Lets gather and swap caching tales and discover and move along trackables
This Library is very welcoming to the geocaching community. We will meet inside.
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The date on this event is also for the windup for the Texas Winter Caching Games.
The windup is scheduled to start at the posted coordinates on Sunday, February 18, 2024. We will gather at 4 p.m. and wrap the winner presentations by 5 p.m.
Please Note----The time, and location are subject to change. Read below to see if you would like to participate in the 8th Edition of the Texas Winter Caching Games. This year the games are Hosted by South Texas Team.
This is 90 dayish-game ending with an event. The games will be commencing on Sunday, November 19, 2023 at 12:00 am and ending on Saturday , February 17, 2024 at midnight..... ALL LOGS FOR ALL TASKS AND BONUS MUST BE POSTED BEFORE THIS TIME. The event wrap up for the games will start February 18, 2024, 4 p.m.
**This year** -- The Games begin on November 19, 2023 but we are giving participants until December 1, 2023 to sign-up to participate!
If you want to play you can POST a NOTE to this cache page before the end of the day 11:59 pm Friday, December 1st, 2023 this lets the South Texas Team that you are participating in the games.
Any photos associated with a TASK have nothing to do with attending the event and are not a requirement for attending the final wind up on February 28, 2024.
Scoreboards - updated as the games go on.
Scoreboard updates will be found in the Image Gallery
If you would like to see what they will look like you can refer to a previous games Image Gallery GC92JVW
The Winter Caching Games is a fun competition designed to get you caching during the winter months. Designed for all cachers, the objective is to complete any
THIRTEEEEEEEENN!!! (13)
of the tasks not including the Weekly OR Monthly bonus activities, during the 3 months that the game runs.
Please note that this is not a race. Tasks have higher or lower points assigned to them. Read the Task requirements carefully and choose wisely. You are seeking points, not completing the Games first; although there is danger in waiting too long. Even if you don’t get the high score, a strategic approach may still result in a prize.
****CONTINUING THIS YEAR***
A FRONT HALF TASK LIST
AND
A BACK HALF TASK LIST.
The first 12 tasks will be posted with the event launch and on January 1st the remaining 8 tasks will be posted. With a total of 20 tasks to choose from to complete 13 this becomes a fun CHALLENGE to decide which ones to do.
Previous to this year all of the tasks have been posted and many players have strategized specifically targeting goals for their end game. The purpose of this new idea for the game is to mix that up a bit. Not all values of tasks are equal, the same for bi-weekly and monthly bonus.
Prize categories have been in previous games;
Highest point
Lowest Point (this can be achieved by choosing negative points on tasks and weekly bonus’ depending where allowed) **** NEW THIS YEAR – the Low point award must include at least 3 biweekly tasks and 2 monthly challenges to be valid
Closest to Average
We have also had 3 hidden score target prizes awarded the last 2 years.
All of these prize categories will be available at this Games final wrap event.
*** We have enjoyed the donations of prizes from TXGA and from Space Coast GeoStore and new sponsors have joined us which we will announce later in the game… stay tuned
In order to claim a smiley for this event, you must either:
1) Complete 13 Tasks,
2) Attend the windup event, or
3) Both. *** To clarify, you do not have to participate in the games to attend the event***
To qualify, all geocaches to complete tasks are limited to those located in Texas.
If you are one of the prize winners, we will make every effort to accommodate pickup/delivery; however, it is ultimately your responsibility to collect your prize and this might include a bit of postage. In previous games we have been able to connect with players at Texas Challenge which follows the windup of this years game by a few weeks.
If you have questions about whether a cache is acceptable for a Task, please contact us via Geocaching Messages or email. We will do our best to be prompt with replies, but we make no guarantee of speediness (depending on time of day and/or work schedule). Lateral or creative thinking is encouraged for the Games, so we will make every effort to accept sideways logic.
If we require further clarification of any claimed Tasks, we will be contacting you either via the Geocaching Messages or email.
Rules
Short Version
- Claim 13 Tasks over the 3 months (November 19, 2023 to February 17, 2024).
- Using the “Write Note” feature on this event cache page,
- report your claims with Task Number,
- GC Code (multiple if required),
- including D/T rating,
- Points Claimed,
- ***** Tasks must be claimed within 7 days of fulfilling.
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- Your log will look something very similar to this:
- Log it as a Note:
- TASK # ( or Weekly/Monthly Bonus- include week or month)
- GC Code(s)
- DT (if require)
- Points Claimed ( Please clarify Positive, Negative or Positive)
· Some Tasks have an outright points value stated, while others are dependent on the cache found. Some offer positive points, negative points, or the geocachers choice between them. (this year there will not be tasks with a zero value as there has in past years) Claimed point values must be stated on the Note, and cannot be edited.
- Watch for Bonuses.
- Photos are encouraged. If required, it will be stated in the Task requirement.
Full Rules
1. Game runs from 12:00am Sunday, November 19th, 2023 through to 11:59 pm Saturday, February 17th, 2024.
2. Games participants need to register ** with a NOTE** to let us know you're playing; the sooner the better.
Event attendees can log a will attend up to the day of the windup event.
3. Fulfill any 13 of the Tasks after the start of the Games. To complete the Games, exactly 13 Tasks must be logged. Choose any you like between the front half and back half to account for this total of 13.
4. Caches you claim for the game must be logged on www.geocaching.com during the time frame of the game. No caches found previous to the start date of the games or late finds will be allowed. ALL CACHE FINDS MUST BE WITHIN THE STATE BOUNDARY OF TEXAS.
5. Tasks must be claimed within 7 days of finding the cache and before the conclusion of the Games. The post must clearly state which Task is being claimed, the GC Code of the cache (multiple if necessary), the Points being Claimed, and how the cache meets the requirement. Post your claims as a Note on this event page.
6. ****Caches found as part of these games must be published before the start of the game on November 19th, 2023. Any Task or weekly/monthly bonus that requires new cache(s) to be placed (physical or event) does not fall under this rule. AND IN THE STATE OF TEXAS
7. Tasks that require caches to be hidden must be published prior to 11:59 pm December 31st, 2024. Please plan accordingly, and do not leave this to the last minute. By placing a geocache as part of these Games, you agree to follow all the guidelines set out by www.geocaching.com in owning a geocache.
8. Each Task must be claimed on a cache previously unfound by you or any player on your team.
9. Each Task must be claimed against a different cache, unless the requirement states otherwise. For example claiming points for a Large cache find cannot be used for any other Task.
*****Exceptions: The Challenge.
10. Tasks, Bonuses, and Challenges can only be claimed once per geocaching login (single person or team of cachers). Multiple claims against the same Task, Bonus, and/or Challenge by the same geocacher or team will not be allowed.
******Exception: If the first claim of this Task was rejected, it can be attempted again.
12. Once Tasks, Bonuses, and Challenges are claimed, you may not substitute another.
13. Points vary by Task, Bonus, and Challenge; these are clearly defined below. Some give participants a choice in point value, therefore you must clearly state the point value (including positive or negative or zero where available.) when you are claiming the Task. Once claimed, your point values cannot be changed.
14. There will be multiple prizes available for the players who complete the games. All will be awarded to players who have completed 13 Tasks. See previously mentioned prizes categories.
15. In the event of a tie score, the earliest score will be used as the tiebreaker. This has happened once in the 8 years of the games. Early logging tasks became an advantage…. In this case it was a time stamp difference on the emails on the logs submitted of 20 minutes. ** no pressure…lol
16. No "arm chair" caching is permitted. You can only use caches that you/your team found, signed the log, and logged on www.geocaching.com on the same day (or within reason). Claiming a cache that you found months ago and just got around to logging is not permitted in the Games.
17. Multi-player teams would be more than 1 person using the same name, with the other members present. All members of multi-person teams must meet the qualification of the Task, and must be present when claiming the cache. It is likely OK if the other member(s) of your team are in the vehicle. However, if one member of your team members is in a different country or is “home with the kids”, and others are claiming caches for this game, then that is not allowed. This rule applies to all Tasks, Bonuses, and Challenge.
***Spouses, etc., that occasionally cache with the primary geocacher are exempt from this rule. However, these individuals (let's call them Squibs for the JK Rowling fans out there!) will not be considered Muggles either. If there is any confusion, please let us know.
18. *** CONTINUING this year. Front Half Tasks and Back Half Tasks. The former are available from Day one of the games start date and will go away giving way to the new Back Half Tasks. Please plan on completing any of the Front Half Tasks by December 31st before the Back Half Tasks are made available.
19. Weekly Bonus Tasks will be posted either Sunday Evening or Monday of the new week. Monthly Bonus Tasks will be posted on the date that is stated in the previous Months Bonus Task.
We, South Texas Team, will administer the game and our decisions are final. We reserve the right to provide clarifications to the rules at any point during the game.
****Most of ALL Have fun!
Tasks
Tasks may only be claimed once per participating geocaching login (single player, or multi-player team). ** New this year** The FRONT HALF tasks are included from when the Games begin November 19 until they go away December 31st when the BACK HALF tasks are available to work on for the remainder of the games. Please note that the FRONT HALF tasks that any player/team chooses to do must be completed before December 31st where after this date they will not be eligible for points. The remainder of the game points will be earned using tasks from the BACK HALF.
*******FRONT HALF TASKS*******
NOVEMBER 19th to DEC 31st 11:59 pm
** Reminder that your goal is 13 tasks to complete the games. Biweekly bonus and monthly bonus’ are almost optional to win and completely optional if your strategy is to just play not win.
** Continuing this year.
An extra 1 point can be earned with one log per cache of a find task that is more than 200 words and somewhere in the log there is a mention of the 2023-2024 Texas Winter Caching games. For a task where there is a need to find more than one cache only one log in the multiple finds will count.
For example; the task is #5 Spelling Bee Part Two – GCA0XXX E is the letter used to spell and the log on this cache is for the *SPECIAL 1 PT* bonus with a mention of the Texas Winter Caching games (word count 235).
** And then add this 1 to the total points claimed for task #5 positive or negative. LABEL THIS PARTICULAR CACHE OF THE TASK *SPECIAL 1 PT*
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TASK 1 THROUGH 12 WERE AVAILABLE UP UNTIL DEC 31 2023 WHERE THEY HAVE BEEN REMOVED FROM THE PAGE. THE FOLLOWING ARE A LIST OF THE AVAILABLE TASKS FOR THE BACK HALF PORTION OF THE GAME. FINISHERS OF THE GAME MUST COMPLETE 13 TASKS TOTAL TO BE ELIGABLE FOR PRIZES. PLAYERS THAT POSTED THEIR INTENTION TO PLAY AT THE BEGINNING TO PLAY THIS MAY CONTINUE TO PLAY HOWEVER ARE NOT ELIGABLE FOR PRIZES.
Back Half Tasks Texas Winter Caching Games
Jan 1 through Feb 17th 11:59 p.m.
Task #1 Mini Spelling Bee- find caches that spell
YEAR-must include 2 different cache types. No adventure labs
Point value 8 points plus or minus
Log Example:
Y- GCXXXXX traditional
E- GCXXXXX mystery
- GCXXXXX traditional
R- GCXXXXX traditional
Claiming 8 points negative
Task #2 Hide a Wherigo and a Multi
Regular wherigo is worth an additional 2 points.
Point value 10 points plus or minus
Log Example:
GCXXXXX multi cache
GCXXXXX Reverse Wherigo
Claiming 10 points positive
Task #3 Find caches from 6 different years
any cache type, no need to find on the same day. No need to find in order. No need for years to be consecutive.
Point value 12 points plus or minus
Log Example:
GCXXXXX 2006
GCXXXXX 2013
GCXXXXX 2015
GCXXXXX 2021
GCXXXXX 2022
GCXXXXX 2022
Claiming 12 points negative
Task #4 Hide 2 cipher mystery caches
Websites to reference when creating mystery geocaches if needed:
https://www.geocachingtoolbox.com/
https://www.dcode.fr/en
Point Value 12 points PLUS or MINUS
Log Example:
GCXXXXX – Mystery of the Haggen Daaz Napper
GCXXXXX- Mystery of the Lost Mcneddenflimp
Claiming 12 points
Task #5
Find 4 caches hidden by 4 different cache owners
Point value 4 points Plus or Minus
Log Example:
GCXXXXX- CO professor plum
GCXXXXX- CO groot
GCXXXXX- CO mucky moose
GCXXXXX- CO Freddy Fender
Claiming 4 points positive
Task #6 Hide 3 traditional caches with appropriate attributes that add up to more than 20 – any number for each cache **One of the caches must be wheelchair accessible
And the kicker here is there must be a valid attributes represented from 4 of the 5 Categories listed below on each cache and please be real. No scuba diving if you aren’t actually scuba diving to find the cache
View the link to understand which attribute is in each category
https://www.geocaching.com/about/icons.aspx?fbclid=IwAR0nQGZb24nDPYECXPkf3bTK78g2f4UD58zOdh6C-ts7rwT704tV_-bHeLc
Categories are as follows
Permissions (Allowed/Not Allowed)
Equipment (Required/Not Required)
Conditions (Yes/No)
Hazards (Present/Not Present)
Facilities (Yes/No)
Point value 15 points plus or minus
Log Example:
GCXXXXX 7 attributes total of which
2 are Permissions Motorcycles, Horses
1 is equipment Special tool required
2 are conditions Takes less than one hour, Available 24/7
2 are hazard Ticks, Thorns
1 is facilities Parking nearby
GCXXXXX 8 attributes total of which
1 permission - Bicycles
1 equipment - Special tool required
5 are conditions - Takes less than one hour, Available 24/7, Stealth required, Park and grab, Available in winter,
2 hazard- Thorns, Ticks
GCXXXXX 12 attributes total of which
** 1 facilities (wheelchair accessible)
1 is permission - Bicycles
2 are hazard - Dangerous animals, Poisonous plants (Not Presert)
8 are conditions -Takes less than one hour, Available 24/7, Stealth required, Park and grab, (No)Seasonal access, Recommended for tourists, Available in winter, Recommended for kids
Claiming 15 points positive
Task #7 Find a regular size cache of 3 different cache types.
12 points Plus or minus
Additional points available for finding favorited caches.
1 point for 1-5 fav points at time of find.
2 points for 6-10 fav points at time of find.
3 points for 11+
Log Example:
GCXXXXX regular size multi 3 fav points on Jan 13th 1 point add
GCXXXXX regular size trad 25 fav points on Jan 18th 3 points add
GCXXXXX regular size wherigo 4 fav points Feb 8th 1 point add
Claiming 12 plus 5 points = 17 points positive
Task #8 Hide a letterbox (Small) and a Challenge cache (any size)
Point value 8 points plus or minus
Log Example:
GCXXXXX Letterbox *small – White Rabbits Letters to Alice
GCXXXXX Challenge – Funny Challenge
Claiming 8 points Negative
1st Bi-weekly Back Half
CITO up to 3 caches 2 different cache types
Post photos of CITO gz area prior and after (with trash bags) to log on each cache and mention Winter Caching Games in log of each cache.
Bonus Value 3 points per cache PLUS or MINUS for a total of six or nine points for this bonus.
Log Example: (this example chooses 9 points- please modify your log to reflect your choice if it is any other value)
GCXXXXX traditional photo on log of cache- 3 points positive
GCXXXXX mystery photo on log of cache- 3 points positive
GCXXXXX traditional photo on log of cache- 3 points positive
Claiming 9 points positive
Please complete this biweekly by January 16th Tuesday 11:59 p.m.
2nd BIWEEKLY BONUS
Creative Nano & Vote
Value is Points 9 plus or minus
Create a new nano and hide it. Any cache type.
Definition of a new nano;
A nano container that is created by you. Something you haven’t seen before in your caching adventures. Yes you can use a nano base…. With something(s) added or you can start from scratch.
Post a photo of it with your log claiming points. If you would like to post the photo after the ftf finder has logged their find that’s fine but it must be before the biweekly deadline.
**Vote on your favorite prior to the 3rd biweekly bonus deadline.
**You may not vote for yourself. **You must vote or your biweekly bonus points are void.
An announcement at the end of the bonus deadline when all photos of nano caches have been submitted (after their ftf). This announcement will have links to all logs with new nano photos for voting purposes.
If for any reason ftf is not found prior to the log you post for points no worries go ahead and post your photo with your log.
Please claim your points between Jan 17-30 11:59 pm
Example log;
2nd Biweekly Bonus
Creative Nano & Vote
Claiming 9 points positive
GCXXXXXX Batchelors Noogan published Jan 26- FTF hasn’t been found yet. Photo included with this log.
Example Log; (submitting this prior to end of 3rd Biweekly Bonus)
#2 Log to keep 2nd biweekly bonus points log
I vote for Shenanigator for their creative Nano
3rd BI-WEEKLY BONUS
Find an oldy.
You may or may not have found the oldest caches in this state. Its not a requirement for the bonus but a nod towards the oldies is here nonetheless.
For this bonus your will need to find 5 oldies.
10 years old points value for each find 2
15 years old points value for each find 3
20 years old points value for each find 4
PLUS****
Add 1 point for finding 2 different types
Add 2 points for finding 3 different types
Log Example;
Found 5 oldies
GCXXXXX 2 points traditional
GCXXXXX 3 points traditional
GCXXXX 4 points virtual
GCXXXXX 3 points traditional
GCXXXX 4 points earthcache
Total points 16 points plus 2 for 3 types total points 18 positive
1ST MONTHLY BONUS Back Half
Find caches that have favorites. This Bonus is available for both Positive and Negative
Exactly 4 caches of any type or any combination of types or DT where the total is 100 favorites or more
5 points
Exactly 3 caches of any type or any combination of types or DT where the total is 100 favorites or more
7 points
Exactly 2 caches of any type or any combination of types or DT where the total is 100 favorites or more
10 points
Log example:
Found exactly 2 caches GCXXXXX VIRTUAL 67 FV PNTS GCXXXXX TRAD 54 FV POINTS TOTAL FV POINTS OF 121
Claiming 10 points positive
Please claim points for this monthly bonus before January 31 11:59 pm
2nd Monthly - actually 2 weeks and a bit
Find 10 caches
6 different owners
2 different Reviewers
10 points Plus or minus
Add 1 point plus or minus for more than 2 finds on 2 different cache types.
Feb 1 to 16th
Please claim your points prior 11:59 pm February 16th
Log example
GCXXXXX CO bluebell trad
GCXXXXX CO bluebell REVIEWER middleman wherigo
GCXXXXX CO rangerpup trad
GCXXXXX CO flipper trad
GCXXXXX CO flipper REVIEWER skiddletom mystery
GCXXXXX CO chump trad
GCXXXXX CO flipper trad
GCXXXXX CO grandoo mystery
GCXXXXX CO bluebell trad
GCXXXXX CO bluebell trad
Claiming 10 points Plus 1 point for -- 2 finds on 2 cache types total 11 point positive.
CHALLENGE
This year it was decided to do something a bit different.
Should you decide to participate for the points for this bonus challenge. This is a Texas Master Mystery cache ** please include this in the name of your cache. This bonus is worth 15 points PLUS or MINUS.
Here is what it is:
Hide a MASTER Mystery cache. Each size has a different value for points:
MICRO 1 PT (+/-)
SMALL 2 PT + ONLY
REGULAR 3 PT - ONLY
LARGE 5 PT (+/-)
OTHER 1 PT (+/-)
CHALLENGE POINT VALUE 15 PTS PLUS OR MINUS
Provide the GC to the winter games host in a private message including the final coordinates. ** Do this prior to your Master Mystery cache being published.
Your cache will be part of a possible 20 cache series (depending on how many participate of course) for a bonus cache located in San Antonio.
By providing the GC and the final coordinates your cache will be an integral part of a Master of Mystery Texas Style Bonus final.
The GC of your cache and its solved coordinates (to be put into a coordinate checker on the master bonus final cache page) will be included on the bonus final cache page. When the correct coordinates from your mystery are put in the checker that is on the Master of Mystery Bonus page description additional bonus information is given for the Bonus Final hidden in San Antonio.
Each hide can be solved and found independently.
When a cacher solves your Master Mystery cache they can also go to the Master bonus final and input the solved coordinates there for a little bonus information on the Master Mystery Bonus Final hidden in San Antonio. The GC of the Master Mystery Bonus Final is GCAHQV9. You may include this GC in your description.
Depending on how many participants for the bonus challenge will determine how many are in the series and how many pieces of bonus information will be available for the final hidden in San Antonio.
Please include the following in your cache page description at the end of your description:
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This Master Mystery cache is part of a series of Master Mysteries hidden all over Texas. No need to find any of the others in this series to find this cache. However when you solve this mystery be sure to save your solved coordinates and enter this into the coordinate checker for the Master Mystery Bonus final hidden in San Antonio. GCAHQV9 is where the others in this series are listed. "
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HERE IS THE KICKER
The Master Mystery Cache can not be just a jigidi jigsaw puzzle for final coordinates. You may only use it if the message that you provide when the jigidi jigsaw is complete is also a mystery (cipher or other type of solve.) This could up the difficulty of your Master Myster Cache depending on your choice of both the #of pieces in the jigidi and the mystery in the message when the jigidi is complete.
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EXAMPLE LOG;
CHALLENGE
HID GCXXXXX LARGE MYSTERY JAN 15 PUBLISHED 8 A.M. FEB 7TH
Claiming 15 + 5 = 20 Points
All of the other mystery caches in this series will have a coordinate checker associated with the corresponding GC and added bonus information will be provided to get the final for the Master Bonus Final hidden in San Antonio.
Your cache needs to publish at 8:00 a.m. on Feb 7th. The Master Bonus Final will also publish at the same time.