Author: Eric Schudiske

/ Eric Schudiske /

Top 6 Geocaching Resolutions

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by: Danielle Navarre

 

A new year begins the promise of new possibilities…

2015 presents the potential for lifelong memories and a long list of resolutions that we all cross our fingers we keep. Whether it be to spend more time with our families or shed that extra five pounds, we all make resolutions for the better.

But for all the good intentions, only a tiny fraction of people keep their resolutions. However, one should never underestimate a geocacher and their iron will to reach any and everything they set their minds to. Since its early days, goals have been a big part of geocaching. From reaching your next 100 finds to going on a year-long streak, geocachers live and breath for their next challenge. This makes geocachers some of the best resolution keepers around, which is why Geocaching HQ has created the Top 6 Geocaching Resolutions as a conversation starter.

Ring in 2015 by challenging your geocaching skills and making way for new year of geocaches.

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  • 2) Find a new geocache type. Did you know that are 20 (yes 20) geocache types? If your stats are overflowing with Traditionals and Puzzle caches, try branching out by finding a Letterbox Hybrid or Wherigo cache.

 

  • 3) Take a Hike. Take your geocaching to new distances by challenging yourself to hike a mile while geocaching. If that sounds like a cake walk, go for five or more!

 

  • 4) By Land, by sea, by air. There is more than one way to travel while geocaching. While many geocaches are only a short drive or hike away, others require a little farther trek. Try kayaking to a geocache hidden on a tiny island in the middle of a lake or rock climbing to one stowed at a cliff’s peak. Snowshoe to find a cache on a peaceful mountainside or scuba dive to one on the tropical ocean floor.

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  • 5) Take a trip. Geocaches are everywhere…and I mean everywhere. With over 2.5 million geocaches in 184 countries the question that should be asked is “where aren’t they?” Take a geocaching vacation to somewhere new whether that be to a town you’ve never visited or to a country on your bucket list. Better yet hit the road and follow a geo power trail!

 

  • 6) Find the oldest geocache in your state. Take a walk down memory lane and make a historic visit to where it all began in your area. Better yet make a pilgrimage to the original geocache stash and see where the magic all began.

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Now, put it out there for the world to see – share your geocaching New Year’s resolution below in comments!

/ Eric Schudiske /

New Video: 5 Tips for Geocaching Stealth

Muggle Free is the Way to Be!

 

Searching through bushes, reaching under benches, looking through tree branches—to the untrained eye, a geocacher can look a little suspicious. Muggles (aka non-geocachers) who get curious have been known to unknowingly take or damage geocaches, which is why it’s important to maintain a level of stealth while geocaching. This new video will give you five tips for stealthiness.

[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6JfUV5De1do]

(Hier kannst Du den Artikel auf Deutsch lesen)

 

/ Eric Schudiske /

5 Best Geocaching Posts of 2014

The 14th year of geocaching is coming to close. Our passion for adventure this past year bubbled over with Personality, First to Finds, Wet Surprises, a Message in a Bottle and another epic First to Find.

 Those are your Top 5 Posts of 2014. Click on any post to see what the fuss is about.

5) Epic First to Find

 

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4) Message in a Bottle 

 

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3) Wet Surprises – The Video

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2) First to Find – After 4,355 Days

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1) Take the Geocaching Personality Quiz

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Now, brag a little bit, share your top geocaching moment of 2014 in comments below. Who knows, we might just contact you to post the story here on The Geocaching Blog.

/ Eric Schudiske /

All I Got for Christmas was a DNF, but then…

Climbing up to GZ in New Zeland - Peanuts or Pretzels

Editor’s note: DNF’s or Did Not Finds are an important part of the geocaching experience, and maybe one of the most frustrating parts. The questions start to boil over, is it even here, why is the hint so vague, can’t anyone post a picture which offers a clue? WHY!?! But, as we learn through exploring, it’s not often the destination but the journey. Geocachers, Peanuts or Pretzels, show us that sometimes a DNF is the gift of a story, a voyage, a view and a sunset.

By:

Josh & Liz
Peanuts or Pretzels
www.peanutsorpretzels.com

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Recently, we took to the roads of New Zealand in an RV and wanted to do some Geocaching. So during our drive toward the west coast of the south island of New Zealand, I pulled out my GPS and found just the cache for us. Located along the coast, it had a lot of favorite points and according to our watches, we had just enough time to get there before dusk. So off we went!

Upon arrival, we parked our RV near GZ and started walking along the rocky coast. Eventually we came to a grassy opening, with the ocean on our right and a steep hill on our left. The cache was located up on top of the hill, but there was no visible trail. We decided that our best option was to climb up a small wash-out ravine.

After a tricky climb, we arrived at the top, which was a flat plateau. The Geocache was only 183 feet away. But we quickly realized that we had a problem. The entire area leading to the cache were full of giant briar bushes. These bushes were thigh high, with thorns 2-5 inches long…seriously! We’ve done our share of “bushwacking” before, but we had never seen anything like this before.
We tried many ways to get to the geocache, even trying to use giant sticks to make bridges or push down the bushes. But nothing worked. We were getting stabbed by the thorns and tearing our clothes. Ultimately, we realized that there was no way for us to get to the geocache. Disappointed with the thought of admitting defeat, we turned back toward the ocean just as the sun was beginning to set.

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“Wow, look at the sunset from up here!” Liz said. And you know, she was right. It was a gorgeous sunset, and we had the best view perched up on this hill. No one was around, and we had this entire sunset to ourselves. So in the end, we decided thatwe would accept this DNF proudly. Because even though we didn’t find the cache, we had a fun adventure, and we were taken to this place that we had no idea existed. I looked over at Liz and said “this might have to be the best Geocache we never found.”

Thanks to Geocaching for taking us to another great place on our world travels. Sometimes, you don’t have to find the cache to have a great memory. #DNFPride

[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQdUtw9vgIw]

/ Eric Schudiske /

The 3 Things to Avoid While Geocaching with Kids

geocaching with kids
Courtesy: Podcacher.com

by Sonny and Sandy from PodCacher.com

Geocaching with kids can be an amazing experience…

They love the exploration, discovery, mystery, treasure and outdoor aspects of this fun hobby. As you plan your geocaching outing with kids, you’re probably thinking of the obvious things to take along like plenty of water, lots of snacks, extra changes of clothes, a first aid kit, etc. You are definitely a well-prepared geocacher.

Now, before you head out, here are 3 things to AVOID while geocaching with kids.

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Courtesy: Podcacher.com

1. Rushing

Kids love to take their time and explore. They aren’t in a hurry to get from point A to point B, especially when there is a lot to see, touch and experience between the points. We could learn a lot from them! Let the kids take the lead, and see what you can find to savor as you walk to the next geocache. Bring along a bag or bucket to gather nature “treasures” to take home. Take the time to jump from rock to rock (and don’t fall in the make-believe lava!). Don’t try to squeeze in too many caches. Take your cue from the kids regarding when it’s time to call it a day.

2. Micros

Some kids might love finding altoids tins under lamp-skirts or on guard rails, but they are in the minority. Kids love toys and swag. The smallest trinket can be the greatest treasure in the eyes of a young child. Don’t deprive them of the fun of swag by only going for the tiny containers. It may be a little more work to find an area to cache in that has larger containers, but if you’re going on an outing with kids, it’s definitely worth the extra effort. Be sure to encourage the kids to bring swag along to trade. You can all stop at the dollar store before heading out to geocache, or they can raid their toy bins at home. Take the time to teach them about “trading even or trading up”. It’s a great lesson to learn at a young age.

3. Controlling

Resist the urge to orchestrate every aspect of the experience for your kids. Hand over the GPS, or your smartphone (with a sturdy protective case) and let them learn from trial and error. Don’t be the one to find every geocache first. Give younger kids a “nudge” in the right direction so they can enjoy the fun of “finding” the geocache. Let go of your expectations of how the day “should” go, and just enjoy what happens. The kids might be excited to find even more geocaches than you expected OR they could be all done after just a couple. Be okay with heading to a playground to give everyone a break.

Help out new geocachers, share you advice for geocaching with kids in the comments below! 

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Courtesy: Podcacher.com