Over the last 11 years, the geocaching community has walked millions of miles in pursuit of geocaches. You travel up hills, down hills, around hills and sometimes to that little park down the street all to find these hidden containers. And now on Shop Geocaching, we have something that you can lean on (literally) during your geocaching journeys. The new Trackable Traveler’s Stick (TM) from Brazos Walking Sticks is handcrafted and travel-friendly. It unscrews into three parts and is only 19 inches long when disassembled, so you can store it in your backpack when it’s not in use. It is also easy to pack into a suitcase when flying.
This version of the Traveler’s Stick is made especially for geocachers. The Geocaching.com logo and a unique Trackable code are carved into the wood of each stick. You can activate the Trackable and “dip” the stick into each cache that you find to track your travels! Learn more about Trackables.
Using your GPS device in the United States to find the latest geocache could end with nothing but signal interference. That’s if the current proposal before the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) by the multi-billion dollar communications giant LightSquared™ is approved. According to press reports, LightSquared’s current proposal could render tens of thousands and possibly hundreds of thousands of GPS receivers obsolete starting as early as next year. But there is something you can do about it.
The LightSquared proposal involves offering an open wireless broadband network in radio frequency bands adjacent to those used by GPS receivers. LightSquared plans to use both satellites and land-based towers to provide this service.
A report delivered to the FCC in June shows significant interference to GPS receivers from LightSquared’s operations.
Groundspeak has joined a group of those willing to raise their voices in objection to this current plan. The group is called A Coalition to Save Our GPS. We ask that you add your voice to the conversation. Tell the FCC that the current proposal by LightSquared could affect the family friendly activity of geocaching. Here’s why.
The LightSquared cell towers reportedly cast a signal significantly more powerful than the distant GPS satellites. GPS devices cannot filter out the stronger signal, resulting in interference. Tests reported to the FCC using a simulated LightSquared network reportedly jammed GPS devices used for aviation, surveying, agriculture, the U.S. Coast Guard and personal GPS navigation devices. Tests also confirmed that ambulance and police cars lost their GPS reception within 600 – 1,000 feet of a LightSquared tower.
The FCC has asked for feedback from the public on the report. Comments will be taken until Saturday, July 30. The “reply to comments” period then lasts until August 15. After the public comment period is closed, the FCC can announce a decision at any time. We’re asking that geocachers, and anyone who cares about GPS, rally to make the voices of GPS device users heard.
What can I do?
Everyone who cares about GPS should let the FCC know about the threat that LightSquared poses. In writing to the FCC, we encourage you to cover the following points in your own words:
How you use GPS technology in your business and/or personal life
What would happen to your business/personal life if GPS became unavailable or unreliable
While more capacity for wireless broadband services is important, it should not come at the expense of GPS, which is critical to the global economy
The results of the testing that was performed at the FCC’s request show that GPS reception on certain devices could be affected by LightSquared’s proposed service.
Now that the test results have shown interference to GPS, the FCC shouldn’t allow LightSquared to keep trying out modified versions of its plan to use the spectrum near the GPS band. LightSquared’s operations and GPS are fundamentally incompatible and the FCC should order LightSquared out of that band.
How do I tell the FCC to save GPS?
The FCC has an easy-to-use portal on its website to submit feedback on the testing results:
(2) In the box which says “Proceeding Number,” type: 11-109. It is important to include this docket number with your comments.
(3) In the designated boxes, enter (a) your name or your company’s name, and (b) your mailing address/city/state/zip.
(4) In the box which says “Type in or paste your brief comments,” do so. Click “Continue.”
(5) A review page will load listing all of the information entered. If correct, click “Confirm.” (6) If you have trouble, contact the FCC ECFS Helpdesk at 202-418-0193 or e-mail at ecfshelp@fcc.gov.
Learn about history through the eyes of Hollywood legend Humphrey Bogart. The Eternity in Casablanca geocache will take you on a journey through Morocco. The country is the location for the 1942 film, Casablanca. In the opinion of the cache owner, Silvana, “there is something eternal in this whitewashed town.”
This three-stage Puzzle Cache was hidden in 2009 and has since logged twelve favorites and 75 finds. According to a geocacher who logged a smiley on Eternity in Casablanca, “Each Station shows a nice area and gives you a good impression of Casablanca.”
The search for the cache begins by touring you through the majestic Hassan II Mosque. This one of a kind religious site is an intricate and beautifully crafted Arab-Muslim piece of architecture. Because of its location near the sea, it is often described as “The throne of god on the water”- and it is just the first stop on your hunt.
Your second set of coordinates will lead you to an unnamed cafe. Here you will have to discover the name of the site and a bit about its significance. Here is a hint from the cache owner you may find to be helpful, “Time passes ….. But every moment is recorded for eternity.” In order to log a smiley, once you figure out the name of the cafe and the other information from the puzzle, you must email Silvana with your answers.
Another un-named site in this 3-stage Puzzle Cache
The final destination of Eternity in Casablanca will take you to the top of an old military fortress tower with a view of the sea. According to Silvana, it “is the perfect place to say goodbye to Casablanca.” And don’t forget to snap a photo and ask for Mr. Taha.
A location to be discovered in this difficulty 3 Puzzle Cache
Before heading out on this historical, cinematic adventure, make sure to pack a camera and a pen. Because this is a difficulty three, terrain 2.5 Puzzle Cache, you may want to pay close attention to the name of the man at the third point and the details found in the additional hint.
Continue your exploration of some of the most engaging geocaches from around the world. Explore all the Geocaches of the Week on our blog or view the Bookmark List on Geocaching.com.
Editor’s note: Groundspeak Lackeys are traveling thousands of miles from H.Q. this year to share smiles, shake hands and make geocaching memories at more than a dozen Mega-Events worldwide. Jenn Seva, aka MissJenn, attended the COG (Central Ontario Geocachers) Spring Fling Zero-Zero-Seven Mega-Event (GC1MGER) outside of Barrie, Ontario, Canada. Jenn has been a Lackey since 2007. She was a volunteer reviewer between 2004 t0 2007, a geocacher since 2001, and she says, ‘a geek since forever’. This is Jenn’s account of her trip.
MissJenn attending the Zero-Zero-Seven Mega at the cache, "Diamonds are for Decryption"
On June 11th, my not-so-secret mission was to infiltrate the Canadian province of Ontario and attend the Spring Fling hosted by the Central Ontario Geocachers. It wasn’t their first Mega. These people are pros. In fact, it was their Double-Oh-Seventh iteration and they pulled it off with nary a stray bullet.
I arrived early enough on Friday to help the organizers prepare registration packets the day before the event. Well, they thought I was helping prepare registration packets. Really, I was studying their organization, getting to know the masterminds and taking notes. 😉 [My report back to HQ: What a dedicated – and nice – group of people who created very engaging activities! Must see them again in future missions.]
One the day of the event, I hitched a ride into the location to be greeted by uniformed Russian guards marching in lockstep. I felt like I had traveled back in time to the Cold War era. After showing our credentials (my expired driver’s license was no good but my trackable name badge worked), we were allowed past the gate and then were welcomed by the OctoBeaver. Allow me to explain that this was the mascot for the event complete with a yellow felt tail. He gave everyone a tiny piece of that tail as a gift! How nice of him. Beavers are an important and industrious part of Ontario’s ecosystem, and hold a special place in the heart of the locals.
Mega Mascot OctoBeaver
Mission dossiers (because a mere “schedule of events” is too boring) handed to the geocachers contained instructions such as directions to Central Intelligence, finding certain individuals in the crowd with suspicious characteristics or Bond-ish connections, and also how to find the Debriefing Sessions later in the evening. The names of the caches specially prepared for the event were so much fun: Ammo Cans Never Die, Diamonds are for Decryption, The Giving Daylights, Don’t Cut the Red Wire, Gold Drinker, Moneypenny’s Diaries, The Spy Who Quizzed Me, etc.
You see the theme coming together here? Not just the names but also the actual cache designs either tickled my fancy or really challenged the noggin. Some did both. Groundspeak and I had some fun too with a cache called From Seattle with Love, containing the best-dressed logbook of all time. You’ll have to go find it and see. All of the caches were published by the European reviewer James Bond, on behalf of Her Majesty’s Secret Service. Nice touch.
From Seattle with Love - Groundspeak's contribution with the best dressed log book
This theme was beautifully carried throughout. The kids had their own activities as “Agents in Training.” Thanks to the GeoFreakZ for making it so much fun! The adult Agents were encouraged to solve a 5-part mystery called For Your Eyes Only: Guess Who? The event volunteers (mostly humans plus one bird) were all in tuxedos, of course, much like James Bond usually wears. In order for us attendees to find them easily, though, these were orange tuxedos. Geocachers doing it with style. As the event drew to a close, the biggest prizes were awarded to 7 lucky people: each prize was inside of a (what else?) briefcase so none of us knew what was inside of them. After a brief bout of stealing and horse-trading briefcases from one another, 6 of the winners got to open them and claim their gifts. The final grand prize was in a briefcase that had a combination lock! How to get in? Well, a three-digit code was needed and soon enough, the clever geocacher figured out the numbers she needed. Double-Oh-Smart!
Have you seen a theme carried out as nicely as was done here? Bet you haven’t.
Zero-Zero-Seven Mega-Event
A final thought: Mega-events are usually characterized by the fact that there are so many people around. That’s the hallmark of a mega, after all. Somehow, the COG Spring Fling managed to keep it feeling small – in a good way. This event utilizes land of the beautiful Nottasawaga Valley Conservation Authority. Because the activities and special caches are all within this lovely forested area, and because the trails are set up to crisscross, geocachers were able to see one another several times throughout the day as one group went hither and another group went thither. It felt neighborly. Maybe it wasn’t the location that did that; maybe it was the genuine friendliness of the people. Maybe it was both.
See MissJenn’s pictures from the Mega-Event here. For those that attended, The souvenir icon for this event is currently being revised. You can also find a Lackey at one of these upcoming Mega-Events:
Groundspeak needs your help acknowledging a geocacher each month that stands out by inspiring other geocachers with their innovation, creative hides and/or logs, respect for the environment, and geocaching etiquette. This person can be your best geocaching buddy, a geocacher you know as a local legend, or a long time geocacher who invites newbies to the geocaching community.
The Geocacher of the Month celebrates geocachers for their contributions and diversity. Geocachers are outdoorsy, technically apt, young, old, parents, single, athletic, intelligent, travelers, grandparents, and more. They are a uniquely eclectic group, unified by their passion for the activity of geocaching.
Every nomination must meet the following requirements. Please include your name, the name of your nominee, their username, at least one picture of the nominee and description (in 500 or fewer words) explaining why he or she deserves to be the Geocacher of the Month. Please inform your nominee that you’ve submitted them for the award. Nominations for the first Geocacher of the Month must be received by August 4th.
Once we have received all of the nominations, we will choose the top three candidates and post them on the blog. You will then get a chance to vote for your favorite.
We’ll name the Geocacher of the Month on August 20th at the Geocaching Block Party in Seattle, Washington, USA. Each Geocacher of the Month will receive an exclusive special edition ”Geocacher of the Month” Geocoin along with a Geocacher of the Month hat and certificate acknowledging their contributions signed by the founders of Geocaching.com: Jeremy Irish, Bryan Roth and Elias Alvord.
Our goal is to involve the entire geocaching community in this process so as to learn from each other. Let the nominations begin!
Over the last 11 years, the geocaching community has walked millions of miles in pursuit of geocaches. You travel up hills, down hills, around hills and sometimes to that little park down the street all to find these hidden containers. And now on Shop Geocaching, we have something that you can lean on (literally) during your geocaching journeys. The new Trackable Traveler’s Stick (TM) from Brazos Walking Sticks is handcrafted and travel-friendly. It unscrews into three parts and is only 19 inches long when disassembled, so you can store it in your backpack when it’s not in use. It is also easy to pack into a suitcase when flying.
