Author: Alex

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

An Achiever’s Reflection on the 7 Souvenirs of August


Bri Suffety is one of the awesome Geocaching HQ lackeys who participated in this month’s 7 Souvenirs of August promotion. Here, she tells us how she became an Achiever. 

 

You can’t see me, but my head is held high as I admit that I have a competitive streak.

Not the every-man-for-himself kind; it’s more like I’m in a constant competition with myself. So from the announcement of the 7 Souvenirs of August (7SofA) promotion, I began loosely crafting a plan for which caches I should save for the month. The next thing I knew, Geocaching HQ was split into teams to compete in a 7SofA cache-a-thon.

7SofA partners for life!
7SofA partners for life!

The game had changed, and with it my strategy.

I was going to be out of town during the first part of August and I couldn’t accept lagging behind. With a cup of coffee in hand I sat down to scour the map for caches in Michigan and Ohio. By the end of my “research” session I had all of the caches picked out with the exception of an event cache. There were a few options but none that were logistically possible. [Insert groans of frustration here.]

In order to earn The Socializer souvenir, and with it The Achiever, I was left with two choices: waiting until my return to Seattle to attend an event, or creating my own in Ohio. I don’t know about you, but I always find my stomach a flutter when I arrive at an event where I don’t know anyone. So with much hesitation I found myself with the event cache form filled out and my mouse hovering over the submit button.

I bit the bullet and sent it off.

The event itself was small (unsurprisingly, since it was on an island) but I found myself chuckling not only at the conversations we had but at myself for being nervous.

You might not know who’s going to show up at an event, but they aren’t strangers. You all share a love of geocaching and once you get through the initial exchanging of names, the conversations start flowing.

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There’s no such thing as strangers at a geocaching event!

I knew the 7 Souvenirs of August was going to rock, but I didn’t know exactly where it would take me. The month is now winding down and I’ve attended six events including my own. Each one has been a different and stellar experience. There is something to be said about finding others who are as wildly excited about the game as you are. Not to mention, it’s nice to have a break from the blank stares your muggle friends give you when you geek out about a cache.

Tips for hosting the (geocaching) event of the season:

  1. Location location location! It can be as easy as meeting at a local park, a restaurant you love or a pub you’ve been wanting to try. Remember that entrance into and participation at the event needs to be free.

  2. Pick a time. What does your availability look like? Make sure to pick a time when you are unlikely to run late or miss your own event. And don’t forget the golden rule: the event form needs to be submitted at least two weeks prior to the event date!

  3. Recruit a friend. Reach out to your geocaching friends or acquaintances and let them know about the event. You could even bring that muggle friend who is always following you around the woods while you search for tupperware.

  4. Ask questions. Find out what everyone’s favorite cache is, their best geocaching day or if they’re working on any challenges.

  5. Relax. It’s going to be great!

So close to clearing out the whole island. Back next year!
So close to clearing out the whole island. Back next year!

 

Think you’ve got a compelling 7 Souvenirs of August story? Tell us what it took (or will take) for you to become an Achiever!

/ Alex /

August’s Geocacher of the Month: I hope you’re not afraid of awesome

New to geocaching? Talk to one of these three veterans.

 

ikolor, knee-deep during a hunt for a cache
ikolor, knee-deep during a hunt for a cache

The nominations for August’s Geocacher of the Month go beyond the norm for geocaching…in all the best ways.

With a total of 40,779 finds between them, there’s no shortage of geocaching wisdom gained through experience. Together, Trekkie79, ikolor, and Team Geo-Rangers embody the best elements of a geocacher: passion, creativity, and a determination to make the game inviting to new and old players alike.

Although it’s tough, there has to be a winner.

This month, the recipient of this award comes from the land of sunshine, oranges, alligators, and geocaches.

Her name is ikolor, or “I-hopeyou’renotafraidofawesome-kolor”, as one ‘cacher put it. She’s been called “the backbone of south Florida geocaching,” and it’s not hard to believe it. With over 6,600 finds and 162 hides, you’re more likely to run into ikolor on the way to a potential FTF than on the way to the grocery store. What’s more astonishing? Her find rate is currently at 3.79 caches per day.

But her geocaching stats aren’t why she’s our newest Geocacher of the Month.

One geocacher says, “[ikolor] embodies all the positive qualities of Geocaching. Every Geocacher I know considers her a friend. She is always there to lend a helping hand. Her events are always fun and eagerly awaited. No puzzle can guard its secrets from her solving skills. She really enjoys getting out there and finding a cache. It doesn’t matter if its a simple park and grab or a difficult multi stage hike in the woods. Her caches are many and well thought out. Overall she is very deserving of this honor.”

ikolor got her start in 2009, when she read a newspaper article about geocaching.

She quickly became a part of the local community, as affected by them as they were by her: “My husband, radioman84, and I love to cache and do it as often as we can. In 2011 radioman84 had a massive stroke while we were out on a caching spree. He almost died. The caching community pulled together and showed us how truly amazing these people are! They were totally there for us. I grew to love caching, not for hiding and finding caches, but for the people that make up this crazy sport!”

ikolor and radioman84
ikolor and radioman84

Another ‘cacher confirms it: “Although we only cache part time in her neck of the woods we are always welcomed like old friends at her events. She has a way of bringing cachers together not only as a team but as social groups who have a great deal of fun. She embodies not only the spirit of caching but also the skills of a great cacher..”

ikolor (front and center) at one of many CITO events
ikolor (front and center) at one of many CITO events

Congraulations to ikolor…and thank you for everything you do! Your presence as a player of the game has clearly had a significant positive impact on those around you.

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The earned, never for sale, Geocacher of the Month geocoin
The earned, never for sale, Geocacher of the Month geocoin
/ Alex /

Top Tips for Puzzle Caches

By Dani Navarre

 

About to sing an "Ode to the Golgafrinchan Phone Workers"...GC32A0H
About to sing an “Ode to the Golgafrinchan Phone Workers”…GC32A0H

 

Do puzzle caches leave you scratching your head?

Does the thought of having to decode encrypted messages make you break out in hives? If no, then you might be a geocaching Puzzler in disguise. If yes, then take a deep breath and find your happy place because we have just the tips to sooth your puzzle anxiety.

Puzzle caches, Mystery caches, or Unknown caches are a type of geocache for those who enjoy an extra challenge.

They require geocachers to solve complicated puzzles in order to decode the correct cache coordinates or crack secret clues to unlock a cache’s stash. If you haven’t encountered this kind of cache before the prospect may seem daunting, but have no fear! Puzzle caches are fun way to spice up any geocaching adventure while flexing your beefy brain muscles.

These folks are just a puzzle away from 'Within Reach"...GC4B84C
These folks are just a puzzle away from ‘Within Reach”…GC4B84C

So don your trenchcoat and channel your inner Sherlock.

(‘Cause who wouldn’t want to be Benedict Cumberbatch?). Here are Geocaching HQ’s top tips for puzzle caches:

  • Practice Makes Perfect. Start easy by tackling puzzle caches that have a one or two star difficulty rating. The more puzzle caches you conquer over time the more tricks of trade you’ll pick up and the easier it’ll become.
  • Check what type of puzzle needs to be solved. There are different kinds of puzzle caches that call for different strategies, so before you head out check to see what the requirements entail. Some caches are in-the-field, meaning you have to use visual clues from the surrounding location to decipher the coordinates or unlock the cache. Other caches can be solved before you even step out the door! These ask you to solve a particular puzzle off of the geocache’s webpage or lookup information on the internet.
  • Gather the Mystery Gang. Two heads are better than one! Bring your geocaching pals along, not only is geocaching more fun when you have your buddies but they can help you brainstorm through those extra tricky questions.
  • Check for invisible ink. Sometimes cache owners will hide clues on a geocache’s webpage in white font. Highlight the page to reveal the secrets that were right in front of your nose the whole time. Bonus points if you caught this one! You’re a Puzzler already!
  • The source code isn’t just a movie. Cache owners may add comments with hints in the cache’s html source code. To find this open the source code on your browser’s menu selection and search for comments.
  • It’s all in the name. A hint to the cache’s location may be located in the cache’s or cache owner’s name or give you an idea of where the cache may be or what it may look like.
  • When in doubt use Google. Search engines may not have the answer to everything, but they have the answer for a lot of things. So if you’re truly stuck, look to the internet to give you a helping hand. Some cache pages may even include answer checkers to see if you guessed the correct coordinates.

Whether you want to step up your geocaching game or are trying to earn your Puzzler’s badge for 7 Souvenirs of August, puzzle caches are an excellent way to mix your geocaching routine. If you’re looking for a little cache-speration check out “Ode to the Golgafrinchan Phone Workers” (GC32A0H), an unique cache inspired by The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy that requires you to listen carefully and dial in the right code. Close by is the geocache “Within Reach” (GC4B84C) which asks you to use visual clues to open a cache that also moonlights as a piece of functional art!

Do you love a good mystery? Tell us about your puzzling geocaching experiences or share your favorite puzzle tips! Be careful not to reveal any cache spoilers.

 

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 Can you spot the mystery within this post?
/ Alex /

It’s Always Sunny in Geocaching HQ

 

There’s some serious Geocaching going on in this family.

Brothers Sterling and Ethan are avid geocachers, and it seems to run in the family. Their mother, Candice, wanted to teach a Geocaching unit to the 120 students in her school’s gifted children program. At the time, though, there simply weren’t enough caches within walking distance of the school.

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It’s always sunny at Geocaching HQ.
Sterling and Ethan are pictured in the middle, with dad David in the center back, and mom Candice on the far left.

Like a true geocacher, Sterling came to the rescue.

Once he had 100 finds, Sterling hid four geocaches that his mother could take her students to. The class was undoubtedly a success. Within several months, many of the students had over 100 finds (and their parents were getting in on it too). Sterling and his younger brother Ethan maintain their caches carefully, and Sterling himself now has over 200 finds, with 250 in sight.

We were so excited that Sterling, Ethan, Candice, and David decided to spend the day at Geocaching HQ…especially since it was Sterling’s 10th birthday. Happy birthday Sterling, and best of luck to everyone!