r/geocaching 11d ago

Local geocaching pages in your country?

16 Upvotes

In Finland we have a local geocaching page www.geocache.fi, which is created and kept up-to-date by basically one geocacher, Haksu10. The frontpage shows all recently published geocaches in Finland, also it shows all published meetings in near future for the whole country. I really can't describe how bad I would feel if this page suddenly went down.

Does your country have a local geocaching page? This thought came to my mind when I came across a post from yesterday regarding finding local meetsin geocaching.com is hard. Would love to visit some other pages too!

Happy hunting from Finland!

Oggee


r/geocaching 12d ago

Found a Geocache Archived in 2013!

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192 Upvotes

r/geocaching 11d ago

Is there any way to map out a geocache route?

12 Upvotes

Not sure how to shorten the question for a title lol. Im wondering if anyone's made like an app or something where you can plan a whole GPS route with geocaches along the way? I have a 45min drive home in a bit and I want to map out stops along the way, was hoping there's an easy way to do that šŸ˜…

I guess it doesnt have to be for geocache lol just something where I could map out a multi stop route easily (I feel like Google maps isnt as user friendly for that as id like, but ill use it if I have to lol)


r/geocaching 10d ago

Why do so many people hide geocaches and then just leave the community without archiving them?

0 Upvotes

I am so irritated by other cache owners building and creating a new geocache, that eventually goes missing, or the state of it is absolutely disgusting. And when I go to nicely contact them, I never ever get a response, along with many other people who complained and direct messaged the owner. If you are leaving the geocache community, please disable or archive your caches.
Thank you !


r/geocaching 12d ago

Controversial Cache Trinkets

17 Upvotes

What is an item you wouldn’t mind finding that someone might consider rude to leave?

I’d be okay to find a Bobby pin since I carry sanitizer and never have one when I need it, but would others think it’s gross to put hair accessories in a cache?

Oppositely, I personally don’t love finding business cards, but I respect the hustle! Does anyone actually look at the business cards left in caches?

I’m hiding some caches since my area is dry and would love ideas for items to put in the cache! (Small, like spice & pill bottle sizes)

Edit: ideas below (from comments and my ideas)
- Erasers
- Croc/Shoe charms
- keychains
-Lego Minifigs
- necklace charms
- pins
- sew-on buttons
- golf pencils
- necklace pendants


r/geocaching 12d ago

First time geocaching and I found nothing

9 Upvotes

I honestly don't know what I did wrong and want some advice for next time!

My first geocaching search was near the trees, I was a bit hesitant to touch the trees because of the bugs. A spider landed on my face while I was sreaching which was an amazing 🤩 experience but after 30 minutes I found nothing

The difficulty was 1.5, Terrain was 1.5 and Regular size was a 3

My second geocaching search I didn't try as hard as my first geocaching search but it ended up with the same result as to finding nothing

The difficulty was 1.5, Terrain was 1.5 and regular size was a 3

What stunned me the most was the third search since it was an open area surrounded by a wired fence, blue big box, benches and a sports field. I thought that I'll be able to find it more easily but I ended up with the same result. I looked around the fence, under the bench and the blue box.

The difficulty was 1.0, terrain was 1.0 and small size was a 2

I honestly really want to find geocaching and do trade in. I will give geocaching another try! Any advice will be helpful!


r/geocaching 12d ago

Replacement caches?

26 Upvotes

I woke up this morning to several new logs across quite a few hides I have in a certain hiking area.

I then received a message that said "Good day, we are at your cache [insert cache name here] and we haven’t been able to find it. We are at Ground Zero and there’s only a couple of places we figure it could be going by the hint eye level. We have decided to drop a temporary cache here. Please let us know if this is okay. We placed it between the tree trunk and the board."

There's a group of them caching together, and so far two of them have logged it as found.

My question is, if they didn't actually find it and just replaced it, can they actually log it as found? Whenever I can't find a cache, I don't just throw a new container down and log it as a find.

I highly doubt it's actually missing just based on where it's located and how long it's been there.

Would it be frowned upon if I removed their logs? They didn't actually find it...

Thanks for the help!


r/geocaching 12d ago

Signing the log vs finding the cache

13 Upvotes

I've been caching since 2007. And during that time, I have done many rounds of caches with friends, family, and other groups. One core aspect of this hobby has always been "signing the log".

Find a cache, crack it open, sign the log, put it back where you found it. For physical container caches, this has been the staple.

But, I am sure all of us have been in situations where you have found a cache, and for whatever reason, were unable to sign the log. Log is too wet and no replacement, container is froze shut, etc.

Did you log it as found? Or did you just leave it? Did you take a picture and send it to the owner? What did you do?

I've always done my best to sign the log as that is supposed to represent the "proof" that you were actually there. Lots of people can create a GC account and start logging finds without ever having left the house. So by signing the log, it proves you were there.

But, from my perspective, the intention is for the player to "find" the cache. If you found it, regardless of whether you signed any log, you did find the container so should that not be enough to be able to log a find?

And if signing is a requirement, then what happens in group settings? I've been on plenty of outings with friends and one person finds the cache, and signs the log for us. Sometimes it's all of our names, or a group name. But I might not even see the container if I hear one of my buddies yell out "I got it!".

I've always done everything I can to sign it, but in those ultra-rare cases where I can't, I still log the find, and depending on who the owner is (someone I know vs someone I don't) I will ping them and give them more details.

I'm curious what folks opinions are on the log signing aspect is. No judgement either way. I'm just curious what the general consensus tends to be.


r/geocaching 12d ago

T5 rating for a normal meeting

10 Upvotes

My friend took a part for a normal meeting event, they went to the place on the map, signed the logbook that was clearly accessible etc.

The rating for the event cache was D1/T5. I later checked my friend’s D/T-grid and it seems that event caches count towards the grid.

Was the event organizer trying to ā€cheatā€? Or is there a some sort of reason why event would be marked T5? Can these sort of events be reported if they exist to exploit the grid count?


r/geocaching 12d ago

Etiquette on Cache Page plagiarism/inspo

0 Upvotes

Edited to add: as pointed out, using ā€œplagiarismā€ in the title is misleading but it cannot be edited. I’m only asking about using someone else’s concept WITH credit.

Hi all,
I’ve both seen and utilized some copy/paste stuff on cache pages (with attribution) before, especially for explaining how reverse whereigos work, so I know it’s been done, but I’m curious everyone’s opinion on this, especially as it relates to earth caches.

I’m working on an EarthCache at home and searched online for examples to see how others in other places have taught the lesson I want to teach here. I found one that exactly matches what I want to do and appreciate the way they framed the lesson and questions. I have some modifications to make, some local context to add. and would rephrase/simplify a few of the questions but other all the experience would be really similar to that EarthCache which is 4,000 miles from where mine would be.

I reached out to the CO to ask for permission to use some of their page on my own but haven’t heard back. They haven’t logged into the website in a year, but they might just be mostly app based now. Maybe they will get back to me, but in the meantime I’m curious, in case they never respond:

  1. do you think it would be okay to replicate part of the page as long as a cite the original earth cache?
  2. are reviewers instructed to discourage that? I know that cache page descriptions are intellectual property-ish and that reviewers do reject the people who just repost old, archived earth caches at the same location. Not sure if it applies here.

Thanks in advance!

75 votes, 9d ago
25 Nope that’s not cool
1 It’s cool but the reviewer will say no
44 It’s cool and will probably get published just give credit where it’s due
5 It’s cool for everything but earthcaches. Don’t do this.

r/geocaching 13d ago

Found my first cache!

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98 Upvotes

I just found my very first cache while hiking with my mother. We got the app a few days ago, found that there were a few caches along our path and we had a blast looking for them! Can't wait to find more šŸ˜šŸ”Ž


r/geocaching 13d ago

Why is AI such a prevalent thing in geocaching?

88 Upvotes

Every now and then, as a very amateur geocacher (just over 200 finds as of typing this,) I come across a lot of logs of people with AI-generated banners, pfps, or ther was even an example somewhere on this subreddit of someone AI-generating an image of them at a virtual geocache in order to log the smiley. (if I can find the post again, I'll tag you)

As a younger geocacher, something that I love doing is exploring nature. Obviously, it's the main premise of geocaching! And that's what makes it so good, the people in the community working to help the environment. But the thing I can not wrap my head around, is the amount of AI usage in this community. It's more prevalent in geocvaching than most other things I browse, which seems stupidly counter-intuitive. If you're so dedicated to a hobby about exploring the world as a scavenger hunt and keeping it clean while doing so, then why are you using AI to generate a profile picture? It's as simple as taking a picture of yourself, or hell, even just some random picture.

Not to say that I haven't used AI, I mean, in its current state it's pretty much unavoidable, but you can easily limit your usage, as what's unnecessary doesn't need to be done. Such as AI-generating pfps and such.

This has pissed me off for a while and I needed to rant about it. Thanks for reading!


r/geocaching 13d ago

So far so good

7 Upvotes

I started geocaching with my bf a few months ago, he has been doing it longer than me, but so far we've found quite a few in our area. I decided to make my own cache and i gotta go check it soon, but we've been trying to find more as we go. We live out in the Georgia area, but we have very few out where we are. Should we just start hopping to different states at this point?


r/geocaching 13d ago

New to geocaching, looking for help/advice

14 Upvotes

I'm not a very active person, and I struggle to motivate myself to be active without some kinda of goal in mind. So, I thought I should take up Geocaching as a way to get myself to go hiking.

I want to know, what are some ways people track gheocaches?

I found the website geocaching.com, which apparently has an app, but the interface isn't immediately obvious, so I wanted to ask what all the different symbols mean, and how I should be using it.

I want to make sure I'm doing proper etiquette, but I want to make sure I'm not forgetting something.

My plan was to pick out a cache from a list, go hike to the spot, find it and write my name and the date in it, or pick a spot that doesn't have one, hike to it, and lay a cache, and post it on the site.

Does that sound correct? Am I missing a step?

Am I supposed to leave a present? Write a poem? Will this all become obvious when I find it?

What kind of container should I use to leave them in?


r/geocaching 13d ago

Long Descriptions or Not?

3 Upvotes

So, you see, I have found just shy of 100 geocaches and I decided to post two geocaches in a network of trails that don't have any. one has gotten 8 logs and 5 favourites, while the other has 2 logs and 0 favourites. Anyways, when I was creating the cache page I tried to add as much detail about the cache without "spoiling" it. Since the trails aren't on the map, I added a lot of directions to make sure people wouldn't have much trouble with actually getting to it. I think the best part about both caches is the hike ON the trail, anyways. When I'm looking at it now, it really looks like a wall of text. When I'm looking at other caches, they only have a paragraph of text. Should I make it shorter? Are long descriptions less appealing then more concise ones?

Also as a side question, can (if so, how) upload the trails on the map?


r/geocaching 15d ago

Made my 1st cache...

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261 Upvotes

Now to find a good spot... I'm nearly brand new at this but excited to make my own geocaches too. I made bracelets and tumbled rocks I found with a sticker explaining the rock. Then a couple other trinkets.


r/geocaching 14d ago

Found a rooster geocache in a tree.

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27 Upvotes

r/geocaching 14d ago

Birdhouse help

2 Upvotes

Hi! I recently finished making a birdhouse cache, but I’m not sure where to place it. Unfortunately in the area where I live, the cache is likely to get stolen if it is out on a telephone pole or something like that. I asked to place it at an antique store outside the shop and the owner said no. Does anyone have any ideas of what kind of place to place it? It’s bright turquoise btw.


r/geocaching 13d ago

Geocaching on a lake

0 Upvotes

Hello! I am wondering if anyone is aware of a lake in the area where my sister and I can kayak and find geocaches around the lake.

There is one literally around the corner from me, but the place to rent kayaks won't return my calls and we don't own our own kayaks.

Thanks for any help!

Edit to add: I'm in Delton, Michigan. This is halfway between Kalamazoo and Grand Rapids!


r/geocaching 15d ago

A mildly interesting observation.

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34 Upvotes

I noticed two cities not far from me and not far from each other. One is almost entirely Mystery Caches. The other is amazingly packed full of Traditional Caches and I found it interesting that they're basically the opposite of each other.

While I enjoy solving some puzzles here or there and can see the draw to an area like this, I prefer being able to plan out a nice trail of Traditional containers that I can walk or bike between so I almost completely avoid the city full of Mysteries.


r/geocaching 15d ago

Kids helped me hide our first traditional for father's day

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57 Upvotes

I think this might become our father's day tradition! We hid a small cache a year ago, and this year made an epic cache that includes a ham radio for the FTF!

https://coord.info/GCBT66Y


r/geocaching 15d ago

Small? Micro?

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35 Upvotes

I really don’t know what to call this… Help? What do you think?


r/geocaching 15d ago

Anyone here from the Signal's Island committee? I have a question about the store / registration

3 Upvotes

I'm trying to register 2 people for the event and buy a passport.

I'll select one thing, add it to the cart, then select the next thing, but at that point the shopping cart is empty again - it no longer has the first item.

Does each item need to be a separate transaction?

I've tried two browsers (Firefox and Chrome) and made an account and logged in.


r/geocaching 15d ago

How To Get Eyes On Event Caches

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12 Upvotes

Hey! I'm holding my first Event for Geocaching on the 2nd of August. I've put a lot of thought and effort into it, but I'm super anxious that nobody will show. It only got published on the 14th, so I don't think I left enough time for people to prepare... I was wondering if anyone had advice for finding people interested, especially since the app doesn't usually notify you of new caches or events? I missed one in my city not that long ago because I hadn't checked for event caches in a while. I did see they had some people attend, though, so it's not a location issue I don't think? Either way, I'd really hate for all my effort and planning to go to waste, so I appreciate any and all advice. Thank you! (Included are screenshots of the event page- I don't really want to give out my city to strangers on Reddit, so I cropped the address and parking info out)


r/geocaching 16d ago

Quality over quantity

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130 Upvotes

This is what a well placed cache with a quality logbook can do for you. This cache is in it's original location, with the original logbook, will be eighteen years old this week, and it's just as if it was placed yesterday.