The Fizzy Grid, Jasmer, and 365-Day Challenge. No, these aren’t a bubbly drink, a southern gentleman, and the answer to a 1st-grade math problem. They’re statistic goals for the seasoned geocacher! But what exactly are they? Read more to find out.
Tag: Extreme Geocaching
Discover EarthCaching and 11 Stunning Locations
There’s something truly spectacular about our planet earth. This month, the 7 Souvenirs of August (and the Nature Lover Souvenir) encourages you to get in touch with the extraordinary world around you through EarthCaching.
EarthCaching is the magical combination of geocaching and geological discovery. The purpose of an EarthCache is to share information about a particular (and typically jaw-dropping) geological feature. EarthCaches do not contain physical containers like most geocaches. They do, however, carry a piece of geological history that can date back millions and millions of years.
A little bit about this geocache type…
- There are over 17,000 EarthCaches worldwide.
- EarthCaches are the most popular geocache type. They are found more often and receive more favorite points than the average geocache.
- EarthCaching is currently celebrating its 10th Anniversary. The first EarthCache was published in Australia on January 10th, 2004.
- In partnership with Geocaching HQ, The Geological Society of America facilitates the listing of EarthCache locations around the world and offers a ‘Masters Program’ where you can receive a title (and pin) based on your level of EarthCache expertise.
Now go out into the world and learn something new…
- Using “Advanced Search” on geocaching.com, you can customize your geocache search. Under the “Search for” option, select “EarthCache”. Type in your postal code or home coordinates and voilà, nearby EarthCaches!
- Bring a camera (most EarthCaches encourage selfies).
- Be prepared to investigate. You will have to search out the answers for the educational portion of the geocache.
For inspiration, here are 11 stunning EarthCaches around the world:
1. GC111XM in Pumakkale, Turkey
2. GC20010 at Lake Baikal, Russia
3. GC14W63 in Namib Desert, Namibia
4. GC25643 at the Blue Lagoon, Iceland
5. GC11A56 at Jellyfish Lake, Ongeim’l Tketau, in Palau
6. GC2PFGZ at Iguazu Falls, Argentina
7. GC4CNMG in Western Australia
8. GC13D90 near Monsanto, Portugal
9. GCPCPX in Northern Ireland
10. GC23HNZ near Darvaza, Turkmenistan
11. GC1JY47 at Grand Prismatic Hot Spring, Wyoming
These EarthCaches are on our bucket list. What EarthCaches are on yours?
7 Tips for Achieving All 7 Souvenirs of August
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This August, your mission is to explore more of the geocaching universe and, ultimately, to become one of the super-cachers who earn the highly coveted Achiever souvenir. To unlock this special geocaching achievement, you’ll need to find 6 specific geocache types in the month of August.
Here are 7 tips to help you achieve, well, Achiever status:
1. Be Prepared
This motto is not just for the Boy Scouts. Finding 6 different geocache types requires planning ahead, especially if you live in Traditional-heavy area. Check to see what souvenirs might require leaving your neighborhood, and see if you can tie them into a weekend road trip or business travel. And, of course, always carry your tools of the trade (TOTT) in case opportunity strikes. (Never, never get caught without a pen!)
2. Start Early
With only 6 geocache finds needed to earn the Achiever souvenir, it can be tempting to put them off until the last weekend. Warning: This is not college. Cramming is no longer a safe bet. Start knocking off the souvenirs early in the month to allow room for error.
3. Partner with Friends
Feeling intimidated by finding a new geocache type? That’s what friends are for! As we learned with the Geocaching Personality Quiz, it takes all kinds to make up the geocaching community. Find someone who has a different personality type than you so that you can each specialize in finding specific geocache types. Friends can even help you sprinkle extra awesome on the 7 Souvenirs of August.
4. Throw a Party
To earn the Socializer souvenir, you need to log an Attended at an Event Cache, Mega-Event, or Giga-Event. Sign up for the Weekly Newsletter to learn about upcoming events in your area, or host one yourself! Remember, hosts can log an Attended for their own Event Caches.
5. Host a CITO
Don’t have an Earth Cache near you? No problem! Every neighborhood could use a CITO event. You’ll earn the Nature Lover souvenir and Mother Earth will thank you.
6. Double Check Your Neighborhood
We’ve all done it. You’ve cleared out all the Traditional geocaches in your area, and you feel like there’s nothing left to find. (Okay, you Puzzlers and Collectors. Some of us have done this. Okay, fine. I can only say with certainty that I’ve done this. Happy?) This is your chance to take off your Traditional geocache blinders and see the Multi-Caches, Mystery Caches, and Letterbox Hybrids for what they are: geocaches waiting for your autograph.
7. Put it in Perspective
Yes, earning the Achiever souvenir can be daunting. But let’s put the challenge in perspective: Traditionals are easy to come by, you can attend or host an event, and if there’s not an Earth Cache in your area, you can host a CITO event. Knock those three out and you’re already halfway there! That just leaves three more geocaches to find: one Mystery Cache, one Multi-Cache, and either a Virtual, Whereigo, Letterbox Hybrid, or WebCam Cache. Take a deep breath… and go get ‘em. (But wait for August 1st of course.)
Tell Us Your Tips
Are you an expert in finding a specific type of geocache? If so, leave your tips for finding that geocache type in the comments below. This is going to take teamwork, friends!
37 Ways to Spice Up Your Geocaching
What inspires you to geocache? For some, it’s the pure hunt that ignites the excitement. For others, it’s the adventurous and often unusual things one partakes in along the way. Here are 37 amazing ways to spice up your geocaching.
1. Hike to a viewpoint that you never knew existed
2.Take care of our planet
Good planets are hard to find. While you’re out on a geocache hunt, make sure to CITO (cache in trash out).
3. Equicache (horseback geocaching)
Jump on up and gallop away. Explore the geocaching wilderness with the help of a furry friend.
4. Make new friends
There are thousands of worldwide geocaching events each year. Join in the fun and meet fellow geocachers. Check out a geocaching event near you.
5. Deep sea dive (divecaching)
Take a deep breath and venture down into deep blue waters to uncover some of the most mysterious geocaches in the world. “Clearwater Paradise – SCUBA” (GC1T16F) by BlazerDiver has yet to be found since it was hidden in 2009. FTF anyone?
6. Complete a geocaching quest
We all have different bucket list items to check off. There’s no better feeling in the world than when you do (and drink an ice cold mini-beer to celebrate).
7. Release your inner artist
“If you hear a voice within you say ‘you cannot paint,’ then by all means paint, and that voice will be silenced,” Vincent Van Gogh.
8. Encounter a celebrity
Hugh Jackman (aka Wolverine) geocaches. ‘Nuff said.
9. Explore by water (kayaking, canoeing, cruise ships)
Some geocaches are only accessible by water. And they are awesome.
10. Propose to that special someone
See how a FTF hunt can turn into a marriage proposal.
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11. Help a newbie find their first smiley
12. Take a leap of faith (literally)
13. Stumble upon something totally random
14. Spot an exotic animal
Ever so often, you’ll come across a rare breed…
But, more commonly you’ll come across…
15. Climb Mount Everest
Many geocachers are unaware that climbing Everest results in (obvious) bragging rights as well as an awesome geocache find.
16. Reach a fitness goal
A recent study by the Texas A&M Health Science Center shows that geocaching is a great way stay healthy and burn some extra calories. So get off the couch and start hunting!
17. Travel to a new and exotic place
Get ready to pack your bags. With over 2 million geocaches worldwide, the game can take you anywhere. Oh, the places you’ll go.
18. Venture out at night
19. Photograph your journey and share it with others
20. Go to the end of the world
21. Become a historian
Geocaching is a great way to learn about the history of a location. The Star-Spangled Banner GeoTour takes geocachers to the locations of significant historic events during the War of 1812.
22. Solve a puzzle
Release your inner geek and solve a puzzle geocache.
23. Climb (anything and everything)
24. Taste the local cuisine
Mmm! There’s nothing better than a scrumptious meal after a day of geocaching. Bloggers and geoachers “Peanuts or Pretzels” stumbled upon a delicious Venezualan restaurant while exploring the city of Playa Del Carmen, Mexico.
25. Film your adventure
Just like the Geocaching Vlogger, you too can capture your favorite geocaching moments and share them with the world.
26. Blast off to space
If you ever get the chance to discover the International Space Station (GC1BE91) geocache, do it.
27. Master a new language
28. Create a new identity (in the geocaching world)
29. Step outside your comfort zone
Do something you never thought you could. Like 116 geoaches an hour at the ET Highway.
30. Trek through snow
Lace up those boots and get ready for snow and ice. Some of the best geocaching memories can be made in the coldest of months.
31. Build something
In geocaching, there’s the hunt and there’s the hide. Hone your carpentry skills and create a masterpiece that others would want to find.
32. See the place where it all began (original stash)
The only thing missing from the picture below is you and the original can of beans.
33. Visit the Geocaching Headquarters in Seattle
And join us for the Geocaching Block Party. We’d love to meet you!
34. Complete a challenge (7 souvenirs of August)
You can do it!
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35. Venture out on two wheels
36. Soak in the beauty of the world around you
37. Last but not least, remember where you parked your geo-car (you have to return to reality eventually)
