You Can't Spell Geocaching Without Change Mystery Cache

Before geocaching.com, the original geocaching website was called the GPS Stash Hunt (Geocache) Homepage (www.triax.com/yngwie/gps.html). On a 6/21/2000 archive copy of the webpage is a list of sixteen things you might find in a typical stash. I don't know exactly when Groundspeak made the changes as to what constitutes acceptable geocache swag, but thankfully the list no longer includes cigarettes, cigarette lighters, wine, beer, and tire irons! E = the position of jewelry in the list (a can of beans=1, cigarette lighters=2, etc.).

May 2001 brought new changes with the ability to designate different types of geocaches. Before then, all geocaches were simply labeled "Geocache." The first list of cache types included Traditional, Multi, Virtual, Micro (immediately creating discussion for the need for a cache size option), Letterbox Hybrid, Event, and Other/Surprise (Unknown). While many traditional caches later were changed to virtuals after their containers went missing, the first geocache submitted as a virtual from the start was "hidden" in Central Kenya on 6/15/2000. UV = the two numbers in the GC code. The first event (called a "geo-gathering) was held in Austin, TX in March 2001. According to the cache description, dogs were welcome until a certain time of night. WX = that hour (non-military).

In June 2003, new icons representing the different geocache types were introduced. While most of the responses were positive, a few bloggers suggested that they looked like "chewable vitamins" and questioned why the traditional icon was a "plastic container rather than a rugged ammo box." Prior to 2003, the icons were variations of a blue can with an orange lid (pics are for traditional and virtual icons). Y = the number of cans shown in the first Multi-Cache icon (blue can style).

Sept. 10, 2010 was the date of Groundspeak's global geocaching challenge, representing 10 years of geocaching and 10 years of Groundspeak in 2010. 10/10/10 was also when Groundspeak introduced the first souvenir. Whether it was because of the souvenir or not, a record number of Groundspeak accounts logged a "find" or "attended" on that day. The record is a five-digit number, and F = the third digit in that number.

In an attempt to "capture the interest of virtuals without the baggage," Groundspeak introduced Geocaching Challenges in Aug. 2011. They were not met with much enthusiasm and were retired less than four months later. In the forum post announcing the decision, a sign hanging on a HQ office wall was referenced. Z = the number of words in the phrase on the sign that begin with the letter "M".

For the geocachers who already were not souvenir fans, Groundspeak's announcement that you could earn a unique souvenir for each day in Aug. 2013 was not well received. Some even threatened to not geocache during the month so they wouldn't clutter their profile with unwanted souvenirs. (Groundspeak later added the option to hide specific souvenirs.) However, if success can be measured in numbers, it seems that the "31 Days" was a hit. More than half a million geocachers were active during the month, and the number who found a cache each of the 31 days was ten times greater than those who did so in Aug. 2012. The total number of geocachers who completed the 31 in 31 is a five digit number. C = the number that appears three times in the total.