Baby Schnuffles

To visit kid-friendly caches, babies, and other bears.

Baby Schnuffles is the TB offspring of Schnuffles Tramper, mascot of CT Trampers. It just so happens that they are due to have a baby of their own, too. Baby Schnuffles likes to geocache, just like the rest of the Trampers. With a new baby coming, CT Trampers might not go caching as often as they like, but they can live vicariously though Baby Schnuffles. Just like CT Trampers, Baby Schnuffles especially likes to be First To Find a cache!
In between kid friendly caches, Baby Schnuffles would love to visit with other bears, and other babies. Be sure to post lots of pictures for everyone to see.

The Story of Schnuffles (as told by Al, of CT Trampers)

When Carol and I were dating, I was out shopping with her, and getting ideas for what she might like for Christmas. (our first together) Just basically taking note of the things she was interested in while there. One of the stores we stopped into that day was Linen's and Things. There was this big bin of small stuffed animals, and Carol really liked this little dog that was in there. I made a mental note to come back and get the dog for her.

I went back to the store, and went to the bin of animals. As I was reaching for the dog, I noticed a little bear face in the pile. I dug him out, and he was so cute that I had to get him instead of the dog. He was the only bear that I noticed in the bin.

He had a brand name tag on him, "Gund", but what was strange was that his price tag wasn't one of the regular ones, it was a handwritten one that was stuck to the back of the brand tag. ($2.99 in case you are wondering) I thought that maybe someone had returned him, although I couldn't imagine why. The same afternoon I bought a Christmas tree. After setting it up, I realized that I didn't have a star for the top. I put a green bow on his head, set him at the top of the tree to look like he was climbing, and we had our tree topper.

When Carol came over to see the tree, she fell in love with the bear right away, and was even more thrilled when I told her he was hers!

After that he sort of became our mascot, accompanying us on hikes, road trips, and later Geocaches. If I go solo, more often than not Schnuffles comes with me. (Real manly, huh?) Matter of fact the two of us are hitting the trail this weekend in New Hampshire.

Over the years, I've tried to get some info on him, but I can't find anything anywhere about him. I've looked on the Gund website, even wrote them an email describing him asking for info. that got no response. I've checked Ebay, but I can't find an exact match.

His stuffing isn't what it used to be, so one day we took him to this place in Bethel where you can make your own Teddy Bear to try and see if we could get him stuffed. The owner talked to us, (and to the bear, petted him, said he was cute and that he looked scared, like he didn't want to be re-stuffed. Nice to see someone was at least as nuts as we are) and said that he was perfect as is, and if we got him stuffed we would change his whole personality!

It's weird, sometimes we think there is some magic in him.... Velveteen rabbit, anyone?? :-) His expression almost seems to change now and then.

As far as him being a famous bear, I am unsure. I wish I knew more about him. I guess he's just the famous Geocaching Bear. Sometimes when Carol finds a cache, she'll say that Schnuffles was in her pocket and kicked her in the direction of it.

Both nuts? Maybe, but so are we, and as I've said before insanity loves company.

Please don't call the white coats on us. :-)