Geocaching 101: TB Traditional Cache

TB = Travel Bug

A Travel Bug is something that is commonly found inside containers and is considered a type of SWAG, however travel bugs are special. Travel Bugs are not meant to be kept, but instead actually have a mission are meant to travel around to complete that mission. On each TB is a code that both allows people to track the Bug from cache to cache; when you enter the code in the geocaching app or geocaching.com you will have the opportunity to see what it’s mission is along with discovering it or picking it up depending on what you actually do with the TB. If you pick up a TB and plan on removing it from one cache to another cache you need to enter the code & pick up the travel bug and then when you place it in the next cache you log that you dropped it off in that cache while logging the find. 

You can find out more information here: https://www.geocaching.com/track/default.aspx

Geocaching 101:

Welcome to Geocaching 101 & Welcome to Geocaching in general. This series is designed to help new geocachers get more into caching and teach them all about this amazing game! Each cache begins with the basic explanation about Geocaching and then features an individual description about each specific Geocache. What is Geocaching: - I always describe geocaching as a high tech treasure hunt which uses GPS technology where people hide various containers all around the world and track the coordinates of each container and share those coordinates for other people to find those containers, or what we refer to them as “geocaches” or “caches” for short. There are currently over 3 MILLION active geocaches hidden around the globe, each in a different location, some even with multiple stages & containers, but we will get into that later.

How do I found a Geocache?

• To find a geocache download the geocaching app onto your phone and begin searching for geocaches nearby. If you’re in the Saginaw, Michigan Area then I highly recommend beginning with this series. It is designed to help you learn all about the geocaching basics and teach you tips and tricks to make you a better geocacher and help making finds a lot easier on yourself. Once you have the app open, or the geocaching website, click on some of the geocaches around on the map and view their descriptions and ratings until you find one that sounds intriguing to you and then begin your search. If you need further explanation or help, please feel free to reach out & send GeoJosh13 (the Cache Owner (CO)) a message.
• You can also find a geocache using a GPS unit, typically handheld units work the best and offer the most accurate readings. In order to use a handheld GPS you have to hook up your GPS to your computer and download caches onto the GPS from the “Download GPX” button located just below the coordinates on the website.

Finding the right Geocache:

• If you’re just getting into Geocaching, I would recommend checking your local parks for a simpler find. Now I know you might be wondering how you know if a Geocache is a simpler hide or a more complicated hide, and hopefully explanation with help. So each hide is based on a Difficulty and Terrain (D/T for short) rating along with a size rating. The difficulty rating is based on how clever or difficult the hide itself actually is, or in the case of Puzzle Caches it can be a combination of how difficult the puzzle is and how difficult the hide is. The Terrain Rating is based on where the cache is hidden in regards to the physical location, whether that be in a thick wooded area, just off a nice trail, up on a hill or even up a tree or on a lake; there are tons of various terrains that geocaches can be hidden in, each making the rating different. The D/T Rating Scale is based on a 1-5 scale with 0.5 increments, the most common rating is a 1.5/1.5, which is often just off a trail or path, but not necessarily handicap accessible (1 terrain rating), however there are tons of handicap accessible caches hidden as well. The most difficult D/T rating is a 5/5, but all the geocaches in this series will remain within basic geocaching abilities.

What kind of containers are there & is there a way to tell what you’re looking for at each location?

• Geocaching containers come in all types of shapes and sizes, but each size is rated on the cache page. There are five different size ratings including, micro, small, regular, large and other.
  • Micro sized containers are the smallest size and can only really fit a logbook inside; the most common micro sized containers include camo’d pill bottles, and what are known as nano’s and bison tubes. I have also included images of what a nano and a bison tube container look like.
  • Small sized containers are most commonly a camo’d small peanut butter jar or a piece of Tupperware.
  • Regular sized containers are typically anywhere from larger peanut butter jars, larger pieces of Tupperware or ammo cans.
  • Large sized containers are probably the rarest type of container and are anything larger than an ammo can.
  • Other sized containers are more commonly actually micro sized container or caches known as Gadget Caches and are often a special hide like a fake rock or a hollowed out log.

Finding the cache:

• Once you narrow down & choose which cache to begin with head to that location and begin your search. Pay attention to the D/T and size ratings to help narrow down what to look for and where to look for it. Once you get within 30 feet of the geocache you have reached what is known as GZ, or Ground Zero. When you reach GZ please put your phone down and begin looking for possible locations where a geocache would be hidden. Now if you’re new to Geocaching you may not know exactly what to look for so here are some tips and tricks:
  • Most Phone GPS units narrow things down within 30 feet so it’s best to rely on your instincts and eyes when you reach GZ.
  • Look for places that can hold a container at the specified size according to the cache page
    • If you’re looking for a small, look for nooks in trees, holes in trees, Unusual Piles of Sticks (UPS) or perhaps a container hanging from a tree branch.
    • Obviously a micro can have a lot more places to be hidden, however most actually have a pattern to their hide. If we are exclusively speaking about micros hidden within wooded areas, like a park, and they have a low difficulty rating, then it’s most likely hanging on a tree branch or in a small hole/tree knot.
  • GEOCACHES CANNOT AND WILL NOT EVER BE BURIED. Finding a cache can be hard enough with so many places to look sometimes, burying them is beyond difficult, unless the container has been covered by snow during the winter.
  • Each Geocache has a hint page where cache owners can choose to give a hint, like a hint on the location of the hide or stating what the cache container specifically is.
  • If you’re still struggling finding the geocache check recent logs to make sure it’s been find and see if they mention any subtle hints or any notes of issues with the cache. Don’t ever be afraid to message the Cache Owner (CO) and ask for a hint or tip about finding the geocache.

What happens when you find the Geocache?

• You’ve finally found the hidden container, but what now? Now you open it up and see what’s inside. Each container will contain a logbook which you need to sign to prove you’ve made the find. You sign each logbook with the date you found it on (so today’s date if you found it today) & then your geocaching name. Once you sign the physical log, and only if you’ve you’ve signed the physical log, you can log the find online, if you cannot find the container, please log a Did Not Find (DNF) log. A DNF log can alert the owner that the geocache might have been taken and not replaced, and if a couple of these logs occur in a row then the cache is most likely not there. Depending on the size of the cache there might be *SWAG inside, which can be little trinkets, toys, or sometimes actual Cash money, however there is a rule with SWAG. All SWAG is free to take, but it must be replaced with something of equal or greater value. There is also a special type of SWAG called a Trackable or Travel Bug (TB), which are special items that are trackable online and often have missions to travel to specific places around the world. These are not items that can be kept, but can be picked up and logged online and then placed in another geocache to help it fulfill its mission. Find out more here: https://education.geocaching.com/trackables

Now What?

• After you’ve found the physical geocache and signed the log you can log the find online and tell others about your experience:
  • Try not to give any spoilers away, but also talk about your adventure.
  • Mention the condition of the cache, it helps the CO’s maintain their caches.
  • People hide caches to create adventures so write a little bit about your adventure & also thank them for hiding and maintaining the cache, it might not take a lot to hide some caches, but they still went out of their way to create more fun for you.
• Make sure to log your find online in a timely manor, preferably within 24 hours.
• Make sure you seal the container back up and put everything back inside, then hide it exactly back as you found it. There might be better spots around, but unless the cache appears out of an obvious place (such as a hanging cache fallen on the ground) please put it back exactly where you found it cause someone hid it that way for a reason.
• Now you’re on your way to your next adventure, have fun :)

Extra Tips & Tricks:

• When you get closer to Ground Zero (GZ) make sure to look for a “GeoTrail”. It’s usually the easiest way to GZ, but is often only found as “the easy way out”.
• If you believe a cache is hidden in a tree with leaves, try to look from the inside out
• Bring Your Own Pen (BYOP) Some caches are too small to hold a pen and sometimes pens stop working over time
• Look for something that seems out of place
• Sometimes you can only see the geocache from a specific angle, so sometimes you have to look high, look low or look from all types of angles.
• Be stealthy in areas with Muggles (non geocachers) around. Geocaches can get stolen by people, so be careful who sees unless you invite them to join you and explain caching :)
• Some geocaches require specific Tools Of The Trade (TOTT), like a magnet, but they always have the attribute of TOTT needed and often hint at the right tool in the description
• Watch out for Poison Ivy and other dangers in nature
• For Nano’s and Bison tubes, after rolling the log (a bobby pin works great to roll logs) put the log in the top of the container, that way it fits properly
• CITO (Cache In, Trash Out) … Clean up any trash in the area, but be careful cause some caches can be disguised as trash so make sure it’s actual trash