March 9, 2015 / Paige Edmiston /

Ain’t No Mystery: Use the Geocaching Intro app to find Mystery Caches this Pi Day

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I love watching non-geocachers (aka muggles) try to absorb the concept of geocaching. I’m sure you’ve all heard this same reaction before: Wait. You find boxes in the woods? Well that’s just irrational.

It’s true. The things we do as geocachers may seem a little crazy at times. But good news! This Pi Day (March 14, 2015), we’re introducing a dose of rational to the irrational—all thanks to a team of designers here at Geocaching HQ.

Earlier this year, we shared an inside look at how we collect feedback from the community and how that feedback influences the tools that we make. The next step in developing a new geocaching tool is design. A team of User Experience (UX) experts at Geocaching HQ are responsible for taking the community’s feedback and thinking through everything from how the new tool will work to how the design of an emoji will help bring delight to your next geocache find.

AbbyandMichelle — Left: UI Designer Abby Right: Mobile UX Designer Michelle

This team was recently tasked with making the experience of finding a Mystery Cache a bit more, well, rational—and all in time for you to earn the 3.14.15 Pi Day souvenir. I sat down with Mobile UX Designer Michelle Li (Username: BlueSpaceMonkey) and UI Designer Abby Deering (Username: Abbydeer) to learn how they took the mystery out of Mystery Caches in the Geocaching Intro app.

What was the biggest challenge in designing Mystery Caches for the free Geocaching app?

Mystery Caches are a complex type of geocache. One of the biggest changes we were faced with was making Mystery Caches easy to use for geocachers and coming up with a design solution that works with all the different types of Mystery Caches.

WaypointManager copy — The new Waypoint Manager in the Geocaching Intro app makes it easier than ever to add and keep track of coordinates to a geocache.

What about the new design are you most excited to share with the community?

We are really excited that we’ve found a design solution that works with all the different types of Mystery Caches (there are so many different versions!). We feel like we were able to eliminate a barrier that previously made it difficult to enter your answer. We’re excited that we removed a challenge in the tool, leaving the challenge where it should be: in solving the Mystery. And we hope this means more geocachers will now give Mystery Caches a try!

How have your designs made finding Mystery Caches easier?

We’ve made the ability to add Solved coordinates and edit waypoints easier and more manageable for all different kinds of Mystery Caches.

Editor’s Note: You’ll see in the app that “Corrected Coordinates” are now referred to as “Solved”. This decision was made by surveying the geocaching community.

How did feedback and insight from the geocaching community enter into the design?

We brought in both potential players and experienced geocachers to our office to look at our Mystery Cache design. We had them walk through a series of tasks and even took them outside to watch them geocache with the new design. We revised our design based on their feedback.

Anything else you want geocachers to know?

We’re so excited that Mystery Caches are now available in the free app and we love making products that make geocaching easier for our community!

Unlock this latest and greatest tool for discovering Mystery Caches with Premium membership in the free Geocaching Intro app for iOS and Android. And don’t miss out on your chance to earn one of two Pi Day souvenirs by logging a “Found It” on a Mystery Cache this Saturday!

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March 4, 2015 / Alex /

Don’t Miss Out on Pi Day! Top Tips for Mystery Caches

Earn one out of two souvenirs on Saturday, March 14 Pi Day by finding a Mystery Cache.

(Earn the other souvenir by attending any Geocaching event on March 14)

Does the thought of having to decode encrypted messages make you break out in hives? If yes, then take a deep breath and find your happy place because we have just the tips to sooth your Mystery Cache anxiety and prepare you for March 14th, 2015.

About to sing an "Ode to the Golgafrinchan Phone Workers"...GC32A0H — About to sing an “Ode to the Golgafrinchan Phone Workers”…GC32A0H

Mystery Caches (also known as Puzzle caches or Unknown caches) are a type of geocache for those who enjoy an extra challenge.

They require geocachers to solve complicated puzzles in order to decode the correct cache coordinates or crack secret clues to unlock a cache’s stash. If you haven’t encountered this kind of cache before the prospect may seem daunting, but have no fear! Mystery Caches are fun way to spice up any geocaching adventure while flexing your beefy brain muscles.

16d459cff0d08f3ad86d2f2a11db078e — Working on the solution for GC2400Z “Truncated Icosahedron,” a puzzle cache by PhilNi

So don your trenchcoat and channel your inner Sherlock.

(‘Cause who wouldn’t want to be Benedict Cumberbatch?). Here are Geocaching HQ’s top tips for Mystery Caches:

Practice Makes Perfect. Start easy by tackling Mystery Caches that have a one or two star difficulty rating. The more caches you conquer over time the more tricks of the trade you’ll pick up and the easier it’ll become.
Check what type of puzzle needs to be solved. There are different kinds of Mystery Caches that call for different strategies, so before you head out check to see what the requirements entail. Some caches are in-the-field, meaning you have to use visual clues from the surrounding location to decipher the coordinates or unlock the cache. Other caches can be solved before you even step out the door! These ask you to solve a particular puzzle off of the geocache’s webpage or lookup information on the internet.
Gather the Mystery Gang. Two heads are better than one! Bring your geocaching pals along, not only is geocaching more fun when you have your buddies but they can help you brainstorm through those extra tricky questions.
It’s all in the name. A hint to the cache’s location may be located in the cache’s or cache owner’s name or give you an idea of where the cache may be or what it may look like.
When in doubt use Google. Search engines may not have the answer to everything, but they have the answer for a lot of things. So if you’re truly stuck, look to the internet to give you a helping hand. Some cache pages may even include answer checkers to see if you guessed the correct coordinates.
Check for invisible ink. Sometimes cache owners will hide clues on a geocache’s webpage in white font. Highlight the page to reveal the secrets that were right in front of your nose the whole time. Bonus points if you caught this one! You’re a Puzzler already!
The source code isn’t just a movie. Cache owners may add comments with hints in the cache’s html source code. To find this open the source code on your browser’s menu selection and search for comments.
Stumped? Don’t hesitate to send a message to the cache owner. There’s no shame in asking for help…and a small hint might just be what you need to get started.

Mystery caches are an excellent way to sharpen the geocaching saw. If you’re looking for a little cache-speration check out our Mystery Cache Pinterest board. Want to take all this info (and more) with you? The Geocaching Shop has just the right book for you: How To Puzzle Cache.

Do you love a good Mystery? Tell us about your puzzling geocaching experiences or share your favorite puzzle tips! Be careful not to reveal any cache spoilers.

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Can you spot the mystery within this post?

March 2, 2015 / Eric Schudiske /

Want a Reward for Finding Geocaches? Keep Reading…

Chris 1 — Geocaching HQ Staffer: Chris Ronan, Rock Chalk

My name is Rock Chalk and I’m addicted to GeoTours and geotrails which offer rewards.

Whew. That feels better. Now that I’ve admitted my problem, perhaps I can persuade you to follow me into a realm where one can earn geocoins and other prizes, just for finding geocaches. (As if finding geocaches isn’t rewarding enough!) I currently work at Geocaching HQ in Seattle. But long before joining the team here, I discovered my passion for GeoTours and geotrails.

GeoTours and reward geotrails are collections of geocaches that take cachers on a tour of a specific area. They’re often sponsored by local tourism boards, historical associations, and even the National Park Service. In most cases, players find a certain number of geocaches to qualify for geocoins and other prizes.

Chris 2 — A bunch of GeoTour and reward GeoTrail Geocoins

Click the GeoTours and geotrails map to explore

I first became hooked when we happened upon the Washington County GeoTrail while planning a vacation to Maryland a couple years ago. We spent a day visiting some amazing historical spots, finding geocaches, and capping it off by claiming a geocoin. Since then, I’ve enjoyed nearly 20 similar experiences throughout the United States.

Official GeoTours, which are organized through Geocaching HQ, have introduced me to the beauty of the riverwalk in Columbus, GA, the incredible learning opportunities at the National Museum of Natural History, and more than 50 of Washington’s amazing state parks. I grew up in Kansas, but had little knowledge of the Santa Fe Trail until their new GeoTour inspired me to follow the Santa Fe Trail through Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, Oklahoma and New Mexico last summer.

Chris 3 — Clinton County Barn Trail (Ohio)

We’ve recently created a list of GeoTours and reward geotrails, so you can easily find them and learn about the cool rewards that await. We’ve also added a new forum where geocachers can discuss their adventures and ask questions about GeoTours and reward geotrails.

We hope these new resources can help your travel and geocaching become more rewarding than ever!

Check out the map and if a geotrail with a reward is missing, let us know in comments.

Chris 4 — Washington State Parks GeoTour (Deception Pass)

Washington State Parks GeoTour (10,000th find at Deception Pass)

March 2, 2015 / Eric Schudiske

Attend the Last Geocaching Block Party

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Geocaching Block Party 2015: The Final Episode

After years of celebrating all things Geocaching at HQ in Seattle, it’s time for a change. Join us this August to celebrate 15 Years of Geocaching at the last Block Party event.

Mark your ‘Will Attend’ now on the Geocaching Block Party 2015 geocache page. And while you’re there, make sure to mark your ‘Will Attend’ for the 2015 Geocaching International Film Festival, too.

And don’t forget: CITO weekend is April 25 and 26, so get ready to join thousands of geocachers as they clean up, plant trees or remove invasive species in local geocaching hot spots. Earn a special digital CITO souvenir for your Geocaching profile for attending a CITO Event April 25 or 26.

(Hier kannst Du den Artikel auf Deutsch lesen)

February 23, 2015 / Alex /

And the Winner of the Global GIFF Audience Award Is….

Last week the 16 films that made it to the 2014 Geocaching International Film Festival in Seattle made their online debut.

The stories and moments captured in these videos run the gamut of the geocaching experience. We saw First-to-Find races with unexpected victors, chance meetings that led to love and friendship, tributes paid to those loved and lost, and inside jokes that only you geocachers would understand.

Although all 16 films are winners, one film was to be recognized as above the rest and would receive the Global GIFF Audience Award, a special honor presented to one lucky filmmaker or filmmaking team for the first time.

You voted, we listened. And the winner of the Global GIFF Audience Award Is…

Cacheheart

by MudMen_Ger

Watch the film here

Watch all the finalists here: GIFF 2014 Playlist

Our winner will receive a special badge for their profile page, a gift package from Geocaching HQ, and a huge high-five from the international geocaching community. Congratulations on creating something spectacular.

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Interested in being a part of GIFF 2015, whether it’s as a participant or a filmmaker? Find out when GIFF is, how to enter your film, and more info here.

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