Trackable Etiquette

Trackables are “game pieces” that add another level of fun to geocaching. Trackable owners generally assign them goals such as to “cross the Atlantic” or “visit 5/5 geocaches.” The geocaching community helps Trackables reach their goals by moving them from cache to cache.
How do you know when you have found a Trackable?

Although Trackables come in many shapes and sizes, each one has a tracking code—a unique series of letters and numbers—stamped on it.  This code allows geocachers to follow the items’ real-world travels online. A Trackable will also contain text indicating that it can be tracked on Geocaching.com or Groundspeak.com. The most common Trackables are Geocoins and Travel Bugs®.

If you find a Trackable in a geocache, you are not required to trade anything for it, but please take it only if you are willing to follow some general Trackable etiquette:

•    Log that you have retrieved the Trackable from the geocache as soon as you can. This way the Trackable owner, cache owner, and anyone who may be searching for the Trackable knows that it is moving.

•    Check the Trackable’s goal by inputting its tracking code here before placing it in another cache. The idea is to place it in a cache that will move it closer to its goal.

•    Drop the Trackable in the next geocache and log that you have done so. If you need to keep the Trackable for more than two weeks, please email the Trackable owner to inform them.

Remember that Trackables are owned by other members of the community who are eager to see where their Trackable moves next. Before you take an item from a geocache, please check to see whether it is a Trackable and, if it is, only take it if you are willing to help it on its journey in a timely manner.

Learn how to log a Geocoin or Travel Bug or buy your own Trackable at Shop Geocaching.

Trackables sind “Spielsteine‘” welche einen zusätzlichen Spaßfaktor zum Geocaching hinzufügen. Die Besitzer von Trackables legen im Allgemeinen Ziele wie “Überquere den Atlantik” oder “Besuche nur 5/5 Geocaches” fest. Die Geocaching–Community hilft dabei diese Ziele zu erreichen, in dem Sie Trackables von Cache zu Cache transportiert.
Woher weißt Du, daß Du einen Trackable gefunden hast?

Obwohl Trackables in vielen Formen und Größen vorkommen, hat jeder einen Tracking–Code — eine eindeutige Folge von Buchstaben und Zahlen — eingestanzt.  Dieser Code ermöglicht Geocachern, die Reisen dieser Gegenstände online zu verfolgen. Auf dem Trackable befindet sich auch ein kleiner Hinweistext, dass er auf Geocaching.com oder Groundspeak.com verfolgt werden kann. Die häufigsten Trackables sind Geocoins und Travel Bugs®.

Wenn Du einen Trackable in einem Geocache findest, ist es nicht notwendig, wenn Du Ihn herausnimmst etwas als Ersatz hineinzulegen. Du solltest jedoch folgende Trackable–Etikette beachten:

•    Wenn Du einen Trackable aus einem Geocache entnimmst, so logge dies bitte so schnell wie möglich. Dadurch weiß der Trackable–Owner, der Cache–Owner und jeder der nach diesem Trackable sucht, dass dieser sich bewegt hat.

•    Überprüfe das Ziel des Trackables wenn du seinen Code hier eingibst, bevor du Ihn in einen anderen Cache ablegst. Die Grundidee ist, dass Du den Trackable in einen Cache legst, welcher Ihn näher an sein Ziel bringt.

•    Lege den Trackable in den nächsten Geocache und logge dies online. Wenn es nötig ist, dass Du einen Trackable länger als zwei Wochen behältst, melde dies bitte dem Trackable–Owner.

Denke daran, Trackables sind Eigentum von anderen Mitgliedern der Geocaching–Gemeinschaft, welche gerne sehen wie sich Ihr Trackable weiter bewegt. Bevor Du einen Trackable aus einem Geocache entnimmst, überprüfe daher bitte, ob Du ihm beim Erfüllen seines Zieles helfen kannst.

Erfahre wie man einen Geocoin oder Travel Bug® loggt oder kaufe Deinen eigenen Trackable im Geocaching–Shop.

ADDITIONAL TRACKABLE STORIES:

Zusätzliche Trackable Geschichten:

Share your Trackable stories for a chance to win Trackables.

Teile jetzt Deine Trackable–Geschichten mit anderen und habe die Chance auf diesem seltenen und begehrten Moun10Bike Trackable.

Shop Now to Find Trackable Week Discounts of 10% or More

Finde jetzt Rabatte von 10% oder mehr während der Trackable-Woche
(Für Trackables von teilnehmenden Anbietern)

Scott Stracener is geocacher Me2Ugly.  You may recognize his name if you’ve ever had a Travel Bug in need of rescue.  He’s currently ranked among the best of the best in Travel Bug rescue. Scott talked to us about how you can request assistance in rescuing your wayward Travel Bug or become a rescuer yourself.

Latitude 47: How did you hear about Travel Bug rescue?

Scott: I found out about TB Rescue through Geocaching.com.  I was just clicking around the site and saw a banner ad.  I clicked on the banner to get more information.  I thought that it was a great idea and a great way to get more involved with geocaching.  I know I would like someone to grab my Travel Bug or coin and move it along.  This gives us a way to help fellow cachers and to connect with others on a more personal note.

Latitude 47: What is your most gratifying recovery?

Scott: Most gratifying rescue, there are two.  Obviously, my first successful rescue.  TB2ECQA ‘Geocoin Club June 2008’.  The coin was dropped on 11/4/2009. The owner requested a rescue on 3/12/2010, 128 days after the drop.  I saw the request on 3/15 and went out the next morning, hiked up Sugarloaf Mountain to retrieve the coin.  I then took it to the ‘Un-Original Stash’ in Oregon, which is where my most memorable TB Rescue took place.

TB346VW ‘KC The Traveling Gorilla’, created by a mother for her son to watch the Travel Bug move from cache to cache.  KC was dropped on 1/31/10 and the mother requested a rescue on 4/21/10.  My investigation of the TB showed that it had only been active for two months and was already stuck.  I was going to be in the neighborhood (Un-Original Stash) so I [thought, “I] will stop by the last known cache for the Travel Bug.”  On 4/25/10, I found the cache and rescued the Travel Bug.  I had already decided that if I found the Travel Bug I would take it to the Project A.P.E. cache Mission 9: Tunnel of Light.  For the next month I kept KC The Traveling Gorilla and took him on a number of cache hunts, a Cache Rescue (which I do when requested through WSGA) and even a TB-Rescue on the Olympic Peninsula that was unsuccessful.  On 5/24/10, I dropped KC The Traveling Gorilla at Mission 9.  Then, when finishing the Geo TRIAD at HQ, I spotted KC there.  That was cool.

Latitude 47: What advice do you have if someone is interested in Travel Bug rescue?

Scott: Know the area where the rescue will take place.  No Travel Bug Rescue is worth risking yourself or property.  Have fun and remember that not all rescues can be successful.  However, when they are, it really feels great.

Latitude 47: Have you ever lost a Travel Bug?

Scott: I have not lost a Travel Bug.  I do not have that many out there.  I do know I will launch one on July 17th near Fort Casey on Whidbey Island, WA.  It will be my grandson’s second birthday.