Geocaching is delightful because of the people who play it — adventure-seekers, makers, parents, astronauts and (sometimes) celebrities. Read their stories.
Before we get started with the very first Geocache of the Week: Video Edition, a quick note: the video contains spoilers with permission from the geocache creator.
Some geocaches are found easiest at night, others during the day. And some, like this week’s Geocache of the Week, are easiest at low tide (high tide would require SCUBA gear). Check out the video of geocacher Skwarepeg as she journeys into the River Thames in search of Father Thames & the Mermaid (As tides go by) (GC3KG2m).
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gdFztOz1zGg&hl=en_US&version=3]This difficulty 3, terrain 2 geocache was created by 83cad. When asked about his inspiration for this geocache, he cites his grandaughter. She likes going to London and the beach, so this location provided the opportunity to do a little bit of everything she enjoys in one day. And regarding all of the positive logs and favorite points, he said “When I get positive logs from people I don’t know or never met, I feel a tremendous satisfaction in knowing that we are all sharing a common enjoyment.”
Sunny London from near GZ. Photo by geoacher Von-Horst.
There are many different geocaches that are easiest to find with certain conditions. What’s your favorite “condition” dependent geocache?
Continue to explore some of the most engaging geocaches around the globe. Check out all the Geocaches of the Week on the Geocaching blog or view the Bookmark List on Geocaching.com.
If you would like to nominate a Geocache of the Week, send an email with your name, comments, the name of the geocache, and the GC code to pr@geocaching.com.
Like what you see? You still have time to submit your own geocaching video! See details below.
Click the image to learn more
Earn a spot for your geocaching video on the big screen. Enter your geocaching video into the first annual Geocaching International Film Festival (GIFF). GIFF will showcase the best videos from geocachers around the world. You could win a 5-year Geocaching Premium membership, a personalized trophy and more!
Prizes will be awarded for the following categories:
Best Cinematography
Most Instructional
Most Inspirational
Most Creative/Experimental
Most Adventurous
Audience Award
Make sure you read the Official Rules before you submit your video. If your video is selected as one of the top videos, it will be shown to hundreds of geocachers on August 17, following Geocaching Block Party in Seattle.
Don’t wait: videos must be submitted by July 7, 2013. Good luck!
Thanks to all those geocachers around the world who added their comments to help name the May Featured Geocacher of the Month. Each of the nominees receive a prize package from Geocaching HQ for their contribution to the worldwide community.
The three nominees for the May Featured Geocacher of the Month all contribute amazing geocaching experiences, through events, their stewardship and creative hides.
The Featured Geocacher of the Month is named by Geocaching HQ after reviewing community input and blog comments. After tallying the sentiment, OHMIC has been named the Featured Geocachers of the Month for May 2013.
Congratulations to OHMIC. One comment shows how OHMIC commitment to the environment is showcased in his geocaching, “My vote is for OHMIC. He has hosted many training sessions for new cachers and he has also organized numerous caching events. OHMIC’s annual Cache the Marsh event is a favourite of new and seasoned cachers alike, and is renowned around Manitoba. Not only is OHMIC knowledgeable about wildlife, ecosystems, waterfowl and the environment, he also puts forth a huge effort to incorporate opportunities for learning into his caches and the events that he organizes and hosts.”
The earned, never for sale, Geocacher of the Month Geocoin (sun flare optional)
OHMIC has been geocaching since 2003. OHMIC will receive the earned, never for sale, collector’s edition Featured Geocacher of the Month Geocoin, along with Featured Geocacher of the Month hat and a certificate acknowledging his contribution, 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 OHMIC for being recognized as the Featured Geocacher of the Month for April.
Meet some of previous Featured Geocachers of the Month
We all love earning smileys. Seeing that bright yellow face on your Geocaching profile page smiling back at you is the reward you get for a job well done. But how far are you willing to go for it? Would you spend days on the hunt for just one geocache? Would you commit to a 350-mile journey? If the answer is yes, then this week’s Geocache of the Week, Munich – Venice (GC1FPN1), is for you.
The trail.
The first step to finding this difficulty 2, terrain 4 geocache is to find a pair of comfortable, broken-in hiking boots. Step two is to get to the beginning stage of this multi-cache at Marienplatz in Munich. After you’re finished taking in the sights, it’s time to start putting one foot in front of the other. As you make your way through the 28 stages, you’ll have to answer questions in order to obtain the coordinates of the final stage. This may sound like a lot of work, but the stunning views along the way make the journey well worth it.
Yay for geocaching! Photo by geocacher wanderlust2000
While only 36 geocachers have made the journey from Munich to Venice and earned their smiley, their logs are sure to inspire more geocachers to attempt this multi-cache. Geocacher Benjo5 said, “What an awesome experience! …Thanks for the cache, I am really happy to turn this into a smiley icon, as it was quite exceptional and challenging. And at the end, I recommend this trek to everyone. It’s really worth it. Thanks, I will not forget.”
Another geocacher who earner a smiley for this epic journey is voduska, who said, “It is difficult to express all the feelings I had and have now, but to everybody who is thinking to do this trek, I would say don‘t hesitate and go. It is such a great experience. It is extremely demanding, but extremely rewarding. And when you finally reach the beach after nearly a month and you can put down the bag and take off that terribly heavy shoes and go for a swim in the sea, you feel like … actually you feel like you’ve just crossed the Alps.”
Typical Path before Olperer Hut. Photo by geocache owner DerPate
When asked about planning and placing this geocache, DerPate said that the real planning came after he initially completed the journey. From there it was organizing all the places he had been into a great multi-cache. In regards to all of the positive feedback, DerPate said, “Even more impressive for me is the feedback of the people having done the cache: There are find logs with a length of more than 40,000 characters (almost 3 log entries are needed in average of all finds) or even more than 150 pictures were uploaded for one log.” For all geocachers aiming to earn this smiley, DerPate had one piece of advice, “To all those cachers out there: Have fun on making your own memorable experiences on your personal interpretation of such a tour :-)”
So the question is: how far are you willing to go for a find? Would you complete a 350-mile trek through the mountains? Tell us in the comments.
Continue to explore some of the most engaging geocaches around the globe. Check out all the Geocaches of the Week on the Geocaching blog or view the Bookmark List on Geocaching.com.
If you would like to nominate a Geocache of the Week, send an email with your name, comments, the name of the geocache, and the GC code to pr@geocaching.com.
Just one of the many scenic views you’ll get during the journey. Photo by geocacher Turbo9
Probably the most rewarding part of the journey: dipping your feet into the water on the beach in Venice.
Mega-Events, or any Geocaching Event, are a way to decode all the unanswered mystery surrounding geocaching. You’ll discover geocaching experts who love to share their love of geocaching. It might be as easy as asking, “What’s it mean when the clue says you should tie your shoe?” (It typically means to bend down and look under a bench). You might also connect with new friends to help power your geocaching exploration. And that’s just the beginning. Here are 28 reasons, in no particular order, about what you could experience at a Mega-Event:
Earn a smiley. Meet local volunteers. Discover new friendships. Geocache before and after. Sign the official log book. Meet vendors.Buy sweet swag. Trade trackables. Ask questions. Ask more questions.Eat good food. Try something new. Discover a new city. Rediscover an old city. Connect geocaching names with faces. Take a picture with Geocaching mascot Signal. Be in-the-know on the latest trends. Discover trackables. Rekindle friendships. Introduce your kids to a new adventure. Log a new geocache type. Pinpoint a destination for your next trip. Compare epic geocaching stories! Find love (it’s happened before). Talk with someone who works at Geocaching HQ. Get inspired for your next hide. Brush up on your GPS tech skills. Get tips to finally find unfound geocaches.
If you’re searching for a great Mega-Event, check out the Geocaching Block Party in Seattle onAugust 17. The worldwide community will be attending and celebrating geocaching right outside Geocaching HQ. Do you know of a few more reasons to attend a Mega-Event? Share them with the geocaching community on comments below, or on our Facebook page.
