For quite some time now, woodscout and H2O KLAN have wanted to hide a trail full of unique geocaches that contains 81 caches to fill each space of the Difficulty/Terrain geocache matrix. Last year, after completing the Route 66 Geo-art http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?wp=GC3KD7Q we decided to take a detour and do a little 4X4ing. After taking that detour and exploring the area, we decided this was a great place for our hides. While brainstorming, we decided to expand our idea and hide 3 caches for each space in the geocache matrix. That's a grand total of 243 caches that we have placed for you to find. This is not a series that you will be able to do all in one day. But if you are up for the challenge, be our guest.
You will be able to drive the main road in a vehicle with good ground clearance and get close to most of these caches. You can get even closer to them in a four wheel drive vehicle. Please take the time to replace the cache the same way we hid it so the next geocachers can enjoy their search.
Remember, this is the Mojave Desert and is full of rare and endangered critters and eight-legged creatures. Your walking stick will come in handy when you need to search for a cache under huge rocks or brush, where animals tend to hide to get out of the hot sun. Don't stick your hands anywhere you can't see. There are many protected species in the Mojave desert, including the Desert Tortoise. This is their home! Please take care of it while you are visiting.
Be careful out there, this is the desert! Make sure you have plenty of water and drink it! Be prepared to do quite a bit of hiking. Do not forget if you climb up, you will have to climb back down. Cache in pairs and remember the buddy system. Most important of all, bring and drink plenty of water. Here is a link for other tips for hiking in the desert; http://voices.yahoo.com/ten-safety-tips-hiking-desert-4563261.html
Cache IS at the posted coordinates, however you must meet the requirements before finding and signing the log.
In order to meet the criteria for this Challenge cache, you MUST read the description below for logging requirements.
It is not about WHAT you know or where you have been, but WHO you know and met along the way. This challenge is all about the camaraderie of hunting for a cache with someone else.
Here is your challenge. Find caches with the help of at least 100 other cachers. It may sound overwhelming but it really should not be too hard, it just may take some time. This challenge is designed to foster an atmosphere of friendship between players of the game. Now, some things to keep in mind. You DO NOT need to assemble 100 cachers to all go out and find a cache all at one time, but that would be awesome!! You only need to find caches along your journey in the company of 100 other cachers. However, your list of new/old friends must include at least 100 DIFFERENT caching names.
Examples to get you started:
You head out with your family, all of whom have individual Geocaching accounts. (Your significant other and two kids) You guys find a few caches while on a hike. This counts as THREE other cachers that you have found a cache with.
You go caching with another husband and wife caching team. They cache together under one name called Team Cache Kickers. This counts as ONE other cacher that you have found a cache with.
You meet up with your caching buddy and head out for a bike ride. You find a good number of caches while out and about. This counts as ONE other cacher that you have found a cache with.
You are out caching when someone walks up on you and asks, “You looking for what I am looking for?” Turns out that they are a cacher too who you just happened to meet while on the hunt. You both find the cache, sign the log and part ways. This counts as ONE other cacher that you have found a cache with. (Note: If it was a DNF, it does still count. The point is to meet other cachers and make new friends. However, you both MUST post a DNF on that cache on the same day to prove that you actually met by a mention in your log.)
You are caching ON THE WAY to an event and run into a group of four cachers in the parking lot at a cache. (Not the event cache) This counts as FOUR other cachers that you have found a cache with.
You are at an event and make arrangements to go and find a cache away from the event with 2 other cachers. In the parking lot or not, this counts as Two other cachers that you have found a cache with.
As an introduction, you take someone out to introduce them to Geocaching. By the end of the day they are “hooked” and create an account and log their finds. This counts as ONE other cacher that you have found a cache with.
Other Rules/Requirements:
Just so that this is not a “gimmy” challenge for long time cachers who have a bazillion friends already. Only people that you have cached with on or after 1/1/2013 can be used for this challenge. Now, if you go out with someone that have known and cached with for years after 1/1/2013 and find a new cache together, great! They can be counted towards your friend list for this challenge.
You must find, or attempt to find caches with at least 100 DIFFERENT cachers. They do not need to be all at the same time.
Your list of friends must be comprised of real cachers with real Geocaching accounts. No sock puppet account can be used. Caching with “muggles” does not count, unless you convert them to geocachers.
In your logs for a cache, found or DNF, you must mention who you searched with or met at the cache site.
Event, CITO, Mega Event or other gatherings for events do not count. Only, in the field, available to everyone, at any time, type caches count.
You must have been with that other person in the filed and signed the log together. No armchair finds count for this one.
Note on Puzzles: One of you solved the puzzle, great. You must both go out together and find the cache at the same time.
Logging Requirements:
In your “found it” log for this challenge you must list you new friends in any way you see fit. Best to include dates when you cached with each person and maybe a cache name found together.
Your list of cachers must consist of 100 DIFFERENT caching names. You may have cached with couples or even families that all cache under one account. In these instances, they count as ONE cacher name in your list. Example: The king and queen, Gary & Vicky = ONE cacher name.
You MUST do more than log “TFTC” with your list of names. Some sort of recount of how meeting one or more of your friends made the experience better. (Even if you have to post an additional note due to running out of room in your found it log.)
There must be included with your log at least one picture of you with one or more of your friends out caching together.
You can sign the log at any time but can not claim your completion until the above requirements have been met.