to help us select the next Geocacher of the Month. Write a supportive comment below for the nominated geocacher you feel should be awarded the title.

 

 

Mr Donut WP

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With just over 2,100 finds, there’s no arguing that Mr Donut WP is already a force to be reckoned with in the UK geocaching community. But the username entered in all those logbooks isn’t the only imprint he’s made. The “Bike or Hike” geocache series he’s created has received a good share of favorite points and makes for a great geocaching excursion through two counties.

Best of all, his nominees can’t say enough about the fun, well-attended, and inviting Event Caches he regularly hosts. Through them he has brought geocachers to new and interesting places, fostered a sense of local geocaching community, and inspired new geocachers to continue with the game.

 

 

 

 

 

Team Geologynut

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Team Geologynut is considered one of the founding fathers of the East Tennessee geocaching community. His geocache hides—over 400, including 10 EarthCaches—are well-loved and well-maintained.

Lostnspace says, “Team Geologynut has created a variety of geocaches, including exciting and educational Earthcaches, challenging puzzle caches, traditional caches ranging from easy park and grabs to difficulty/terrain caches up to 5/5s, and many other enjoyable finds for all of us.” Team Geologynut represents the best of this sport, and is “truly a wonderful diplomat of the Geocaching Community.”

 

 

 

 

HikingSeal

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“HikingSeal is one of those people who you just want to spend time with on the trail searching for caches.” So says a fellow geocacher, and we believe it. Her statistics may be impressive, but they’re nothing compared to her own geocaching events. Her monthly “Sunday morning Hiking Series” is a popular recurring geocaching event which draws geocachers from far and wide onto beautiful trails scattered with geocaches and good company.

According to Pip-Boy3000, HikingSeal “is always positive and encouraging on the hikes and goes out of her way to make sure everyone who comes has a good, safe and fun time. She has made many friends throughout the years sponsoring these hikes, some from other countries who have graciously taken her caching when she has visited their homeland.”

 

 

 

Comment below to tell us who you think should be the November Geocacher of the Month. Comments accepted through through December 15th.

 

If you know an outstanding geocacher who should be considered for the honor, simply fill out this webform.

 

 

/ Alex /

5 Tips for Writing the Best Log in the World

Some logs posted on Geocaching.com offer only a snapshot into the geocaching adventure, but great logs produce a panoramic view of the geocaching quest. Great logs inform other geocachers of what they might expect on their ‘caching adventure. They also reward geocache owners, who enjoy reading about the experiences of those seeking their ‘caches.

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Share your experience beyond a TFTC (Thanks for the Cache) or TNLN (Took Nothing Left Nothing) log by following these 5 tips:

 

1) See it and Say it – Describe what you saw and experienced on your way to the geocache. Did you see a rare bird, a hidden waterfall, or Harrison Ford? Tell folks about it.

2) Be a Superhero – If there are new conditions in the area, like a fallen tree or heavy snow, warn other geocachers. You’d want them to do the same for you.

3) Talk about Trades – Tell people what is in the geocache container along with what you took and what you left.

4) Shout Out for the Cache Owner – Thank the cache owner for placing the geocache. TFTC is a perfectly acceptable way to do it, but feel free to be a little more creative with it.

5) Learn from Others – Think about the best log you’ve ever read…what made it so special? Humor? Sincerity? A haiku?

Geocache owners can reward those who write great logs by sending them a thank you email through their Geocaching.com profile. Have you thanked a good logger recently?

/ Alex

Find the Right Geocaching Party for You

Word on the street is, Mega-Events are the best thing since sliced bread

 

These geocaching parties of 500+ people offer more than a meet-and-greet of other geocachers—though that’s bound to happen too. Mega-Events are more like a celebration of all facets of the hobby we love. Often centered around a theme (ahem, *Pirates*), Mega-Events happen all over the world and are a must for every geocacher. Find one near you.

Geowoodstock
Were you there? Can you find yourself? GeoWoodstock XII.
Living in or visiting Germany? You'll never be short on awesome events.
Living in or visiting Germany? You’ll never be short on awesome events.

Not sure if Mega-Events are your thing?

 

Geocaching HQ’er Chris (Rock Chalk) discusses his experiences at four Mega-Events this past year, and you can be sure that no two Mega-Events are alike.
 By Chris Ronan

I’ve had the good fortune (and the necessary vacation time) to attend four Mega-Events in 2014. I’ve found Mega-Events to be much like any geocaching event in that they reflect the personality and geocaching style of the host community. However, they’re larger than typical events, as an event must have 500+ attendees to achieve Mega-Event status.

At this time last year, I had no idea what a Mega-Event was about, or whether I’d enjoy attending. Perhaps my experiences might be useful as you peruse the list of upcoming Mega-Events around the world.

 

S*W*A*G’s Yuma Mega #11
Held in Yuma, AZ, this was my first Mega-Event. I lived in Kansas at the time, so this was a wonderful mid-winter break from Midwestern winter. It was my first experience with Lab Caches, which took me on a great tour through the area. There’s a great variety of caching around Yuma—from power trails such as the Arizona Star Geo-Art and the S*W*A*G Geo-Art to higher-terrain hiking and climbing caches.

Logbook at the S.W.A.G. Yuma Mega event.
Logbook at the S.W.A.G. Yuma Mega-Event.

 

MOGA 2014
Unlike the Yuma Mega-Event, MOGA is held in a different place each year. The 2014 version took place in Athens, OH in late March. The perfect time for a road trip from Kansas! MOGA was where I experienced my first and only geocaching competition. The organizers took a different approach to Lab Caches, but they were just as enjoyable as what I’d seen in Yuma. The area offered a wonderful variety of geocaches. MOGA 2015 will be held in Jackson, MO, less than two hours from St. Louis.

A map-style logbook at the MOGA Mega-Event.
A map-style logbook at the MOGA Mega-Event.

Geowoodstock XII
Geowoodstock XII was held just 30 minutes from St. Louis, in the historic river town of St. Charles, MO. The immediate area is more urban than Yuma or Athens, which meant yet another different style of caching. Fittingly, the Lab Caches focused on the area’s amazing history. Speaking of history, GeoWoodstock XIII is to be held in Boonsboro, MD. I could talk for days about all the great caching in that area, but definitely don’t miss the Wherigo at Antietam National Battlefield. It’s one of my favorite caches ever!

If you're lucky, you might see Signal at a Mega event.
If you’re lucky, you might see Signal at a Mega-Event.

3IEE
Shortly after joining the staff of Geocaching HQ, I took a weekend to enjoy my first international Mega-Event in Duncan, British Columbia. 3IEE was a complete departure from my previous three Mega-Events, as it focused on EarthCaches. I’m no geology genius, but I walked away feeling like even I might be able to construct an enjoyable EarthCache, thanks to the many educational opportunities at the event. The Lab Caches introduced me to the beautiful Cowichan Valley. And, of course, I nabbed my first Canada caches, which were very cool!

At the International EarthCache Mega-Event!
At the International EarthCache Mega-Event!

I’ve had the chance to meet geocachers from around the world and enjoy very different geocaching experiences in some neat places. In fact, I’ve already booked another vacation to sunny Arizona for S*W*A*G Yuma Mega Event #12 on February 8, 2015. See you there!

/ Alex /

There Are Geocachers Among Us…And They’re Amazing

Let’s begin by saying that all three of the geocachers nominated for October’s Geocacher of the Month are worthy of the title.

 

If you’re reading this, you can count yourself lucky to be playing the same game as them, and even luckier if you happen to meet one of them. Because frankly…Pudsemand og kone, DrJay, and Capt Biggins are amazing.

They may geocache differently and in opposite corners of the world, but they share an undeniable love for the game and for the players, and they show it too. You let us know who you think deserves the honor, and we listened. But first, the candidates:

Pudsemand og kone
Pudsemand og kone

Pudsemand og kone are a caching couple from Denmark. You only need to look the comments that came in for these two, to know that they love meeting other geocachers. Peterpro commented, “They have made some of the best events we have ever attended. They are always helping if an experienced or newbie geocacher has a question or needs help. They invite every geocacher they meet into their home and some of our best cache experiences have been created by Tina and Henrik, that goes for puzzle, challenge, kids friendly, D5 and nightcaches. Deeply from our hearts they deserve the honor to be ‘Geocacher of the Month’.” Another voter says, “Tina and Henrik have a great “Let’s just do it”-spirit, that brought us a lot of caches and events. that stand out among others, and have made them famous all over Denmark.”

 

 

 

 

DrJay
DrJay

DrJay is a geocacher from the state of Utah, and he’s definitely at the top of his game in terms of geocaching statistics (did we mention a streak of 2,837 days? Quite possibly one of the longest streaks ever). Says MountainHikerUT, “He has kept the Utah Association of Geocachers alive by taking over the reins when no one else wanted to. For the last few years he has continued the tradition of holding the annual UTAG Spring and Fall Events and has traveled hundreds of miles to make sure that these events are held in all parts of the state.” To add to that, Kyle Clements says, “The first time we met DrJay was in the middle of the night digging through weeds at the dead end of a road just a few miles from where we live. Turns out that FTF marked the 7th anniversary since he started his daily caching streak! Since that day we have had many an encounter with DrJay including FTF run-ins and local caching events. He’s practically a stand-up comedian running local events, and helps make sure everyone has a good time.”

 

 

 

Capt Biggins
Capt Biggins

Capt Biggins, according to many, is “an incredible friend who puts his heart into geocaching. He will be there for anyone at anytime. He is a true GEOCACHER. He absolutely loves sharing this passion with others. At any opportunity, he is talking to others about geocaching. He makes caching fun and enjoyable. I have cached with Capt Biggins may times and it has been a true honor knowing someone of his caliber.” And trust us…he’s made a lot of geocaching friends. Another geocacher says, “I always look forward to seeing this kind cacher, at an event or in the bush. He is an asset to our local (ok…. not so local, nearly state-wide) caching community.”

 

 

 

Even with the greatness of all three geocachers, there can only be one winner. October’s Geocacher of the Month is…

 

CAPT BIGGINS

Your newest Geocacher of the Month
Your newest Geocacher of the Month

There’s no doubt that this geocacher puts his heart and soul into everything that is geocaching. If you’re in south Florida–heck, if you’re anywhere in Florida–Capt Biggins might just be your go-to guy if you’re in need of geocaching advice. Cathie Bailey says of him, “Capt. Biggins is not only an avid and accomplished geocacher, he is a generously kind person. He helped out my family and I when we were new to the sport, and he makes himself available to teach the techniques, gps use, hiding and seeking of the caches, and purchasing or making the necessary equipment. He is most deserving of this honor on any given month, and this one is as good as any.”

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Geocaching is exciting when caves are involved.

Capt Biggins is a geocacher with a big heart. Valeria sings his praises: “[Capt Biggins is] a fantastic ‘cacher who recently designed a gorgeous tag to help a fellow ‘cacher raise money to take care of unexpected expenses she has incurred since her MS diagnoses this year including a major relapse this summer which has left her unable to stand or walk.”

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He’s a tree-hugger too!

Capt Biggins’ helpfulness isn’t limited to in-person interactions, either. One geocacher, Stefan, “was a Tourist in Florida last three weeks. Before the trip I asked questions on a forum for cachers in that area. Cpt. Biggins ALWAYS answered with in helpful way. And in a friendly and funny way too. A real geocacher ambassador.”

Based on the comments we saw in our nominations post, Capt Biggins is the reason why a lot of geocachers started geocaching…and the reason why a number of them keep on doing it.

Congratulations Capt Biggins!

The earned, never for sale, Geocacher of the Month geocoin.
The earned, never for sale, Geocacher of the Month geocoin.

If you know an outstanding geocacher who should be considered for the honor, simply fill out this webform.

 

/ Alex /

The Travel Bug that Survived a Wildfire

The TB that Lived
The TB that Lived

When CarpeCrew and #36 set out in search of GC3CZ72, they weren’t expecting to find anything. The geocache was placed in February of 2012, on National Forest land just northwest of Colorado Springs. 13 finds and four months later, the Waldo Canyon Fire tore through the region. It was one of the most destructive fires in the state’s history. There was little to indicate that the geocache had survived—no finds, no DNFs, no comment from the geocache owner.

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Two years later, a forest road near where the geocache was placed was reopened, and CarpeCrew and #36, saw their chance to explore the area, visit an old personal landmark, and perhaps find an EarthCache in honor of International EarthCache Day. When they saw that GC3CZ72 was supposed to be nearby, they took a chance and trotted toward where their phones were putting it.

A forest rising from the ashes.
A forest rising from the ashes.

And there it was…right on the spot. The charred and blackened ammo can was spotted and opened, though not without a bit of difficulty. The identifiable geocache inventory was as follows:

  • Charred remains of a logbook (visible in the photo)
  • Several key rings
  • Pens and pencils
  • A button that belonged to a local geocacher
  • A charred and pockmarked Travel Bug tag
The somewhat intact remains of GC3CZ72.
The somewhat intact remains of GC3CZ72.

After a full treatment of sprite, baking soda, and vinegar, the Travel Bug’s tracking code was almost complete. It only took a few guesses as to what the last number could be, for the TB to reveal itself. CarpeCrew and #36 posted their story to the Geocaching Colorado – GCCO Facebook page, immediately generating dozens of comments from other geocachers.

The bug had originally been placed in a geocache in Colorado Springs in 2007. At the time, it contained the clues to a Mystery Cache in Colorado Springs. That Mystery Cache has since been archived, and the original owner of the TB doesn’t play much anymore.

CarpeCrew and #36 have yet to decide what they’re going to do with the trackable, but re-releasing it into a geocache nearby is definitely an option. So unless this was an elaborate experiment to test what type of trackable was the sturdiest, we think this was one lucky Travel Bug. Keep an eye out for it if you’re geocaching in Colorado in the next few weeks…and if you’re concerned about the fire safety of your trackable, a TB tag might be a good investment. 😉