College Cacher

Creative Containers

Lia Steinberg — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 22:49:27 +0000

It’s always a joy to find a geocache, but sometimes the container can become repetitive or ordinary. When I discover a geocache in a unique container, the experience becomes more memorable instantly. They are the kind of finds that I like to tell my friends and family about and I love when I find them unexpectedly. Creative containers don’t have to be complex and difficult to hide. Today I’ll share with you some creative ideas for creating containers at home, or where you can pick one up for cheap.

Creatively Camouflaged

Rock geocache container

I found this creative cache container at my local REI store, and I think it is the perfect container for those who are looking for a container that is both sturdy and unique. I hid one myself and it has lasted through heavy weather conditions. It blends in perfectly with most environments and is a fun treat to find!

Do-It-Yourself

Log Geocache

If you don’t have the cash to buy a cache, you can easily make one at home! Just drill a hole into anything you think would make a good container (does it blend in well with the environment? will it protect the log from storms?) and seal it up! That’s it!

Want to see the most creative cache I’ve found so far?

I found this one when I was visiting family in Tampa, FL. The GPS took me to an old shed located next to a baseball field. The size of the container was not specified the hint was “not a glue.” As I was searching near an electrical box, I noticed a pipe coming from the ground with a gardening hose attached. I pulled the pipe right up from the ground and found the cache inside. So clever!

Do you make and hide creative caches? What is the most creative cache you have found? Leave a comment and let me know!

Recent Finds

Lia Steinberg — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 01:08:51 +0000

I’ve been trying to catch up on my geocaching before it gets too hot to be away from the AC for more than five minutes. Here’s what I’ve found in the last few weeks:

This cache was in a beautiful area. The title was “Power Point” (GC31T0Q) and it was, you guessed it, stuck to an electrical box. I definitely had to spend a little time looking for it, though. All in all, it was a blast!

Next up:

This one (GCA4T4) was so much fun. It was located in a little park that I never knew existed. It was just your average container, but I really had fun searching for it. I was riding my bike with family and when I checked for nearby caches…voila! It was 300 feet away (Don’t you love when that happens?)

I loved this one:

This was within walking distance from my house, so I decided to bike to the spot during sunset. SG1 (GC2E459) was the perfect combination of business and pleasure. It was definitely not easy to find, but it was so exciting to find it in an untraditional spot. I really enjoyed it.

Lastly,

This was the tiniest geocache I’ve ever seen! It didn’t even have a container. The log was simply hidden in a bolt of a street sign. It’s named “Get Outside #3” (GC2ERMJ) and I definitely needed to pull out my tweezers for this one!

I’d like to know….

What geocaches have you found lately? What type of geocache is your favorite to find? Write a comment and let me know!

Happy Caching!

What would YOU like to see on College Cacher?

Lia Steinberg — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 23:13:52 +0000

Hey everybody!

I realize that I have not been keeping up with this blog as much as I would like to. I thoroughly enjoy writing to everyone who has the same passion for caching as I do and I want this to be a place where cachers all over the world can communicate about all things geocaching.

In the following weeks, I will continue to update more often, but I really want to know what you would like to see from this blog.

Would you like to see more geocaches that I find? More tips and advice for geocaching? Maybe a video of me geocaching? Please comment and let me know.

Have a great day and happy caching!

A Recognized Geocacher

Lia Steinberg — Sun, 27 Feb 2011 21:24:11 +0000

Just thought I’d let you guys in on a pretty cool thing I’d like to boast about.

I was recently interviewed for a geocaching spotlight blog that I believe really catches the passion I have to blogging and geocaching.

Check out the interview here.

Have a great day and happy caching!

Geocaching Newbies

Lia Steinberg — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 06:03:04 +0000

I found this video on the official geocaching blog and it really tied into what I was talking about in my last post. Introducing the hobby of geocaching to a friend or family member can be a fulfilling experience. Explaining what geocaching is all about is definitely not as rewarding or fun than getting out and showing them instead.

Even experienced geocachers who have found thousands of caches were still a newbie at one point. However, over time, geocachers can slowly gain vital experience through their previous adventures to find out what types of geocaches work and which ones do not. These experiences can lead to a more pleasant geocaching adventure.

So, whether you’re still anticipating your first GPS-enabled treasure hunt or you’ve been caching for years, there’s still a thrill to seek for everyone.

What do you think? Do you plan on introducing someone to geocaching? Have you done so already? Leave a comment and let me know!

Sharing the Experience

Lia Steinberg — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 23:37:06 +0000

When I told a good friend of mine about geocaching, she thought I was crazy. “There are over one million hidden containers in the world? And there is one nearby us right now?” she asked. I had to prove to her that this hobby is real. I turned on my geocaching app on my phone, and found one that was located about two-thousand feet away from where we were standing. Suddenly, we jumped out of our seats and headed outside to find the prize. She also insisted on wearing a head lamp.

We hopped on the Light Rail and got off on the next stop. After we searched the surrounding area for a few minutes, I zoned in on this little geocache, named Stick’em Up (GC1MH33).

My friend was so shocked to see how many people have found this cache previously. She had absolutely no idea that a hobby like this existed. Once we signed the log, we headed back and logged our experience on geocaching.com. It was really special to share my new found hobby with a friend and have someone to go on future geocaching adventures with.

Who do you take on geocaching adventures with? Leave a comment below, I’d love to hear your response!

Desert Stashes

Lia Steinberg — Mon, 06 Dec 2010 22:59:27 +0000

Over the Thanksgiving break, I decided to hunt down a few geocaches before stuffing my face with turkey and mashed potatoes. I chose to look around the Dreamy Draw Mountain Preserve because it is a geocacher’s paradise! Hundreds of geocaches are hidden in the area and with temperatures in the mid 60’s, I couldn’t resist spending the entire day outside!

This was my first find of the day, named Lizard Gulch (GC1NTV3). In a desert landscape, it’s easier to spot a geocache because it is usually hidden under an abnormally large rock pile, which looks suspicious to geocachers but appears unnoticeable to non-geocachers.

This was another fun, quick find named Red, Rousse, Rojo (GC1Z5WH). The difficulty rating on this one was 2.5 stars because it was cleverly hidden in a wash with a lot of rocks and bushes. After I signed the log, I decided to hike upward to find a geocache hidden on top of a peak with a breathtaking view.

Yogi’s Gold (GCHPJT) was well worth the climb. The large canister contained a zip blocked bag (pictured above) and contained some trading cards, toys and of course, the log book. I admired the beautiful view of the Phoenix area and then decided it was time to head home. It’s breathtaking moments like these when I stop and realize how thankful I am to experience nature at its finest.

What do you think?

Have you discovered beautiful scenery while you were geocaching? I’d love to hear from you!

Don’t know what Geocaching is? Find out here!

I Am George

Lia Steinberg — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 06:35:35 +0000

After discovering this well-hidden geocache in a highly-populated area, it definitely made me stop and notice my surroundings. You see, I stroll down this road almost every day to get to class and I have never noticed this tiny piece of history, until now. I was shocked to find out there is a sneaky geocache right in the middle of traffic, busy college students and chaos.

The Story of George (GC1MD2W) is a geocache dedicated to the George ditch in Tempe, Ariz.

This ditch was dug by Benjamin and Virginia George in 1883 to bring water to their Tempe ranch. Most of the ditch is covered and piped today, but this small section of the ditch that still remains is a remnant of what ditches looked like around the Valley in those days. And sure enough, it’s a perfect hiding place, too!

This geocache really made me open my eyes to the world around me and took me to a place where I can have fun and learn at the same time!

So Tell me…
Where do you like to geocache?

So, tell me…

Where do you like to geocache? Have you ever discovered something interesting from geocaching? I’d love to hear from you!

What is geocaching? CLICK HERE!

The Little Things

Lia Steinberg — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 02:26:34 +0000

With final exams and projects slowly approaching, I decided I needed a little geocaching “TLC” to brighten my day. After realizing I haven’t been on a geocaching excursion in a while, I decided to track one down not too far from Arizona State University on the Tempe Campus. When I turned on my GPS, I discovered I was only 500 feet from a geocache – and I zeroed in on it shortly after!

This cache, (GC21FWF) creatively named “Get Your Daley Drink”, is located in a busy Tempe park named Daley Park. It was fairly easy to find and I spotted it from several feet away. I grabbed the cache, took it over to the nearest park bench, and examined the items stashed inside.

An official geocaching pencil, a marble, a dice dradle, a donkey travel bug, and a smiley face coin graced me with their presence when I opened up the cache. However, the most important element I found was the log book. I signed it, dated it, and put it back in the container. Although it doesn’t seem like a big deal, finding a simple treasure in the midst of my busy day allows me to unwind and realize how the little things make an important impact on my life.

How do you unwind after a stressful day? I’d love to hear from you!

Geocaching Essentials

Lia Steinberg — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 19:36:49 +0000

Plan on spending the entire day geocaching? You might need more than a GPS to have a successful trip. It can be a rough experience being outside all day in the sun, jumping from rock to rock, or climbing over tough terrain. I know there have been many occasions when I was geocaching and I did not enjoy my adventure because I forgot to bring an important tool or article of clothing with me. Geocaching can be dangerous if you’re not prepared.

Shoes, Hat, First Aid, Tweezers, Pen, Watch, Water Bottle, Sunglasses, Flashlight, Sunblock, Backpack

A backpack to carry all of your items is vital. I chose this backpack because it is large enough to hold multiple items and it appropriately blends in with nature. It also has many side pockets which makes it easier to organize your belongings.

Staying out of the sun is important for your skin and your overall health. Your body will thank you later in life when you wear a hat with a visor (shown above) and plenty of sunscreen. Apply the sunscreen multiple times during the day so you’ll stay protected and skin cancer free! Sunglasses are a plus if you need some extra protection.

Heavy duty sneakers or boots are essential if you plan on exploring outdoors. Shoes with arch support will support your back after a long day of bending and climbing. And speaking of climbing – bringing a first aid kit with you in case you fall and hurt yourself can come in handy. It’s always better to be safe than sorry!

Some other bonus essentials include a flashlight in case it gets dark sooner than you expected, a pen to sign the logbooks inside the geocaches, tweezers for extracting geocaches from difficult to reach areas, and a watch to keep track of time.

Last but certainly not least – drink plenty of water! Water will hydrate your body so you can have the energy to be outside all day and not feel dehydrated.

Geocaching with a friend is the safest way to explore, but if you decide to go alone, always tell someone where you are going and bring a cell phone in case of an emergency.

What are your geocaching essentials? Leave a comment and let me know!