Geocaching is delightful because of the people who play it — adventure-seekers, makers, parents, astronauts and (sometimes) celebrities. Read their stories.
Watch a Geocaching HQ’er Take On a 5/5 FTF Challenge
About 4 hours from Geocaching HQ in Seattle, sitting atop Liberty Bell Mountain is Tensegrity on Liberty (GC1G5BY), the oldest unfound geocache in Washington State. The reason it remains unfound? It’s a Difficulty 5, Terrain 5 geocache that requires a long hike, a scramble and 400 feet of fifth-class technical climbing.
In our new video, Geocaching HQ’er Derek, along with a muggle friend, attempts to be the FTF and earn the new Geocaching Road Trip ‘15 Let’s Get Extreme souvenir. You’ll probably recognize him from some of our other videos, but outside of (trying to) act and writing things for Geocaching.com, Derek is an avid rock climber. Watch the new video to see if they make it.
Geocaching events tend to attract a pretty diverse audience, so you never know who you’re going to have an awesome interaction with. You could meet a newbie, a Geocaching HQ employee, or maybe even a famous celebrity! And no, we’re not talking about our very own Signal the frog…
Geocacher Casseill “spied out” a very special someone at a geocaching event in Ireland, leaving us feeling very envious. Here is her wonderful story.
“I had only recently started going to events (this was to be my fifth) but as soon as I saw this one, I knew it was one I definitely wanted to do. One – because I grew up around the area. Two – I’m starting to like these events – great people and great craic (as we say here). The weather looked a bit iffy the night before and it was dubious whether the ferryman would be sailing the next day. But, the day dawned bright and sunny and Sarah sent out word that it was “go, go, go”.
Dalkey Island is a small uninhabited Island – with a couple of ruins and the Martello Tower. It is normally a very quiet and peaceful place with stunning views. Once on the island we set off in groups to find the final of a Multi-Cache and a Traditional. Around this time, we heard a rumor that Pierce Brosnan was on the island and soon after – there he was in the flesh. A couple of the cachers got a photo with him – I hesitantly went over to him but was bid a good day very politely but quite firmly letting me know that he didn’t want to pose again. Which is absolutely fair enough. I’m sure he escaped to the island for a couple of hours looking for peace – not a horde of mad cachers.
A while later, geo-chat and picnics finished so we started heading back for the return journey. Who followed us and waited in line behind us for the return journey? Only our celebratory of the day! This time he was very chatty and invited my children and self for a photo. We had a chat – he loves the area and I am from the area -so we had plenty to chat about.
His presence on the island added a lot of buzz to the event – which was already a huge success thanks to Sarah’s planning. Sarah has said she will make this an annual event – so we are all dying to see who she will organize to be on the island next year!!”
We can’t always promise there will be a celebrity in attendance, but geocaching events are a great way to meet new people and learn about the game. From July 3 – September 2, you can also earn a souvenir by attending any Geocaching Event (excluding CITO events).
Mr. Bond, we hope to see you at many more geocaching events to come. We’d also love to send you out on a geocaching mission to recover all the muggled caches out there.
Which celebrity would you love to see at a geocaching event?
Get ready: Geocaching Block Party 2015 is right around the corner. Over the next few weeks, we’ll give you a small taste of the awesomeness you can expect when you’re here in Seattle, Washington. And never fear! You still have time to log your Will Attend.
Who doesn’t love a good party with great geocaching friends? Answer: No one.
Geocaching Events are a great way to meet the local geocaching community where everyone is oddly enough, just like you. Geocachers will designate a time and location to meet and discuss their favorite hobby. Geocaching events are fun, so always expect a good time!
Anyone can plan and host an event. Here are 12 tips and tricks to get you started on planning the best geo-bash around.
Some people find much more than just cache containers when they’re introduced to geocaching. Geocachers may discover parks they never knew existed, the hidden history of their community or even the sting of stepping in poison ivy. But some geocachers wander into something else. They’re lucky enough to find the person they’ll spend the rest of their lives with.
It happens. It happened to one of the founders of Geocaching.com. Bryan Roth attended a geocaching event fourteen years ago. Fellow founder Jeremy Irish encouraged Bryan to attend.
Bryan says, “This was the first of [88] total geocaching events that I’ve attended so far. Jeremy had suggested that I attend and I figured it’d be a great opportunity to meet some members of the local geocaching community. I really didn’t know what to expect but, of course, that day has changed my life forever.”
Event in 2001 where Bryan and Hydee met (Hydee far left of picture)
Bryan’s “will attend” log read, “I will be there (with chocolates).” Bryan says he wasn’t fishing for love with those chocolates, “Not at all. At the time, I don’t think I was even looking for a date. I was only thinking about meeting geocachers and getting more involved with the local community.”
But Bryan says he soon met a geocacher named Hydee and her son Dylan. He remembers his first thought, “Yeah [my first thought was]—she looks like trouble. I was right, of course. ;)”
She later told Bryan the chocolates helped cement her intuitions that he was the right person for her. She loves chocolate.
Jon Stanley, Moun10Bike, hosted the event where Hydee and Bryan first met. Jon says, “That event is actually where I first met Bryan. I didn’t know that the spark had been lit at that time, but I soon found out. Hydee and her friend CameraThyme kept referring to “AFM,” which stood for “Action Figure Man.” After a while I discovered that this was their code name for Bryan. Then, all became clear!”
The Roth’s 10 Year Anniversary geocoin
Hydee’s friend CameraThyme also played a key role. Bryan says, “Thanks to CameraThyme for letting me know that Hydee was single.”
Bryan and Hydee were eventually married. They’ll be celebrating their 15th anniversary of meeting in November 2016.
Jon says Bryan and Hydee are lucky, geo-love can be a rare commodity, “I attend a fair amount of events, though, and while I’ve heard of people meeting through them, Bryan and Hydee are the only ones I personally can name who linked up as the result of an event!”
But you never know. Attend a geocaching event before September 2nd this year, and you might come away with more than just your Meet Your Road Trip Crew souvenir—you could meet your own Geo-Love.
Can’t get enough geocaching love? Check out these sweet videos from the 2014 Geocaching International Film Festival.
Some people find much more than just cache containers when they’re introduced to geocaching. Geocachers may discover parks they never knew existed, the hidden history of their community or even the sting of stepping in poison ivy. But some geocachers wander into something else. They’re lucky enough to find the person they’ll spend the rest of their lives with.
