The great explorers who charted the globe knew a thing or two about being prepared. They crafted a checklist of essentials before they even thought about leaving homeport. You’re now among the newest generation of explorers, but your checklist still needs the same essentials and a few brilliant new innovations (like bug spray).
A geocaching adventure begins with a plan and then a backup plan. Make sure you tell someone where your journey is taking you, just in case you’re late returning.
Bring water, extra batteries, a cell phone, the correct clothes for the climate, and the aforementioned bug spray.
Now the fun begins. Get ready to pack your geocaching tools-of-the-trade. Some geocachers only pack their GPS or smartphone and a pen and call it good. But what about packing something Columbus could have only dreamt about, like a “Trackable Leatherman Micra Tool”? Or even an Ultra-Violet flashlight for deciphering geocache clues? Visit Shop Geocaching for even more ideas. If you’re outside the United States, check out our International Geocaching Retailers.
Share tips on what to carry in your Geocaching pack below in comments!
Go on a geocaching adventure through the stunning landscapes, rich history and pristine natural resources of central Colorado’s South Park. Whether you enjoy exploring the wonders of the backcountry or touring historic communities, Colorado’s South Park GeoTour has something for you.
Discover the wonders of the South Park National Heritage Area, a nationally designated region recognized for its cultural and natural resources. Unlock its secrets through this challenging but educational GeoTour that includes high mountain peaks, geological wonders and historic buildings. Set your own course toward finding enough geocaches to win a prize. Dozens of geocachers have already claimed their South Park Geocoin by finding 30 geocaches and even more have received a South Park t-shirt for finding 20 geocaches.
Colorado’s South Park GeoTour is expanding this summer to include even more geocaches at unique and exciting locations. Sign up for the South Park GeoTour e-newsletter to be the first to know when the new geocaches go live on Geocaching.com.
You find a geocache in an inspiring location, what log do you leave on the geocache page for the cache owner and other geocachers?
Here are 5 quick ways to inspire your fellow geocachers with your next log entry. It’s easy to share too. Just forward this email to your fellow geocachers and watch the geocache-logging knowledge spread.
1)
Tell Your Story – The geocache log you write is like the preview to a movie. You’re telling geocachers about an adventure they could experience. Maybe your journey involved seeing the first leaves of spring, looking out from a mountain top or meeting other geocachers on the trail. Your logs help other geocachers decide if the geocache looks fun and exciting enough for them to find.
2)
Add a Picture – A picture of a geocacher’s crooked smile after a find says a lot about a geocache. It’s easy to upload pictures on-the-fly with the Geocaching mobile app. If you’re wondering about the power of a picture in a log, check out the 1000 most recent log images. It’s an ever-changing visual gallery of geocaching pictures from around the globe.
3)
Name Some Names – Geocaching is all about community. Share the geocaching usernames of those who joined you out in the field. It’s a quick way to help build the local geocaching community and it makes meeting people at Geocaching Mega-Events or Event Caches easier.
4)
Add a Favorite Point – Favorite Points let you compliment the geocache creator and nudge other geocachers to check out this geocache. Only Geocaching Premium Members can earn and award Favorite Points, but everyone can see them. Learn how to use Favorite Points here: Geocaching.com Presents: “Favorites”
5)
Say Thanks – It’s easy. Watch this, “Thank you for reading this Geocaching Weekly Newsletter.” It feels good. When you log a geocache and say “thank you” it means so much to the geocacher who hid and maintains the geocache. And don’t forget, if the geocache needs maintenance, leave a “Needs Maintenance” log.
Geocaching Tech Update
The Geocaching Weekly Newsletter is receiving a facelift. You’ll see an updated design with streamlined entries for Nearby Events and Recent Geocaches. Expect it to be in your inbox within a week or two.
The April Featured Geocacher of the Month nominees contribute to their local geocaching communities and inspire geocachers around the world. They not only hide quality geocaches, but make sure those searching can contact them to make the find, if necessary.
Thank you to all those who supported the nominees. Those not chosen as the Featured Geocacher of the Month will receive a gift of appreciation from Geocaching HQ.
The Featured Geocacher of the Month is named by Geocaching HQ after reviewing community input and blog comments. We all won seeing such great examples of how the geocaching community works together. After tallying the sentiment, MulderNScully have been named the Featured Geocachers of the Month for April 2013.
MulderNScully have been geocaching since 2008. They’re known for challenging geocachers with inventive Puzzle Geocaches. They support their local geocaching community by organizing events. One geocacher who commented about MulderNScully wrote, “My vote is for Mulder and Scully. They have been mentors to many new cachers and are always willing to give a helping hand to a fellow cacher and some of my most memorable caching adventures are because of them. They aren’t about the numbers, they are about the places geocaching takes us to.”
MulderNScully will receive collector’s edition Featured Geocacher of the Month Geocoins, along with Featured Geocacher of the Month hats and a certificate acknowledging their contributions, signed by two of the founders of Geocaching.com. See a list of all the Featured Geocachers of the Month here.
If you know an outstanding geocacher who should be considered for the honor, send an email to geocacherofthemonth@geocaching.com. Every nomination must follow these requirements. Please include:
Your name, the name of your nominee, their username
A picture of the nominee
Description (200 or more words) explaining why he or she deserves to be the Featured Geocacher of the Month
Please inform your nominee that you have submitted them for the award. Nominations for Featured Geocacher of the Month are accepted at any time.
Congratulations again to MulderNScully for being recognized as the Featured Geocacher of the Month for April.
The Most Found Geocache in the world is a distinction currently shared by two geocaches in this European cityPrague bridges geocache (left) Terezka geocache (right) both have been found more than 12,400 times
The ‘most found traditional geocache’ in the world is a distinction that’s currently neck and neck. Two traditional geocaches both have more than 12,400 finds. That’s more than twice as many finds as the Geocaching HQ geocache in Seattle and more than any other traditional geocache in the world.
Prague bridge 1 – Karlov most
The most found geocaches are both hidden in the capital city of the Czech Republic, Prague. In fact, they’re just across the famous Charles Bridge from one another. The geocaches each rack up about five “Found it” logs during the work week and about 15 “Found it” logs each weekend. As of this writing, Prague bridges 1 – Karluv most is currently a few finds ahead of Terezka.
Both of these geocaches have several similarities. Both offer tourists a chance to discover more than the average traveler and they’re both micro caches with interesting camouflage. While each of these geocaches has unique qualities that make them incredible finds, there are certain traits that help boost them to the top of the find count. If you’re looking to hide the next most-found geocache, take note:
1) They’re placed in inspiring locations that are well-traveled by tourists.
2) The geocache pages tell an interesting story in more than one language and include pictures.
3) They geocaches are not too hard to find. They have clear hints and easy-to-find spoilers.
4) The geocaches are well maintained.
Near Terezka
Geocacher Benjo5 owns and maintains Prague bridge 1 – Karluv most. And while this is the most popular of his 26 geocaches, it was his very first hide. He says, “When I wanted to make my first cache, I have seen that Charles bridge, one of the top monuments of Prague and whole Czech Republic is without a cache. It is the oldest bridge in Prague, so I made a cache about it. And as I felt to make just one cache about the most famous bridge a bit unfair thing to the other bridges, I started to make a Prague bridges series, publishing every month one cache about a bridge. The series is numbered chronologically, as the bridges were built.
Charles bridge was my first cache and I wanted it to make it easy for everyone, so it is totally non-problematic 1/1 geocache. But not even in my dreams would I imagine in the day of placing, that it will be once the top visited of those 2.000.000+ geocaches [in the world]”
The owner of Tereka, termiter.cz, owns just two geocaches.
While the find counts for each of these geocaches is incredible, it’s not all about the numbers. Each geocache that’s hidden has a different purpose. Some geocaches are designed to be so difficult and rewarding they’re found just a handful of times a year (if that many). It’s all part of the allure of geocaching. You’re able to choose your own adventure.
Thank you from Geocaching HQ to both geocache creators for providing memories for thousands of geocachers.
See below for the most found traditional geocaches in the top 5 geocaching countries.
The great explorers who charted the globe knew a thing or two about being prepared. They crafted a checklist of essentials before they even thought about leaving homeport. You’re now among the newest generation of explorers, but your checklist still needs the same essentials and a few brilliant new innovations (like bug spray).
Both of these geocaches have several similarities. Both offer tourists a chance to discover more than the average traveler and they’re both micro caches with interesting camouflage. While each of these geocaches has unique qualities that make them incredible finds, there are certain traits that help boost them to the top of the find count. If you’re looking to hide the next most-found geocache, take note:
