Tag: GOTW

/ Ellis /

Made in Canada, eh!— Geocache of the Week

Traditional
GC2Y8Q8
by Coombs Wooden Shoe
Difficulty:
1
Terrain:
1
Location:
British Columbia, Canada
N 49° 18.358 W 124° 21.329

This week’s Geocache of the Week is THE most popular cache in Canada, worthy of its 503 favorite points. Made in Canada, eh! Is also Canada’s largest Ammo Can. At 122cm x 91cm x 49cm (4ft x 3ft x 1.6 ft), this metal ammo can and its giant pencil and logbook are hard to miss. It’s so big and so loved it even made the front page of the local paper.

c4a583ca-65d4-4727-be40-95cc3a2eb962

And oh, did we mention that this geocache even offers free WiFi? No joke. Check out the cache listing page. You may even get the chance to meet the Cache Owners at the nearby Dutch Import Store with the giant wooden shoe out front.

945049ed-97eb-421c-9e18-54807f5bc6a4

For all of these reasons, GC2Y8Q8 is a great example of a cache to introduce your friends and family to how fun  geocaching can be.

b5fcc8b1-9c16-4460-b866-c70c3dc3209a

One of the coolest things about the cache is that it was constructed at the local Kwalikum Secondary School by the shop boys and their teacher. It’s pretty impressive how these middle school students were able to replicate the classic ammo can in a giant form.

aa71c3c9-f234-4578-98a1-72c5fb3615cf

There is lots of enthusiasm on the cache page that will get you pumped to find Made in Canada, eh!

BearClaw1

“Discovered this one almost completely by accident. And what a nice surprise!!! I was by too early in the morning when I first attempted it, but knew that I had to come back after reading the webpage to get a look at this one. Glad that I did. A favorite for sure and as always, TFTC.”

xDraconianx

“This cache was our first order of the day, how can we make a trip to the island and not find this one?! Easily found and we enjoyed sifting through the contents of the cache, also loved the logbook and giant pencil. Met the owner (and contributed to the local economy); we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. Tftc!”

Fleuve

“I had heard so much about this cache, and decided it was time to “discover” and log it today, as I was in the area. What a wonderfully well-crafted creation it is! Loved all the details, inside and out. Went inside and had a nice chat afterwards – it was great meeting you! Many thanks for this memorable cache.”

0e548342-b8f6-445b-8d51-9f380b9aa620

To search for other beginner caches great for newbie geocachers, check out our search tool and make sure to set the difficulty and terrain ratings to 1.5 or lower.

Happy caching!

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.

A GPS and the EarthCache, Petra Al Khazneh
/ Janelle

Petra Al Khazneh (GC1V4ZY) — Geocache of the Week

EarthCache
GC1V4ZY
by TeamNulti2003
Difficulty:
1.5
Terrain:
2
Location:
Jordan
N 30° 19.350 E 035° 27.100

Petra, O Leeds, is the most wonderful place in the world, not for the sake of its ruins, which are quite a secondary affair, but for the colour of its rocks, all red and black and gray with streaks of green and blue, in little wriggly lines…and for the shape of its cliffs and crags and pinnacles, and for the wonderful gorge it has, always running deep in spring-water, full of oleanders, and ivy and ferns, and only just wide enough for a camel at a time, and a couple of miles long. But I have read hosts of the most beautifully written accounts of it, and they give one no idea of it at all…so you will never know what Petra is like, unless you come out here… Only be assured that till you have seen it you have not had the glimmering of an idea how beautiful a place can be.

T.E. Lawrence (Lawrence of Arabia)

Channel your inner Lawrence of Arabia and visit Jordan’s first EarthCache in the ancient city of Petra. Petra was named one of the New7Wonders of the World in 2007, and was chosen by Smithsonian Magazine as one of the 28 Places to See Before You Die.

 

Petra was once a thriving trading center from 400 B.C. to A.D. 100. But in the 1800s a traveler disguised in Bedouin attire rediscovered it and shared this hidden treasure with the world.

Several scenes from the Hollywood blockbuster Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade were filmed in Petra. The movie’s fictional Canyon of the Crescent Moon was modeled on the eastern entrance to Petra, a 250-foot-high (76-meter-high) sandstone slot canyon known as the Siq that leads directly to Al Khazneh (the Treasury)—perhaps the most stunning of Petra’s dozens of breathtaking features.

Some logs from this amazing EarthCache say everything:

DerBär
The ancient city of Petra is definitely one of most impressive places we have ever seen. Of course we knew about the treasury beforehand but we didn’t expect that there was so much else to see. The awesome Siq, the colours of the rocks and all these huge buildings carved out of the sandstone – we often didn’t know where to look first. In the afternoon we walked up to the Monastery which was a fantastic hike with great views as well.

SpeedyGC
It is absolutely true. Nothing quite prepares you for Petra!
The sense of anticipation as you walk up the Siq to the Treasury builds and builds and it does not fail to disappoint. Simply breathtaking.
Have sore legs and feet from an exhausting day but it has been well worth it and looking forward to some more exploring around the site tomorrow.

Old Bet
No pictures I had seen nor words I had read were adequate preparation for Petra. What an incredibly special place.

Check out these amazing photos taken by geocachers and see for yourself!

Don’t forget that this Sunday, October 9th is International EarthCache Day. We’ll be unlocking EarthCaches in the Geocaching® app for members of all levels to enjoy. Will you be finding an EarthCache this weekend?

Continue reading →

/ Alex /

Intersect 2.0 — Geocache of the Week

Multi-Cache
GC548HP
by family Behrens
Difficulty:
2.5
Terrain:
1.5
Location:
Western Cape, South Africa
S 34° 11.630 E 018° 26.196
the perfect cache?

A multi-cache that leads you to a semi-secret spot in an old library rife with history, at which the first stage is an adorably disguised puzzle and the final is a hand-crafted tech-themed gadget cache with storage for as many trackable as one could ever need and a low chance of being muggled. Sound unreal?

It’s very real. In fact, it’s Geocache of the Week!

Near to Stage 1
Near stage 1 of Intersect 2.0

Located inside a library in a city outside of Cape Town, South Africa, “Intersect 2.0” is the epitome of a fun gadget multi-cache. The geocache was crafted by family Behrens and blends history with technology. Just as the Cache Owner was inspired to design this cache by another he’d previously found, finders of GC548HP are likely to come away with the itch to build their own super-cool gadget cache.

Stage 1

Visitors to the brick-walled reading garden of the Simon’s Town Library will find a quiet and picturesque place to read in solitude—or so they think.

Tucked discretely in a corner of the garden is a gnome pulling a cart full of pebbles…also known as stage one. The geocacher who spots the gnome will discover within a few seconds that his cart bears a load much more exciting than stones.

Stage 1 - Gnome
A gnome wearily bears the burden of stage 1

Contained within the cart are all the tools the geocacher will need to discover the code for stage two of the cache…but it won’t be easy. Inside the lock-n-lock is a block containing a series of wires. Touching the correct two wires together turns on a light on the block, indicating the correct code for stage two. Geocachers beware! Touching the wrong two wires together more than six times will lead to significant frustration.

The contents of Gnome's cart.
The contents of the gnome’s cart
Stage 2 (Final)

The final is inside of the Simon’s Town Library with permission from the library. The top drawer of the cupboard (which, by the way, was built by the cache owner by hand) can be unlocked using the code from Stage 1.

Inside is a working laptop with a set of detailed instructions explaining what the geocacher needs to do in order to unlock the code for the next drawer.

PicMonkey Collage
The final puzzle of Intersect 2.0

Finally, the second drawer can be opened and its contents revealed. In addition to a shelf dedicated to swag and special hangers for trackables, there’s a second laptop. But, mysteriously, no logbook yet. The cacher will need to do a bit of exploring to find the logbook itself.

The final - completely open!
The final – completely open

As far as maintaining this cache goes, the Cache Owner says that’s the easy part: “The only maintenance I have done is to replace the batteries in the cache. […] The fact that the cache is placed in a secure location and well locked up helps. I think as far as maintenance goes this one has been my easiest cache to maintain.”

At 43 favorite points, this cache has a 100% favorite point ratio—in other words, every Premium member who has visited this cache has awarded it a favorite point!

Words from the Cache Owner:

I would like to say a big thank you to the geocaching community for making our life full of smiles. Since we started geocaching life has become fun and as a family we love caching and getting out there finding caches and new experiences, that without geocaching we would not have done.

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.

/ Ellis

L’aiguille du midi—Geocache of the Week

Traditional
GC1Y014
by Vilcanota
Difficulty:
2
Terrain:
2
Location:
Rhône-Alpes, France
N 45° 52.759 E 006° 53.212

Afraid of heights? Then this week’s Geocache of the Week might give you the chills!

To find L’aiguille du midi, you must first visit Chamonix, an adventurer seeker’s heaven! Steep peaks and endless views in the heart of The Alps draw visitors from all over the world to experience this awe-inspiring town and scenery.

At 3,842m (12,605 ft), the Aiguille du Midi and it’s laid-out terraces offer a 360° view of all the French, Swiss, and Italian Alps. A 20-minute ride in the Aiguille du Midi cable car will deliver you to the summit terrace where you will have a clear view of Mont Blanc.

Once you take the cable car to the top, take your time looking for the geocache and be discreet as there may be lots of visitors around. Once you sign the log, take in the panoramic views and walk through an impressive ice cave. You can also walk onto a glass skywalk called “Step into the Void” with a view 1035 meters (3,396 ft) straight down. Yikes! Due to the exposed nature of L’aiguille du midi, make sure to bring some warm clothing since it can be -10°C (14°F) in the middle of summer.

For those who are feeling even more adventurous, there is an option to strap on crampons (those spiky things you attach to your boot to ascend ice)  and climb to the top of Mt. Blanc. In the snowier months, some people also ski down the steep slopes of the Aiguille du Midi. Mountaineers and skiers are able to pass through a tunnel to reach the steep and extremely exposed ice ridge that descends to the glacier below. This activity is only recommended for very experienced climbers and skiers.

Although the scenery may mislead you to think that the cache is a T5, the platforms in place allow for a rating of T2. Thanks to cache owner, Vilcanota, for creating such a fun and thrill-inspiring geocache!

 

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.

/ Andrew Baldwin

Schlossberg: His(_s)tory! GC1VCKY—Geocache of the Week

Multi-Cache
GC1VCKY
by Team Knofl
Difficulty:
2
Terrain:
2
Location:
Steiermark, Austria
N 47° 04.637′ E 015° 26.227

Graz img2

This 7 stage Multi-Cache in Graz, Austria will give you a historical tour of the prominent hillside of Schlossberg. Along the way you’ll find cafes, restaurants, music venues, and other amenities. This tour will show you a side of the mountain, and will educate you on its history along the way.

It is easy to see why the natural aesthetics and historical and artistic value of Austria would captivate people all over the world to travel to this regal region.  Austria’s second largest city, Graz is located in the province of Styria. Graz offers a strong variety of culture, activities, and places to explore!

kid garz

Located at the center of the city is a prominent mountain by the name of Schlossberg. Coupled by the panoramic view, the famous Uhrturm (which translates to clock tower in German) sits atop Schlossberg and is one of the main sightseeing stops in the city. You may feel beguiled by the foothills off in the distance, the Mur river flowing not too far away below, and the classic red clay rooftops. This cache will take you to several historical monuments along a pathway, with breathtaking views.

Hauptplatz

The cache page tells the legendary story of 900 Graz soldiers defending Schlossberg after the Treaty of Vienna. In 1809, Napoleonic forces attacked the city with 3,000 men, and mostly destroyed the fortress atop the city’s modest mountain. The first stage of this Multi-Cache is in honor of the Major that led the defense, Franz Hackher. There were no known images of him, so the Hackher Lion was constructed in place of a human statue.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

But did you know lions like beer? The Hackher Lion not only likes beer, but has a favorite beer in which he has been sitting on for over 40 years! Now Franz Hackher’s spirit defends his beer. To move on to the next stage the geocacher will need to find out what kind of beer he is protecting.

From here the Multi-Cache brings you to a mid 16th century cistern (a fancy water well),an octagonal bell tower holding “Liesl” the big bell inside, an old canon cottage with more auspicious views out the windows (pictured below), the bishop’s chair, and a turkish well.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Lastly, the seventh and final stage brings you to the symbol of Graz, the clock tower. The coordinates will bring you the gardens below, clad with colorful flowers and shrubbery. It is a tranquil area where students from the universities might study, or meet a friend.

graz garden

 

Built in the 13th century, the Uhrturm was designed to be seen from any point in the city. The clock hands were originally designed in the opposite way to what you normally see, in that the hour hand is larger than the minute hand. It was more important to them to see what the hour was from far distances. The people of Graz were forced to pay a ransom to keep the clock as part of the Treaty of Vienna.

Clock face

Not only is Schlossberg rich in history, but its vibrance is felt throughout the city. Each stop of this cache brings you back in history, and authentically tells a story that may not have otherwise been told to anyone just visiting the city. It is easy to see why the cache owner Team Knofl, would take the time to place a historical Multi-Cache here, TFTC!