Sgt. Kent "Doc" Byrd in IraqSgt. Kent "Doc" Byrd in Iraq
Kent “Doc” Byrd is known as JrByrdMan162 in the geocaching world. In the United States Army he’s know as Sergeant Byrd.
He’s a member of an Explosive Ordinance Disposal unit. He defused bombs, including improvised explosive devices (IEDs) as part of the Army bomb squad. He just returned from a one year tour of duty in Iraq.
Sgt. Byrd has been geocaching since 2005. He says the skills that geocaching instills — situational awareness, an eye for the unusual and quick detective work — help keep him safe when he’s finding and defusing bombs. Sgt. Byrd believes that other members of the bomb disposal community can learn to sharpen their awareness and stay safer through geocaching.
See his story above. Click here to watch more Lost & Found videos highlighting unique geocachers and the worldwide adventure of geocaching.
“Steinmaenncher” translates to English as “Stone Man.” Steinmaennchen 3(GC1BZ5M) is one of nearly two dozen geocaches throughout the island nation of Seychelles. The traditional cache takes geocachers up a steep slope and through a dense jungle on the main island, just outside the capitol city of Victoria.
The key piece of advice from the cache owner, Motoleni, is to bring adequate water for the 1.5 km hike.
We asked Motoleni why he named the geocache “Steinmaenncher.” His answer, in his native German, below, describes seeing the “Stone Men,” or cairns, as he drove his motorcycle through the mountains. The piles of rocks were used to hold sign posts. He asks geocachers to create a cairn at the site of the geocache. So far, there are nine cairns at the site – some even have painted rocks.
A cairn at the site of “Steinmaenncher 3”
Motoleni says, “Bei meinen Motorradtouren im Gebirge habe ich immer wieder alte Wegmarkierungen in Form von Steinmännchen gesehen.So kam der Gedanke
diese Idee auch fürs Geocaching zu verwenden. Das erste Steinmännchen steht bei mir Garten und die Resonanz der Geocacher ist überwältigend. Jede Menge toll bemalter Steine und nicht weniger tolle Logeinträge. Inzwischen ist die Zahl der Steinmännchen auf 9 angewachsen. Verschiedene Owner haben mich angemailt, und gefragt, ob sie diese Idee aufgreifen können.”
The difficulty 1, terrain 3.5 cache was placed in April of 2008. It’s been found nearly 40 times since. Geocachers who have logged the find write, “The way to this cache is quite challenging, but worth doing. We wouldn’t have done it if not for the cache. The view from the top is really marvelous! Good shoes are recommended for the walk.”
You can explore all the world of geocaching by checking out all Geocaches of the Week.
The Czech Republic geocache “Jested” (GCKDBV) rests high on Mt. Jested, not far from the border of Germany and Poland.
The search for this cache takes you to one of the most stunning landmarks of Northern Bohemia, Jested Tower. The structure is an architectural feat which combines a 94 meter (308 foot) tall transmitter tower, a hotel and a restaurant.
More than 1200 geocachers have logged “Jested” since Dorcadion Team hid the cache in August of 2004.
The regular-sized difficulty 2, terrain 2.5 geocache takes adventures up to an altitude of 987 meters (3,237 feet). Dorcadion says his other interest, ”
(except geocaching) is photography of nature and architecture – and this tower is one of the most interesting examples of modern architecture in our country…”
View from Mt. Jested
Beyond discovering the traditional geocache, you’ll also find an amazing view that extends to Germany and Poland.
Dorcadion says he didn’t really expect the cache to become so popular, “in the time when I placed the cache (the first in the whole Liberec region) the number of all Czech geocachers was lower than 50… But I expected that people will visit this cache – Jested is very popular and easily accessible by rail car, car or by short steep hike.”
Winning Caption: “Trackable sounds an awful lot like snackable – close enough for me!” – Moozer
This is the eighth installment of our Geocaching Caption Contest. Travel Bugs are one of the joys of the geocaching experience. This Travel Bug may have ended up in a precarious predicament. What caption would you write for this photo? “Travel Bug destination? My belly?”
You can do better. The winner receives an actual Coveted Prize.
Coveted Prize
The prize for this contest is a trackable 10 years coin. Good luck! Please include your geocaching username in all entries.
The winner will be chosen by an ad hoc committee of Lackeys.
13 Lackeys voted to crown the winner of the seventh Geocaching Caption Contest. Take a look at the post to see who won. Explore the wit and wisdom of geocachers by checking out all the Geocaching Caption Contests.
The “Ruins of St. Paul’s” GC20BD5 was hidden in late 2009. This nano cache was placed in a bustling tourist destination in Macau, China. The church burned in 1835, leaving just this intricate facade. Geocacher AirQ from Hong Kong hid the cache.
AirQ is one of so many geocachers to travel thousands of miles this past week to gather in Washington State, USA. They celebrated GeoWoodstock VIII and Groundspeak’s Lost & Found Celebration, commemorating ten years of geocaching. AirQ also celebrated a birthday. Wish him a happy birthday by logging one of the dozens of caches AirQ placed in and around Hong Kong. “Ruins of St. Paul’s” is just one.
