November 16, 2014 / Janelle /

It was a Dark and Stormy Night… for Reading about Geocaching

Geobook — Special thanks to Julie Henning (CalORie) for the perfect lead in image for this post.

We here at Geocaching HQ love to hang out with each other during work, while throwing a few back at a local happy hour, and of course while geocaching together on the weekends. So when one of our lackeys suggested starting a book club, we got pretty excited and wondered about geocaching-themed books that may be out in the world. Turns out that there’s a LOT. There’s even a thread in our forums about it. Here are some of our top picks for geocaching books out in the world:

Caching In: A Geocaching Love Story by Tracy Krimmer — “Can a compass lead you to love?”

Ahh, romance and Tupperware in the woods. In Tracy Krimmer’s Caching In: A Geocaching Love Story, we meet broken-hearted Ally Couper who’s, “…had enough with her ridiculous life. Her job at the bank is going nowhere, and her love life might as well be non-existent. Determined to try something new, Ally becomes absorbed in the world of geocaching. The high-tech driven scavenger hunt introduces her to Seth, and she realizes the game isn’t the only thrilling part. Ally’s bad luck may finally be changing, until the past threatens to halt her future with Seth. Can they find happiness together, or is love the one cache Ally can’t find?” I hope this doesn’t have any DNFs!

Romance & caching seem to go hand in hand, but apparently not as much as mysteries & ammo cans. Check out these “whodunits”:

Cache a Predator is a geocaching thriller about a father’s love, justice, and the unhinged game of hide-the-cache . — “Cache a Predator is a geocaching thriller about a father’s love, justice, and the unhinged game of hide-the-cache.”

Cache a Predator: A Geocaching Mystery by Michelle Weidenbenner is a Gold Medal Winner in the 2014 Readers’ International Awards and gets high review marks from online book seller sites. “M. Weidenbenner plants the emotion of one vigilante’s mission into the cache boxes of a gripping tale that will leave readers locking their doors…” Plus, someone is planting body parts in geocaching sites. I wouldn’t want to be FTF that geocache!

"While looking for a cache in the mountains he comes across a human skeleton..." — “While looking for a cache in the mountains he comes across a human skeleton…”

The synopsis of Cached Out: A Cliff Knowles Mystery by Russell Atkinson already has me on the edge of my seat. “Newly retired from the FBI and alone after the tragic death of his wife, Cliff Knowles takes up geocaching. While looking for a cache in the mountains he comes across a human skeleton and reports it to the sheriff’s office. Then a second body is found – a fresh corpse this time – right after Cliff found another geocache nearby. When it turns out the first remains are those of a fugitive he was supposed to arrest years earlier, he becomes a suspect in a multiple homicide investigation. He has no choice but to use his sleuthing skills to identify the mysterious cache owner, known only as Enigmal, and free himself from suspicion.”

But what about the kids? Oh the little ones certainly have a lot to choose from, too:

“Congratulations!” the note says. “You’ve found it!”

As a kid I loved the Boxcar Children series and the adventures of Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny Alden. In The Box That Watch Found (The Boxcar Children Mysteries #113) by Gertrude Chandler Warner, their dog Watch discovers a mysterious box that turns out to be, you guessed it, a geocache! But just as the Alden kids start to embrace their new found hobby, they find that several geocaches in the area are disappearing. This book is a great way to introduce kids 7-10 to the world of geocaching or enhance their already established hobby.

"...Using his GPS, he uncovers the geocache-a small metal box-hidden deep in the woods..." — “…Using his GPS, he uncovers the geocache-a small metal box-hidden deep in the woods…”

Young teenagers might actually consider taking a break from texting and putting their smartphones GPS to use after reading Hide & Seek by Katy Grant. This 240 page chapter book follows 14-year-old Chase who, “…finally gets a chance to go on his first solo geocaching adventure. Using his GPS, he uncovers the geocache-a small metal box-hidden deep in the woods in some undergrowth. Inside, with a few plastic army men and a log book, is a troubling message for help in a child’s handwriting.” This one gets high points from both readers and educators in online reviews.

Our Co-Founder Bryan and his family are on the cover of this good read.

Is this a good place to plug The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Geocaching: Third Edition by The Editors and Staff of Geocaching.com? No? Alrighty then, moving on… 😉

A geocaching novel in a geocache! Geogirl by Kelly Rysten can be found on Kindle

Finally, you clever cachers really have thought of everything, haven’t you? Including a book club themed geocache! If you ever find yourself in Ridgecrest, California and need a new read, hop on over to Paperback Book Cache GC1ADKF. The Ridgecrest California Geocachers Club says that this 2d/2t geocache is and easy to find, and bring a book if you want to take a book. One log said, “I took two books, one by Gordon R. Dickson that I haven’t even heard of, and one in the Honor Harrington series by Weber. Left two of Rysten’s books, signed by the author. Enjoy!”

So how about you? Read any good (Geocaching) books lately? Tell us in the comments below!

November 13, 2014 / Derek H /

Maybe it’s over there? — To Too Two Easy (GC1XA6W) — Geocache of the Week

Where oh where could it be? Photo by geocacher 3 Williams Kidz

Geocache Name:

To Too Two Easy (GC1XA6W)

Difficulty/Terrain Rating:

1/1.5

Why this is the Geocache of the Week:

What makes a great geocache? Does it have to have an amazing container? A beautiful location? An epic puzzle? As far as I’m concerned, the best geocaches are the ones that bring a smile to your face. Just like this one. A breath of fresh air for geocachers who might be a tad frustrated with a hard puzzle, this geocache is relatively easy to spot. Although, by looking at the photos, it would seem that some geocachers still tend to have troubles finding it.

What geocachers are saying:

“Funniest one yet!!” — hjay6906

“Yes!! after 3 DNF’s I finally made a score in Silverton. Way cool and tricky too. Hope the photo doesn’t give away too much and spoil the find.” – ADVTraveler

“Okay, this is my kind of cache. Going thru Colorado with far too many DNFs, this one brought a smile to my face. Thanks. SL, left two bits.” – cyclocat

What the Geocache owner, Jake92, has to say:

“Geocaching friends were visiting from Denver and they thought I had to many difficult caches and I should do a real easy one. This one was really too easy, but they liked it and convinced me to submit it for publishing. So far the cache has never been muggled.

I was amazed by the feed back I got from cachers from the U.S. and other countries. The description several of their visits very comical and good sense of humor Some were going to use my idea, which is fine with me. Because of this cache I have met many cachers ,newbies and seasoned.

I would like to thank all who have visited to too two easy for the positive responses , the favorites and hope all that visit this cache will leave with a smile.”

Photos:

Maybe it's up there. Photo by geocacher SprinklesB — Maybe it’s up there. Photo by geocacher SprinklesB

Chick-A-D struggling to find the cache. Maybe one day she'll find it. — Chick-A-D struggling to find the cache. Maybe one day she’ll find it.

Can you spot it? Photo by geocacher Eispiraten DD

What was the last geocache that made you smile? Tell us and post photos 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. If you would like to nominate a Geocache of the Week, just fill out this form. Thanks!

November 12, 2014 / Alex

Find the Right Geocaching Party for You

Word on the street is, Mega-Events are the best thing since sliced bread

These geocaching parties of 500+ people offer more than a meet-and-greet of other geocachers—though that’s bound to happen too. Mega-Events are more like a celebration of all facets of the hobby we love. Often centered around a theme (ahem, *Pirates*), Mega-Events happen all over the world and are a must for every geocacher. Find one near you.

Geowoodstock — Were you there? Can you find yourself? GeoWoodstock XII.

Living in or visiting Germany? You'll never be short on awesome events. — Living in or visiting Germany? You’ll never be short on awesome events.

Not sure if Mega-Events are your thing?

Geocaching HQ’er Chris (Rock Chalk) discusses his experiences at four Mega-Events this past year, and you can be sure that no two Mega-Events are alike.

By Chris Ronan

I’ve had the good fortune (and the necessary vacation time) to attend four Mega-Events in 2014. I’ve found Mega-Events to be much like any geocaching event in that they reflect the personality and geocaching style of the host community. However, they’re larger than typical events, as an event must have 500+ attendees to achieve Mega-Event status.

At this time last year, I had no idea what a Mega-Event was about, or whether I’d enjoy attending. Perhaps my experiences might be useful as you peruse the list of upcoming Mega-Events around the world.

S*W*A*G’s Yuma Mega #11
Held in Yuma, AZ, this was my first Mega-Event. I lived in Kansas at the time, so this was a wonderful mid-winter break from Midwestern winter. It was my first experience with Lab Caches, which took me on a great tour through the area. There’s a great variety of caching around Yuma—from power trails such as the Arizona Star Geo-Art and the S*W*A*G Geo-Art to higher-terrain hiking and climbing caches.

Logbook at the S.W.A.G. Yuma Mega event. — Logbook at the S.W.A.G. Yuma Mega-Event.

MOGA 2014
Unlike the Yuma Mega-Event, MOGA is held in a different place each year. The 2014 version took place in Athens, OH in late March. The perfect time for a road trip from Kansas! MOGA was where I experienced my first and only geocaching competition. The organizers took a different approach to Lab Caches, but they were just as enjoyable as what I’d seen in Yuma. The area offered a wonderful variety of geocaches. MOGA 2015 will be held in Jackson, MO, less than two hours from St. Louis.

A map-style logbook at the MOGA Mega-Event.

Geowoodstock XII
Geowoodstock XII was held just 30 minutes from St. Louis, in the historic river town of St. Charles, MO. The immediate area is more urban than Yuma or Athens, which meant yet another different style of caching. Fittingly, the Lab Caches focused on the area’s amazing history. Speaking of history, GeoWoodstock XIII is to be held in Boonsboro, MD. I could talk for days about all the great caching in that area, but definitely don’t miss the Wherigo at Antietam National Battlefield. It’s one of my favorite caches ever!

If you're lucky, you might see Signal at a Mega event. — If you’re lucky, you might see Signal at a Mega-Event.

3IEE
Shortly after joining the staff of Geocaching HQ, I took a weekend to enjoy my first international Mega-Event in Duncan, British Columbia. 3IEE was a complete departure from my previous three Mega-Events, as it focused on EarthCaches. I’m no geology genius, but I walked away feeling like even I might be able to construct an enjoyable EarthCache, thanks to the many educational opportunities at the event. The Lab Caches introduced me to the beautiful Cowichan Valley. And, of course, I nabbed my first Canada caches, which were very cool!

At the International EarthCache Mega-Event!

I’ve had the chance to meet geocachers from around the world and enjoy very different geocaching experiences in some neat places. In fact, I’ve already booked another vacation to sunny Arizona for S*W*A*G Yuma Mega Event #12 on February 8, 2015. See you there!

November 11, 2014 / Carly /

How to Claim a Geocaching FTF (First to Find)

Ping! That’s the sound of your phone or email notifying you when a new geocache is published nearby. Grab your geo-bag, gps device, and get moving… you want to be the FTF (First To Find).

Discovering new geocaches before anyone else. Image by @gc_steph

Why would I want to be FTF?

Being FTF on a geocache is an exciting experience. You get to discover the newly published geocache prior to everyone else in the community and you get to brag about it 😉 . On many occasions, geocache owners will leave a small gift for the first geocacher to discover their cache. Prizes? Heck yes!

Cash prize! Image by Instagrammer @ruznuz

How do I set up instant notifications to let me know when a new geocache is published (only applicable to Premium Members)?

You can custom build notifications under Premium Member features.

Go to the Add Instant Notification page
Name the notification
Choose a cache type to monitor (e.g. Traditionals, Events, etc.)
Choose the types of logs you want to see (if you are just looking for newly published caches, choose “Publish Listing”)
Set the location (central point) and distance (around that point) you want to watch.
Check the email listed in the “Send to” drop-down menu. (If you would like to send Instant Notifications to an alternate email,you will need to manage your email addresses first.)
Check “Enable Notifications”.
Select “Create Notification” and you are set!

For addition information on Instant and Text Notifications please go here.

How can I add FTF to my statistics?

Geocaching.com does not have a feature that showcases FTFs, as Geocaching HQ does not regulate or manage FTFs. However, many geocachers use outside statistics-generating sites such as GSAK.net or MyGeocachingProfile.com to display their FTFs on their profile pages.

Now go and search, young grasshopper.

How will you celebrate your first FTF? Pancakes?