First to Find (FTF) is an unofficial aspect of geocaching, and refers to the first person to find a geocache and sign the log after it has been published.
Some geocachers take FTFs extremely seriously - it gives them life! In contrast many others don't care to chase them at all. And then there's clashing ideologies of strict interpretations of FTF (technically one person spotted the geocache first) vs group or co-FTFs where multiple people claim FTF status together on the same cache. One geocacher I know with nearly 1000 FTFs chases them because unfound caches are in the most purest state - they are hidden exactly as the CO hid it without any alterations from following visitors.
Having FTFs in twelve distinct regions across five states, it is interesting to see how the FTF culture varies in each. In rural and remote areas, it is not uncommon for geocaches to remain unfound for days, and perhaps weeks. In the most competitive areas, snagging an FTF can involve setting the alarm for a 3 o'clock in the morning snowshoe (GC38JJZ) or bushwhacking to the top of a hill well after sunset with the aid of a flashlight (GC42EG1)... and still finish STF (second to find). One recently published cache in the PNW was visited no less than five times within the first two hours of being published. In such locations, it is unusual for geocaches to go unfound for 26 hours (GC3CNPR).
The Denver metro is an anomaly. While being an urban area with plenty of active geocachers, one has a good chance of getting an FTF. A discussion came up at an event earlier of a recently published traditional cache where the sun had set twice, both of them on a weekend, before finally being found. GCATBR6 and GCBBAXB were found by out-of-state geocachers, and GCARMWD and GCAPRKD were claimed by international visitors!
There is a mini trophy for this geocache's FTF. And the winners are lifed49, Wisewarrior, and Littlehawk of the home team!
This container is provided by Mr.Flibble, repurposed from the now archived GC9RFEX.