Category: Community

Geocaching is delightful because of the people who play it — adventure-seekers, makers, parents, astronauts and (sometimes) celebrities. Read their stories.

/ Janelle /

The wild world of underwater geocaches

Taking the extreme plunge: underwater geocaching
For the extreme geocacher: underwater geocaching

Call me Geocache. Some time ago – never mind how long exactly – having little or no finds in my profile, and no particular geocaches to interest me on shore, I thought I would cache about a little and see the watery part of the T5 rating scale.*

What better way to fill out the Terrain rating on your Fizzy Grid than going underwater to find your caches? Grab your snorkel, SCUBA gear, and wet suits, then check out these awesome and inspiring underwater caches:

GC2W056 Hilma Hooker is located in Bonaire, just off the northern coast of Venezuela. The geocache is almost 30 meters (100 feet) underwater at an actual shipwreck. Some underwater caches have special paper and pencils to sign the log, but for this cache, you must write your name in the sand under the yardarm of the ship’s main mast. 

Finding the cache
Going for the dive cache!
Gotta look out for muggles when “signing” the log
Hilma Hooker sank on September 12, 1984
Hilma Hooker sank on September 12, 1984

Another idyllic underwater SCUBA cache is GC4BAC0 Kittiwake in the Cayman Islands. As the geocache description says: 

The ex-USS Kittiwake was a Submarine Rescue vessel (ASR-13). She was part of the 6th Submarine squadron (SUBRON 6) home ported at the Destroyer-Submarine piers in Norfolk, VA. She was transferred from MARAD to the Cayman Islands Government in August 2009 and was cleaned and remediated in Norfolk, Virginia to become an artificial reef. This included substantial work including the removal of all hazardous materials (like pcb’s, asbestos, mercury, cabling, wires, oils, lubricants and a very long list). Additionally, all thin or loose materials that could break off during or soon after sinking were removed. The Kittiwake is possibly the ‘cleanest’ wreck ever to be sunk as an artificial reef. 

Aha! GC4BAC0 Kittiwake has been found!
Aha! GC4BAC0 Kittiwake has been found!
Found it! Now time to sign the log.
Now time to sign the log.
Oh the things you'll see and do while SCUBAcaching!
Oh the things you’ll see and do while SCUBAcaching!


Did you know there are freshwater lake sharks in Germany? Well, not technically, but there is a fake shark 30 meters (98 feet) below the surface near GCNQ40 Horka – Pumpenhaus. (You gotta admit that you were taken aback the first time you looked at these photos…) This Virtual Cache is, “…the cache owner’s revenge for all the climbing caches, which [he] will never reach.” 

GCNQ40 Horka - Pumpenhaus
SHARK!!!! Oh, it’s only GCNQ40 Horka – Pumpenhaus
The shark was impaled by a... huge steak knife?
Everyone’s safe. The shark was impaled by… a huge steak knife?
This is the beautiful location for this underwater cache

But what if you don’t have all that fancy scuba gear or deep water submersibles? Well, we have a couple of other options for you. 

Head over to GC3KG2M Father Thames & The Mermaid (AS TIDES GOES BY) in London, England and wait for the tide to go out. This geocache currently has 387 Favorite points, and you can see why; it’s clever and takes you to a memorable location. 

GC3KG2M Father Thames & The Mermaid (AS TIDES GOES BY) is only accessible at low tide
GC3KG2M
Father Thames & The Mermaid (AS TIDES GOES BY) is only accessible at low tide
London Low Tide Truck TB
London Low Tide Truck TB
I think I found it!
I think I found it!

We got one last geocache that may, ahem, float your boat. GC2H5GD Winnepesauke bumblebee scuba is located about 400 feet from the shore and about 35 feet below the surface. This geocache is available year round by diving in the summer, and ice fishing in the winter. Really depends on your perspective on what’s more difficult. 

GC2H5GD in the summer
GC2H5GD in the summer
GC2H5GD in the winter
GC2H5GD in the winter
Again, GC2H5GD in the summer
Again, GC2H5GD in the summer
Again, GC2H5GD in the winter (the container was updated since the summer...!)
Again, GC2H5GD in the winter!

Have you ever found a geocache underwater? How was it, or what’s holding you back from obtaining this type of cache? Tell us in the comments below!

*Deepest apologies to Herman Melville for this complete and very pathetic rip off of the opening passage to Moby Dick. 

/ Paige Edmiston /

6 souvenirs. 5 Geocaching HQ’ers. 300 miles. 24 hours.

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Unless you’ve been living in an unfound geocache, you’ve probably heard about the Geocaching Road Trip ‘15. Just in case: we’ve challenged the geocaching community to earn 6 new souvenirs by finding 5 different types of geocaches before September 2.

But we’re not ones for issuing a challenge and not completing it ourselves. So not only will a group of folks from Geocaching HQ find all five types of geocaches that can earn the new souvenirs—they’re going to do it all in 24 hours on one epic road trip. Before the wheels start rolling, let’s get to know the crew:

geocaching1524hourroadtrip1

Bottom-Right: Zach (Jaquish)

  • Job: Mobile Developer
  • Souvenir: Meet Your Road Trip Crew
  • Zach’s van, Diego, is where all of the team will be spending their time in between finds.

Bottom-Left: Meg (Ponystream)

  • Job: Business Development Coordinator
  • Souvenir: Put On Your Thinking Cap
  • If you’ve ever found a GeoTour geocache, you can thank Meg. She helps local areas create awesome GeoTours in their areas.

Top-Left: Dave (HiddenGnome)

Top-Middle: Holly (HollyWollyOxenFree)

  • Job: Guest Experience Coordinator
  • Souvenir: Fun with Favorites
  • Holly has one of the funnest jobs at HQ. She hosts the thousands of geocachers who come to Seattle and visit Geocaching HQ!

Top-Right: Paige (ThePaigeTurner)

  • Job: Marketing Specialist
  • Souvenir: High-Five for the Earth
  • Even though Zach is driving the van, Paige is behind the wheel of the Geocaching Road Trip ‘15. If you see her at HQ, be sure to give her a high-five for the fun!

We’ll be putting together a video of the whole journey after it happens—but you don’t have to wait for that to come out to join the fun. Follow @GoGeocaching on Twitter or stay tuned to this blog post to follow their journey live. We’ll post updates, photos and more. The adventure will kick-off this Thursday, August 6, 2015 at 8:30 am PST at this event.


P.S. Yes, you’re correct. Not all of the souvenirs will be available during our road trip. We know. We’re going to see if we can find all 5 types of geocaches that can earn souvenirs in 24 hours. Once the Put on Your Thinking Cap souvenir actually becomes available, we’ll each go find a Mystery Cache to earn it.

/ Janelle /

Incredible Geocaching Road Trips from Around the World

 

Three featured road trips from USA, Germany, and New Zealand

 

By this time, you’re probably aware that we are celebrating 15 years of geocaching this summer. We’re using the theme of road trips to make it fun for everyone. You have the opportunity to complete five geocaching quests, each of which will earn you a souvenir for your geocaching profile. Complete all five and you’ll earn a sixth, extra special souvenir.

Today, we highlight a three phenomenal road trips to take in three very different parts of the earth: Route 66 in the United States, a north to south bike tour of Germany, and a “New Zealand’s greatest hits” series of caches inspired by The Lord of the Rings saga.

United States of America – U.S. Route 66

150 miles stretch of Route 66 from Barstow, CA to Needles, AZ
150 miles stretch of Route 66 from Barstow, CA to Needles, AZ

U.S. Route 66 (US 66 or Route 66) originally ran from Chicago, Illinois, through Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona before ending at Santa Monica, California, covering over 2,400 miles (3,862 km). In the 150 miles stretch between Barstow, California towards Needles, Arizona lies a power trail of 800 geocaches. A power trail is path with a large number of caches placed within close proximity to each other (though no closer than .1 miles apart). All the caches in this series are on the same side of the road; therefore, this series should be done heading eastbound.

GC2J17A - 001-Route 66. The first of 800 caches along the Route 66 power trail from Barstow,CA to Needles, AZ.
GC2J17A – 001-Route 66. The first of 800 caches along the Route 66 power trail from Barstow,CA to Needles, AZ.
GC2K087 - 400-Route 66 is a adorned with piles of rocks (SPR?) used to spell out where cachers are from, and the number "400".
GC2K087 – 400-Route 66 is a adorned with piles of rocks (SPR?) used to spell out where ‘cachers are from, and the number “400”.
GC2K6TW - 800-Route 66 is the final stop for this power trail, but unfortunately temporarily disabled due to repair work being done to the road due to damage from the flash floods of September 2014.
GC2K6TW – 800-Route 66 is the final stop for this power trail, but unfortunately temporarily disabled due to repair work being done to the road due to damage from the flash floods of September 2014.

A few caches along the route are not part of the series, such as GC1K592 – Kick up your feet! There lies an dead tree covering in old shoes. So, if the power trail wears yours out, you could always swap for an older, dirtier, more busted pair.

GC1K592 - Kick up your feet! is not part of the Route 66 power trail, but definitely a quirky stop along the route.
GC1K592 – Kick up your feet! is not part of the Route 66 power trail, but definitely a quirky stop along the route.

 

Germany – Deutschland-Tour

GC3JH5D Deutschland-Tour runs from north to south Germany and is meant to be completed on bicycles

GC3JH5D Deutschland-Tour is a 26 stage (with one alternate) Multi-Cache that runs from the north of Germany to the South, covering over 1,600 kilometers (994 miles). This is not a road trip for the weak, as it’s meant to be done by bicycle. The geocache listing page describes it best (German to English translation):

Es geht also um eine Radtour über 1600km durch 7 Bundesländer vom nördlichsten Punkt Deutschlands bis zum Südlichsten. Ja, richtig gelesen, die Dose liegt in der Nähe von Oberstdorf im Allgäu.
Ja, das ist völlig ernst gemeint und: ja, es ist sehr weit. Aber die Belohnung sind unendlich viele neue Eindrücke und das unglaubliche Gefühl, einmal aus eigener Kraft das ganze Land durchquert zu haben.

This is a bike ride of over 1600km through seven of Germany’s states, from the northernmost point to the southernmost. Yes, you read correctly, the cache is near Oberstdorf in the Allgäu region.
Yes, that’s meant entirely seriously and, yes, it’s very far. But payoffs are new experiences and the incredible feeling of having travelled across an entire country under one’s own power.

GC3JH5D Station 1 at the north end of Germany says, "Of course, we begin our tour at the northernmost point of Germany and let the solitude of the place affect us. Only the constant blowing wind, the sound of the waves and the cries of sea birds break the silence."
GC3JH5D Station 1 at the north end of Germany says, “Of course, we begin our tour at the northernmost point of Germany and let the solitude of the place affect us. Only the constant blowing wind, the sound of the waves and the cries of sea birds break the silence.”
GC3JH5D Just a typical day of beauty
GC3JH5D Just a typical day of beauty
GC3JH5D Rainbows and lush valleys are a big payoff when your thighs are begging for mercy!
GC3JH5D Rainbows and lush valleys are a big visual payoff when your thighs are begging for mercy
GC3JH5D The Final stage has a beautiful spot for reflecting on this life-changing journey
GC3JH5D The Final stage has a beautiful spot for reflecting on this life-changing journey

 

Middle-earth (aka New Zealand) – The Lord of the Rings 

Focusing on New Zealand's North Island, there are a few of the Lord of the Rings inspired geocaches
Focusing on New Zealand’s North Island, there are a few of the Lord of the Rings inspired geocaches

There are so many great geocaches related to The Lord of the Rings movie trilogy throughout out the world, but let’s just focus on New Zealand’s North Island. The dramatic landscapes and large uninhabited areas make it easy to understand why all of the movies were filmed here. I’m sure many geocachers could add a dozen more great spots to cache onto this list – and please do! But here’s some of the top geocaches dedicated to this story:

GC1HCXK Hobbiton (Waikato) is a “popular tourist destination, and earned the esteemed honor of “Geocache of the Week”. It’s so popular that it’s actually getting “biggified”.
GC3VBMT There And Back Again is a simple multi is placed near the location of the filming of scenes in The Shire from both the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit movies.
GC3VBMT There And Back Again is a simple multi is placed near the location of the filming of scenes in The Shire from both The Lord of the Rings and Hobbit movies.
GC24VXZ Ngauruhoe - Mt Doom (Central Plateau) is an Earthcache featuring the youngest of three volcanoes and is only 2,500 years old!
GC24VXZ Ngauruhoe – Mt Doom (Central Plateau) is an Earthcache featuring the youngest of three volcanoes and is only 2,500 years old!
GC4B4AR "The Shire" - Rangitikei packs a powerful punch despite its less-than-hobbity size
GC4B4AR “The Shire” – Rangitikei packs a powerful punch despite its hobbity size
EarthCache GC19NVM Putangirua Pinnacles was featured as the fictional Dimholt Road, Approach to Paths of the Dead in "The Return of the King"
EarthCache GC19NVM Putangirua Pinnacles was featured as the fictional Dimholt Road, Approach to Paths of the Dead in “The Return of the King”

 

Keep in mind if you plan it right, since New Zealand is in the southern hemisphere, you could geocache all summer long, twice a year! There are countless journeys to take while geocaching. Have you taken a geocaching road trip? What would be your ultimate geocaching road trip? Tell us in the comments below! 

 

 

/ Paige Edmiston /

The Quest for the Oldest Unfound Geocache in Washington

Mailer_07222015_OldestWAUnfoundVideo_vFINAL_blog

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.

[vimeo https://vimeo.com/134247543]

Inspired to find a T5/D5 geocache? Visit the new geocache search page to find one near you.

/ Lizzie Burton

Geocaching Event Special Guest

 

 

 

Capture

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.Ireland5

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?