Ellis is a geocaching Lackey and amateur weekend warrior. Her passion for travel and adventure has taken her to remote villages in the Brazilian Amazon, ski mountaineering in the Andes in Patagonia and sailing the isolated islands of the Kingdom of Tonga. She now resides in Seattle where her daily adventure involves competing with traffic while bike commuting and making frequent side trips to the beautiful Cascades and Puget Sound. She loves incorporating geocaching into all of these activities!
This week’s Geocache of the Week is THE most popular cache in Canada, worthy of its 503 favorite points. Made in Canada, eh! Is also Canada’s largest Ammo Can. At 122cm x 91cm x 49cm (4ft x 3ft x 1.6 ft), this metal ammo can and its giant pencil and logbook are hard to miss. It’s so big and so loved it even made the front page of the local paper.
And oh, did we mention that this geocache even offers free WiFi? No joke. Check out the cache listing page. You may even get the chance to meet the Cache Owners at the nearby Dutch Import Store with the giant wooden shoe out front.
For all of these reasons, GC2Y8Q8 is a great example of a cache to introduce your friends and family to how fun geocaching can be.
One of the coolest things about the cache is that it was constructed at the local Kwalikum Secondary School by the shop boys and their teacher. It’s pretty impressive how these middle school students were able to replicate the classic ammo can in a giant form.
There is lots of enthusiasm on the cache page that will get you pumped to find Made in Canada, eh!
“Discovered this one almost completely by accident. And what a nice surprise!!! I was by too early in the morning when I first attempted it, but knew that I had to come back after reading the webpage to get a look at this one. Glad that I did. A favorite for sure and as always, TFTC.”
“This cache was our first order of the day, how can we make a trip to the island and not find this one?! Easily found and we enjoyed sifting through the contents of the cache, also loved the logbook and giant pencil. Met the owner (and contributed to the local economy); we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. Tftc!”
“I had heard so much about this cache, and decided it was time to “discover” and log it today, as I was in the area. What a wonderfully well-crafted creation it is! Loved all the details, inside and out. Went inside and had a nice chat afterwards – it was great meeting you! Many thanks for this memorable cache.”
To search for other beginner caches great for newbie geocachers, check out our search tool and make sure to set the difficulty and terrain ratings to 1.5 or lower.
Happy caching!
Continue to explore some of the most amazing geocaches around the world.
Check out all of the Geocaches of the Week on the Geocaching blog. If you would like to nominate a Geocache of the Week, fill out this form.
Afraid of heights? Then this week’s Geocache of the Week might give you the chills!
To find L’aiguille du midi, you must first visit Chamonix, an adventurer seeker’s heaven! Steep peaks and endless views in the heart of The Alps draw visitors from all over the world to experience this awe-inspiring town and scenery.
At 3,842m (12,605 ft), the Aiguille du Midi and it’s laid-out terraces offer a 360° view of all the French, Swiss, and Italian Alps. A 20-minute ride in the Aiguille du Midi cable car will deliver you to the summit terrace where you will have a clear view of Mont Blanc.
Once you take the cable car to the top, take your time looking for the geocache and be discreet as there may be lots of visitors around. Once you sign the log, take in the panoramic views and walk through an impressive ice cave. You can also walk onto a glass skywalk called “Step into the Void” with a view 1035 meters (3,396 ft) straight down. Yikes! Due to the exposed nature of L’aiguille du midi, make sure to bring some warm clothing since it can be -10°C (14°F) in the middle of summer.
For those who are feeling even more adventurous, there is an option to strap on crampons (those spiky things you attach to your boot to ascend ice) and climb to the top of Mt. Blanc. In the snowier months, some people also ski down the steep slopes of the Aiguille du Midi. Mountaineers and skiers are able to pass through a tunnel to reach the steep and extremely exposed ice ridge that descends to the glacier below. This activity is only recommended for very experienced climbers and skiers.
Although the scenery may mislead you to think that the cache is a T5, the platforms in place allow for a rating of T2. Thanks to cache owner, Vilcanota, for creating such a fun and thrill-inspiring geocache!
Mountaineers descending the glacier
A view of Chamonix from L’Aiguille du Midi
Put your slippers on and “Step into the Void”
Mount Blanc, highest peak in the Alps
On the top of the world!
L’aiguille du midi storm
Skiers preparing to descend
L’aiguille du Midi
Can you imagine constructing this?
Made it to the top!
Not a bad view from the cable car
One of the original L’aiguille du midi cable cars from 50 years ago!
The ice cave
Looking down at the platform at L’aiguille du midi
Climbers way up high
Mountains in every direction
Caution! Only climbers and skiers beyond this point!
Continue to explore some of the most amazing geocaches around the world.
Check out all of the Geocaches of the Week on the Geocaching blog. If you would like to nominate a Geocache of the Week, fill out this form.
EarthCaches provide an opportunity to learn a geological lesson and visit awe-inspiring geological locations. Visitors can see how our planet has been shaped by geological processes, how we manage its resources and how scientists gather evidence. Typically, to log an EarthCache, you will have to provide answers to questions by observing the geological location.
Thankfully, there is a group of dedicated EarthCache Reviewers who help facilitate this program so that geocachers can enjoy EarthCaches all over the world. Instead of reading a lesson in a book, they see and learn about geological features with their own eyes.
Who are EarthCache Reviewers?
They are community volunteers with scientific backgrounds that work with EarthCache cache owners to develop the best submissions possible. Learn about their story and what they love so much about EarthCaches.
GeoawareCA, Sandra
Sandra has been an EarthCache Reviewer since 2009, making her the longest standing active EarthCache Reviewer. GeoawareCA has a degree in Environmental Science with a focus on physical geography.
Mélange at Lobster Head Cove in Gros Morne National Park (GC5B7G0)
What is your favorite EarthCache?
If I had to pick one as my favorite, I’d have to say Pu’u’ula’ula (Red Hill) Haleakala Volcano Summit (GC18Z99) in Hawaii for its stunning beauty.
Tell us one cool fact we may not know about the Earth.
Contrary to what you may have been taught in school, diamonds do not form from coal. In fact, most diamonds that have been dated are much older than plant life on earth (the source of coal).
Any cool stories to share?
We recently travelled to Iceland and found many incredible EarthCaches there. We climbed to the top of the Eldfell volcano which last erupted in 1973 and warmed our hands by the heat rising out of the fumaroles (GC2EVVH); we visited a couple of locations where you could walk between the continental plates for Europe and North America (GC1Z45X and GC2DK2E); we visited geysir from which the English word geyser is derived (GC1G4XZ); we saw caves carved into columnar basalt and walked along a black sand beach (GC514W0); we swam in geothermally heated pools (GC25643); and we saw many beautiful waterfalls including one we could walk behind (GC2B1TJ). Truly a dream vacation for anyone interested in geology.
Mats is a naturally curious Swede that has been hooked on EarthCaches since the first one he found. His interest in science and especially earth science make him an awesome EarthCache Reviewer with the most logged EarthCaches in Sweden!
Tell us one cool fact we may not know about the Earth.
Earth has an equatorial bulge at 42km. This means when standing on the equator at sea level you are 21km higher than when standing on either pole. As a result of this, the summit of Chimborazo, a mountain in Ecuador, is the place where you are closest to space, still standing on Earth! This is also the point on earth farthest away from the Earth’s core.
Any cool stories to share?
My brother and I used to take EarthCache weekends once or twice a year when we drove around Sweden and logged as many EarthCaches as we could. 30+ EarthCaches is our record for a weekend.
Der Alte Schwede—GC1M15Z
West Sulphur Mountain Oil Spring—GC1A5E2
Dinosaurier-Spuren Barkhausen—GC18P1C
The Greatest Little Mine in the World—GC1W9TC
GeoawareUSA4, Mike
Mike is an Alaskan with a degree in Chemical Engineering and strong interest in geology and earth science.He still vividly remembers walking backwards in time more than one billion years during his first hike to the bottom of the Grand Canyon when he was 10 years old. In 2010, he joined the Community Volunteer team as the Reviewer for Alaska and now as an EarthCache Reviewer.
Mike in action
What is your favorite EarthCache?
Having completed nearly 300 EarthCaches, it is difficult to pin down a single favorite. However, some highlights include “Umpire Rock,”GC1G4W0, where an urban EarthCache teaches a glaciology lesson in New York City’s Central Park, “Cabo da Roca – DP/EC33,” GC1HGAY, and many other EarthCaches along Portugal’s west coast developed by danieloliveira, which brought the local landscape alive for me during a tour with the EarthCache developer himself, and “Ape Cave,” GCZ8ZQ, which took me about a mile through a lava tube on the flank of Mount St. Helens. Yellowstone National Park has several dozen EarthCaches of which I’ve completed 27 during 2 visits, which greatly enhanced my experience to one of the most amazing “living” geology locations in the world.
Tell us one cool fact we may not know about the Earth.
As a result of melting glaciers retreating from areas long-covered by ice, many parts of Alaska are “rebounding,” which means they are increasing in elevation.
Any cool stories to share?
My brother and two nephews accompanied me on my first visit to Yellowstone National Park in 2013. After visiting “No Finger Painting Allowed,” GC1ZTH2, and watching the many mud pots burp and gurgle while we inhaled sulfur-laden fumes, my youngest nephew exclaimed “this place is disgustingly awesome!” Having a youngster think anything in a natural setting is “awesome,” is, well, “awesome!”
Portuguese EarthCache Field Trip with Danieloliveira (right) and BTRodrigues (left) and Natasha.
Rainbow's End: Grand Prismatic Spring—GC1JY47
Turnagain Arm Tidal Bore Earthcache—GCN6YV
Umpire Rock—GLMWJAP2
Cabo de Roca—GLN7NVEB
Ape Cave—GCZ8ZQ
No Finger Painting Allowed—GLNN6T73
There are currently 24,271 active EarthCaches in the world. Have you ever found an EarthCache? Tell us about your experiences in the comments below!
On a recent trip, I got the opportunity to fly over the Arctic Ocean. As the plane flew 36,000 feet above Greenland, I looked deeply into the ice, trying to spot a polar bear mid-traverse across an ice field. Ever since then I have been dreaming of a Greenland adventure and what amazing scenery and community I might discover there.
With a population of just over 57,000 people, Greenland is a vast landscape that has yet to be developed and is slowly increasing in annual visitors (about 40,000 in 2016). For that very reason, I have dreamed of going to Greenland to explore such a uniquely raw place and experience pristine nature. What could make a trip to Greenland even better? Perhaps finding a Multi-Cache along the Arctic Circle Trail!
As the most famous hiking trail in Greenland, the Arctic Circle Trail is a 160 km (almost 100 mile) backcountry trail between Kangerlussuaq and Sisimiut. Open until mid-September for hiking, the faint trail leads you through low arctic vegetation and into rocky mountains. Along the way, there are daintily placed huts for you to overnight in or take shelter from the unpredictable arctic weather and also find geocaches along the way. If you do not have 7 or 8 days to make this trek in the summer, or if you are a brave soul, you can embark on the journey via dog sled, snowmobile, or cross country skis. Although completing the trek in the winter sounds magical, you may have some trouble finding the final geocache due to lots of snow.
Although we are featuring one Multi-Cache on the Geocache of the Week, geocache owner TriNitro was kind enough to place another one going in the opposite direction. So no matter which way you begin your journey, you can find a fun final stage. Check out Arctic Circle Trail (S –> K) if you choose to hike from West to East.
TriNitro hauled 12 days worth of supplies and the caches on his back into the backcountry with him:
In front of us, there were about 160 km of walking, 15 km of canoeing, and twelve days of unforgettable impressions in a widely remote landscape. Again, the weather was incredible and we had so much fun along the trail. And: silence! In my opinion this is one of the most impressive and precious things to experience.
Just a few of the gorgeous images from this amazing Multi-Cache
Just a few of the gorgeous images from this amazing Multi-Cache
Just a few of the gorgeous images from this amazing Multi-Cache
Just a few of the gorgeous images from this amazing Multi-Cache
Just a few of the gorgeous images from this amazing Multi-Cache
Just a few of the gorgeous images from this amazing Multi-Cache
Just a few of the gorgeous images from this amazing Multi-Cache
TriNitro was also nice enough to host a geocaching event in Greenland for the very small, but welcoming Greenlandic geocaching community:
Before leaving for our trip to Greenland, I submitted an event in Sisimiut to meet some of the local geocachers. So we found ourselves standing in drenching rain at the old church of Sisimiut waiting for other cachers. As we left directly after the event was published, we did not know how many geocachers might join us, if any at all. Finally, the only local Sisimiut geocacher joined our very private event. Due to the weather conditions he decided to put us in his truck and gave us a sightseeing tour of Sisimiut. Not enough, he invited us to his home where we met his lovely family and joined some tasty meal after we found a geocache in his garden. All the people we met during our trip have been very polite and open minded and we were absolutely overwhelmed by this hospitality.
After reading about this geocache and viewing all the breathtaking photos, I am inspired to book a flight to Kangerlussuaq right now! It would truly be a badge of honor to have that guidebook in your home library and that find on your profile.
Thanks to TriNitro for sharing geocaching with the Greenlandic community and for sharing Greenland with all of us geocachers around the world!
Continue to explore some of the most amazing geocaches around the world.
Check out all of the Geocaches of the Week on the Geocaching blog. If you would like to nominate a Geocache of the Week, fill out this form.
We want to highlight a fun, car-themed geocache that was hidden by a Ranger in Petrified Forest National Park. Besides, what’s more American than a road trip on Route 66?
Made popular by the Nat King Cole Trio song “(Get Your Kicks on) Route 66” and the 1960’s TV Series, Route 66, the road spans from Santa Monica, California to Chicago, Illinois. Along Route 66, you can visit Petrified Forest National Park, which was established by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1906. Petrified Forest National Park was created to protect large deposits of petrified wood and other fossils from the Triassic Period, which makes this park Dino-Mite! Over 10,000 years of human history can be found in the park, including over 800 archeological and historical sites.
Things to know about the geocache:
There is an old car sitting in the roadbed of the previous road.
This place is a popular spot to visit, so watch out for muggles taking pictures!
This is a “TNLN” geocache, which means “Take Nothing; Leave Nothing”. Bring a pen, sign the log, and save your cool swag and trackables for a different geocaching experience.
Please respect the rules and regulations of the park and the resources it was established to protect.
While you’re in Petrified National Forest, check out other caches the PEFO Ranger has hidden:
Thanks PEFO Ranger for hiding some super fun and informative caches and also for serving our National Park Service.
And I’ll leave you with a seemingly relevant dinosaur joke:
What do you call it when a dinosaur has a car accident?
A Tyrannosaurus wreck!
Make sure to share your experience with the community by using the hashtags #FindYourPark and #Geocaching while on your National Parks adventure this weekend.
Continue to explore some of the most amazing geocaches around the world.
Check out all of the Geocaches of the Week on the Geocaching blog. If you would like to nominate a Geocache of the Week, fill out this form.
