January 17, 2017 / Audrey Kettler /

New tools for your next trip into the great outdoors!

Ready for an adventure in the great outdoors? Good news! Our newest feature, offline maps in the Geocaching® app, completes a suite of tools designed to make your outdoor expeditions better than ever. Let’s take a look:

Offline maps.

Our newest feature for Premium members makes it possible to navigate to geocaches without an internet connection. Here’s how:

Step 1: Select a geocache list or create a new one.*

Step 2: Save the list for offline use.

Step 3: Get outdoors! Offline maps will be there to guide you to the next geocache on your list.

select-lists select-elipsis select-download-offline-data

The app will also prompt you to switch to the Trails map type when applicable.

My Lists beta.

We took Bookmark Lists and made them better! With My Lists beta, you can easily edit, share, and organize lists of geocaches. Learn more.

Lists created on Geocaching.com automatically appear in the Geocaching® app, and vice versa. By saving geocache lists in the mobile app for offline use, you also download offline maps.

Trail maps.

We added the Trails map type to help you find hard-to-reach geocaches and to find the caches hidden right in your neighborhood park. This feature uses open-source maps to show trails in cities, parks, and wild spaces.

Pending logs.

No need to worry about losing track of your finds! When you a submit a log from the field, the log will automatically upload the next time you connect to internet.

A feature enabling you to start a log and finish or edit it later is in the works.

Offline geocaching is a Premium member feature. Learn more about Geocaching Premium.

Planning to head off the beaten path soon? Before you do, check out these tips for geocaching outdoors:

* Pro tip: You can create lists in the mobile app or on Geocaching.com.

Tell us about your next outdoor adventure in the comments below.

January 12, 2017 / Janelle

Ten tips for a tip-top geocache

http://www.playbuzz.com/geocachinghq10/ten-tips-for-a-tip-top-geocache-container

* Special thanks to Moun10Bike, CacheShadow, NCreviewer, onecrazycanadian, ThunderEggs, Skookum Bear, Graculus, GeoCrater, srebeelis, Cache-witch, BlueRajah, Keystone, Greatland Reviewer, inspicio, FitReviewer, LavaLizard, Xanthe Terra, RoadRunner, New York Admin, and Rock Rabbit for all their suggestions, advice, and input!

January 11, 2017 / Ellis /

Hagen med det rare i— Geocache of the week

Letterbox Hybrid: GC51MPR; by thomfre

Difficulty:: 1
Terrain:: 1

Location:: Buskerud, Norway; N 59° 45.869′ E 009° 57.503

When daydreaming of Norway, one may think of fjord laden landscapes, snow-capped peaks, and the midnight sun. Norway is also home to over 5 million people, 72,080 active geocaches, and a thriving geocaching community. This Geocache of the Week, Hagen med det rare i, is located in the town of Steinberg along the Drammenselva river, one of the largest rivers in Norway.

When you arrive in Steinberg, it won’t take you long to spot the remarkable garden filled with wood carvings, metal art and a Signal the Frog® lookalike.

All of these distracting installations may increase the difficulty of finding the cache, including the large troll that guards the yard. In Norse folklore, trolls can sometimes be tricky and unhelpful to humans, so don’t let this troll trick you into going the wrong direction!

Not only is the cache entertaining for geocachers and muggles alike, it also attracts Letterboxers. Like geocaching, letterboxing is another form of treasure hunting that uses clues instead of coordinates. In this case, the cache owner has made their container both a letterbox and a geocache, making it a Letterbox Hybrid. These types of geocaches will contain a stamp that is meant to remain in the box and is used by letterboxers to record their visit.

Of my 200-something hides, this is my personal favorite. The cache is located right outside my grandparents’ garden, a place I spent a lot of time when growing up.

Some of my earliest memories are from that place. And even though there’s some things that are as old as me there, there’s always something new to look at whenever I visit. I am thrilled that I get to share this awesome place with other geocachers! And the best part is that so are my grandparents! I might be a bit subjective here, but they are simply awesome!

I’ve received so many great logs, and I really enjoy telling my grandparents about all the nice words people write. Several people have noted that they see where I get my creativity from after visiting this cache. They’re so right! -Thomfre (cache owner)

Thomfre, the cache owner is also very involved in the geocaching community with an interesting geocaching blog and a website that helps Norwegian geocachers to plan their next geocaching vacation.

While visiting family in Loesmoen we had to make the trip here. Exciting and fun garden with an ingeniously made geocache. Deserves all its blue bows. Fun that this was our first letterbox. Left our travel friend Reflexus, ready to embark on an adventure.—BråtenStabæk

A round after work to grab some caches in Steinberg and Hokksund with jonnyloe28 today. Today’s fourth discovery and our first letterbox. Parked at the zero point to mirror quickly heading to Hagen med det rare i. Wonderful garden and great installation. Certainly today’s highlight this here. Clear favorite points from me.Thanks so much for the cache. —supertoga1

On drive from Hamar to Vegglifjell and only time for one cache. The choice fell on this, and all your favorite points are well deserved! Great box, crazy garden, and now it has another favorite points. Thanks!—Schrøder

Continue to explore some of the most amazing geocaches around the world.
Check out all of the Geocaches of the Week on the Geocaching blog. If you would like to nominate a Geocache of the Week, fill out this form.

Official Blog

New tools for your next trip into the great outdoors!

Ten tips for a tip-top geocache

Hagen med det rare i— Geocache of the week

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