Tag: Extreme Geocaching

/ Eric Schudiske /

24 Hour “Epic Adventure” Nets More Than a 1100 Geocaches

foomanjoo, f0t0m0m and Steve from Ventura_Kids along the Alien Highway

 

What about 2010 will you remember in the next decade, or even next year?  The answer to that question is easy enough for a group of close friends and geocachers from the West Coast.  F0t0m0m, Foomanjoo and Ventura_Kids found 1157 geocaches in Nevada in a span of just 24 hours. This is the highest number of geocaches to be found in a 24-hour period.

Screen-shot from the E.T. highway

The four geocachers (Ventura_Kids is a team of two) spent 24 straight hours geocaching on September 27, 2010. They all piled into one vehicle to track down geocache after geocache on a power trail known as the Alien Highway. In an interview with “Latitude 47,” Steve from the Ventura_Kids said the memory of those fast-paced hours will last for years. But the world record of 1157 geocaches in  24 hours that they set may not last that long.

Latitude 47: I think a lot of people will simply say “Why?” Why attempt the world record?

Ventura_Kids: Because it’s FUN!!! When we heard about the Alien Highway, we were thrilled. There were 1021 geocaches all in a row and each were just over 528 feet apart. We decided it would be an “EPIC” adventure and we would remember it for years.

Latitude 47: What was your total? You held the previous world record. How much did you break your previous record by this time?

Ventura_Kids: We found 1157 geocaches in 24 hours. Our previous record was 566 finds….but Sandy broke her leg on that run.

Latitude 47: Did you use all 24 hours?

Ventura_Kids: Sandy and Steve

Ventura_Kids: Yes. We found 1,108 caches in 18 hours along the main Extraterrestrial Highway segment. We also found 20 caches in the first two hours on the way to the E.T. Highway, and 29 caches in the 4 hours following the main run, until the clock expired. We geocached on the Alien Highway in Nevada, from Alamo to Tonopah. We only stopped to add gasoline to our fuel tank, using the 5 gallon cans we brought with us (“wasting” about 40 minutes).

Latitude 47: What’s your advice for those considering a record run like this?

Ventura_Kids: Choose your team carefully, and remember to enjoy yourselves out there. Be safe.

Latitude 47: What do you say to those who say, “It’s not about the numbers?”

Ventura_Kids: It’s ALL about the numbers. Everyone follows them differently. As an example; I still haven’t completed even one Delorme challenge, and we have over 24,000 finds. Geocaching has something for everyone. Play it your way, and enjoy the journey.

Latitude 47: If your record is broken would you attempt to regain the record?

Ventura_Kids: Certainly. We love this type of geocaching.

What geocaching memories are you going to remember next year and in ten years?

/ Eric Schudiske /

“Desert Geocaching” A Geocaching.com Lost & Found Video

One-third of all land on the planet is considered desert. The parched earth is not off-limits to the ingenuity of geocachers.  Watch the Geocaching.com Lost & Found video “Desert Geocaching.” See your fellow geocachers use the sand and shrubs as a sprawling canvas to create and enjoy the GPS-enabled treasure hunt.

Desert geocaching in California

Geocachers say the wide expanses offer those hiding geocaches nearly unlimited creativity and those finding geocaches unlimited fun.

You can explore more videos on the adventure of geocaching.  Check out  the Geocaching.com Lost & Found video gallery.  Explore 4×4 geocaching, watch a Travel Bug go around the world and visit the highest and lowest geocaches in existence.

/ Eric Schudiske /

“Cavers Plunge (an extreme cache)” (GCRVXB) GEOCACHE OF THE WEEK November 8, 2010

Decent into "Cavers Plunge (an extreme cache)"

There are just five words in the name of this geocache. It’s the fourth word you should pay attention to most. It’s the word “extreme.” The geocache is rated a terrain five, for a heart-pounding, jaw-dropping reason.

“Cavers Plunge (an extreme cache)” (GCRVXB) challenges experienced and prepared vertical cavers to geocache in the deep recesses of a nearly forgotten Kentucky cave.

Cache owner Moonsovrbend warns this cache is only for the most competent vertical cavers, accomplished at repelling and then ascending  a free-hanging rope.

The cache was published in January of 2006. More then twenty extreme geocachers logged a smiley on the cache and enjoyed the thrill of underground exploration. One geocacher described the cache as “a beautiful experience.” This cache, and many of the most extreme caches, require extensive planning and organization. Cache owners, like Moonsovrbend, are often more than happy to assist in preparation for the cache.

At the bottom of "Cavers Plunge (an extreme geocache)"

Geocaches range from easy to extreme. The rating system for “difficulty” and “terrain” ranges from one star (most accessible) through five stars (most difficult). Be aware of the terrain and difficulty ratings before you attempt a geocache.

Continue your exploration with some of the most engaging geocaches from around the world. Explore all the Geocaches of the Week on our blog or view the Bookmark List on Geocaching.com.

/ Eric Schudiske /

“Na’ili’ili-haele WaterFalls Cache” GCHREH GEOCACHE OF THE WEEK – October 18, 2010

Bamboo forest - GCHREH

Geocachers trek through a Hawaiian paradise of bamboo forests and waterfalls to discover “Na’ili’ili-haele WaterFalls Cache” (GCHREH).  But paradise can be deceiving.  The cache is rated as the most arduous terrain and difficulty a geocacher can endure.  It’s a five terrain and five difficulty.

You’ll encounter a lush bamboo forest and four waterfalls.  The journey takes a twist when geocaches must swim a hundred feet across a mountain stream to continue their adventure.  The swim though is just the beginning.  Geocaches must also scale a rock wall using a wooden ladder.

Nearly a hundred geocachers have already logged a smiley on the cache. The traditional cache was placed back in 2005.  Dozens of posts have already thanked those who paced the cache and the geocacher who adopted the cache.  They read, “Wow – so this was pretty epic!”  and “Our first 5, 5 and man is it deserving of it. This is the type of adventure I have always dreamed of as a kid.”


One of four waterfalls - GCHREH

Continue your exploration with some of the most engaging geocaches from around the world.  Explore all the Geocaches of the Week on our blog or view the Bookmark List on Geocaching.com.

/ Eric Schudiske

“Scuba Geocaching” A Geocaching.com Lost & Found Video

Experience geocaching in one of its most extreme forms, scuba caching. Follow geocachers bblhed and MessSGT. The geocachers are certified as scuba divers. They suit in scuba gear to search for a geocache at the site of a sunken boat.   Scuba gear is one of nearly ten equipment attributes that help you understand and prepare for each geocache.


Earning a "smilie" on a scuba cache

Scuba caches typically receive the highest difficulty and terrain rating.  The five rating is due to the specialized equipment required for the geocache and the unforgiving environment in which the geocaches are placed.

Explore even more geocaching adventures in the Geocaching.com Lost & Found video gallery.  You can go along on a kayak geocache, see the geocache on the International Space Station and find out why a U.S. Army bomb disposal technician says geocaching kept him safe in Iraq.