I have a sneaky little trick up my sleeve

Have you ever released a Travel bug or Coin into the Geocaching wild, only for a fellow cacher to lose it, a muggle to take it or for it to just go missing for one reason or another? If you have you're one of many cachers who have. The fact is most trackable items do end up missing sooner or later and it's very frustrating and sucks the fun right out of it. Fingers are pointed and there just isn't anything fun about it.

I've only released 3 travel bugs in my time and only one is still accounted for and racking up miles. I attribute my sneaky little trick to it's continued success

So what is my sneaky little trick for keeping travel bugs from going missing?

Leverage the power of superstition! My travel bug that continues to move from cache to cache and has been for over 1 1/2 years is a good luck charm. But if you don't pass it on quickly, your luck may change Here is exactly what I state on the description:

"All who hold this 4-leaf clover will have good luck, but don't hold on to it for any longer than a couple days or your luck may change"

I know what you're thinking... it's like a chain letter. No, it's not. I'm not asking cachers to do anything they wouldn't normally do, I'm not sending the TB to their mailbox (no requirment to pick it up) and I'm not making threats. It's all in good fun and I've had nothing but good feedback from cachers =)

It works and who knows, maybe my little TB really is a good luck charm to some.

So what about you? Do you have any tips for preventing a TB or Coin from going missing? I would love to read them below.

Many of us find just as much thrill, if not more, in hiding caches as we do in finding them. But finding fun, creative places to hide them can be a challenge. So I'm writing this post today to START a list, that I hope you and all of the other awesome Geocachers who read this blog will add to, eventually making this page the ultimate geocache hiding spot resource full of hundreds of different hiding spot ideas =)

So I'll get it started with my 3 favorites.

1. Bird House Cache: I've found a few of these and I always enjoy them. One in particular was hanging from a tree & painted with Geocaching colors.
2. Near Cool, Unknown Spots: Obviously this is a very generic idea, but I wanted to list it because in all honesty some of my favorite finds were hidden near little spots in my area I never would have known about if it weren't for that cache. Hidden monuments, an old house with a story etc. are all great places to hide a cache.
3. At your Home: This requires a little common sense, a quick explanation to neighbors and some very clear rules in the description, but it can be alot of fun. It's not for everyone, but for people like me and my Wife, we enjoy seeing cachers come and go and when we have a minute we like going out and having a chat with them. This is a great way to meet new people in the area and get to others in the hobby.

So what are your favorites? Please leave a comment with your favorite hiding spots and be sure to bookmark this page for ideas next time you're ready to hide a cache.

Happy Caching!
Josh Spaulding
"The Mad Cacher"

In this short video I explain how to be the first to find (FTF) new caches. I walk you through how to set up Instant Email notifications on the Geocaching website so you'll be instantly notified every time there is a new cache published in your area, allowing you the opportunity to jump on it and be the first to find =)

Pocket Queries are the "Easy Button" of Geocaching! I was a long-time Cacher before learning what they were, so although you may already know all about them, I can only assume there are alot of Cachers who, like me, have been caching for a while and still don't know what they are.

So, let me explain. A Pocket Query is basically a Geocache filter that the main Geocaching website offers at http://www.geocaching.com/pocket/ There isn't any ONE thing that pocket queries are for, which is what makes them so great!

SO, let's say you want a list of caches within 30 miles of your home coordinates that you haven't found yet. Too easy. Just go to the pocket query page, check a few boxes and you have your list, which is emailed to you and can be downloaded in GPX format, which means with most GPS units you can actually UPLOAD it directly to your GPSr! (no more entering caches into your GPS one at a time.)

You can also upload this list to compatible devices like iPhones, iPods, iPads (and I'm sure several others.) You don't even need an internet connection with these devices, because all of the cache details are already there, which means PAPERLESS CACHING!

Now, let's say you're a FTF addict No problem. Go to the pocket query page and tell it to run every single day... and to find caches that "Have not been found" and every day you'll get a report in your email inbox of all caches within your specified radius of the location you specified (if any) that have never been found. KEEP IN MIND THOUGH, this is generated daily. So if you're a BIG FTF hunter, the best thing to do is to set up notifications for instant alerts of new caches.

There are many other possibilities. You can filter your queries by difficulty, container type, terrain, attributes and more.

So as you can see, Pocket Queries make finding the caches you're interested in finding much quicker and easier. Not to mention the other, added benefits like the ability to preload all caches in a specified location to your GPSr at once... paperless caching etc.

Do you use Pocket Queries? I would love to hear what you use them for and anything else related them in the comment field below.

We recently moved about 30 minutes minutes away from our last home and decided to put out caches up for adoption. We edited each cache page letting people know that we were looking for someone to take them over. We received a few messages from cachers who wanted them. But we couldn't figure out HOW.

We looked all over the Geocaching website. We did all kinds of searches on Google... nothing. The best we could get is "contact a reviewer."

So, I go to the profile of our local reviewer and right there on his Geocaching profile were instructions on how to do it.

It's very simple. Geocaching.com has made it quick and easy by creating a page that automates the process.

Just go to: http://www.geocaching.com/adopt/

Enter the cache code or the Travel Bug Tracking ID, then enter the username of the cacher you want to adopt it and a request will be sent to them. Once they accept, it's theirs.

Very easy. It took about 1 minute to transfer all 5 of the caches we had near our previous home.

It's been a long while since I've written a post here. I've been a busy guy getting things packed, moved and unpacked into our new home. Unfortunately that means I haven't had much time for caching lately

Now that things are settled down that's about to change though! I've already found a perfect hiding spot for a cache near our new home.

Today I just wanted to write a quick post about the recent Geocaching Bomb Scare that occurred in Anaheim, CA last month. If you didn't hear about it, you can read all about it here.

About a dozen fire trucks from Anaheim and Fullerton were sent to the area along with a hazmat team and the Orange County bomb squad.

My first reaction is "Are you kidding me?" Geocaching has now been around for 10 years now. It's a World-wide hobby. Any good bomb squad is going to know about the hobby. It should be S.O.P. to check the Geocaching.com site before expending all of these resources!

But, what's done is done. And it does serve as a good reminder for those of us who hide caches. Caches hidden in public places can be fun as they add difficulty to the hide, but a light post cache (LPC) for instance, in the center of a busy parking lot may not be a good spot to hide a cache unless it is in a spot where cachers can somehow retrieve and replace it discreetly, without attracting attention. OR unless you specify night cache only.

On the flip side of that, if you come up on a cache that is obviously surrounded by muggles should you REALLY go for it?

If there is one or two muggles in the area who look friendly I just tell them. "Hey, I'm playing a game called Geocaching. You can read about it at Geocaching.com" I've done that several times and I've never had an issue. Most people don't care. Some are curious and want to try Geocaching, but I've NEVER had anyone act worried or suspicious after simply telling them what I'm doing.

So, those are my thoughts on the whole situation. What do you think about caches in high-muggle areas?

img credit: Katie@!

When we first started Geocaching in order for us to know the details of each cache we were about to look for I would take a piece of paper and write down the Geocache code so we know which one to plug into the GPS, the hint (if given,) the cache size, the difficulty if 3 star or more, any info in the description that I believe may help find the cache and if one or more of the last few logs were DNF's I add that too, just so I know that it may not be there.

After our first 100 finds or so, I got tired of spending 20+ minutes writing all of that stuff down. That's when we started printing out the full cache page. It's much quicker and easier, but it takes alot of paper and printer ink, especially if you have a long day of caching planned.

There are a few programs out there that help with this. The most popular is called the "Geocaching Swiss Army Knife" (GSAK) but in my experience it's incredibly confusing and difficult to use. As a matter of fact, I uninstalled it on the same down I installed it because it just gave me a headache trying to figure it out.

SO, I'm on a mission to make cache hunt preparation quicker, easier and far less complicated! I'm going to have a piece of software developed that is simple to use... does exactly what needs to be done, nothing more and nothing less!

But I need your help! I need to know how you prepare for your hunts. I know those using iPhones are all set (I'm jealous and may end up leaving verizon just so I can get an iPhone.)

But if you aren't a spoiled iPohone user please let me know how you prepare. Do you write down cache info? Do you print the cache pages out like we do? Do you use software?

I'll be using the info I get from you in order to have this software developed and you'll have the opportunity to use it once it's finished.

Thanks and Happy Caching!

img credit: Oberazzi

It's human nature to want to hide any type of deficiencies in your life. And it's no different with hobbies. Especially hobbies that are as addicting as Geocaching! But, is a Did Not Find (DNF) really a deficiency? NO, it's not!

Show me a Geocacher with a perfect track record... one who has found every single cache he or she has hunted for and I'll show you a Geocacher who doesn't log their DNF's because it's simply not possible (unless you do VERY little geocaching.)

Caches get muggled. Caches get moved. Caches get destroyed. And I could go on and on with very realistic possibilities. Possibilities that are a reality for many caches every single day.

So why not just log your DNF's? Anyone who thinks you're any less of a cacher just because you have some DNF's obviously doesn't understand our hobby, so who cares about what they think of it. And anyone who really understands the hobby isn't going to think twice about DNF's.

When people don't log DNF's it causes a problem. A problem that I've encountered several times with several of my own caches. Caches go missing and since so many people are afraid to log the DNF, it takes months for the cache owner to realize the cache is gone. This is especially problematic with 3+ star caches.

So please, log your DNF's and help make this awesome hobby even more awesome

Happy Caching!

It's winter time in the U.S. and many other Countries on this side of the World. That means less geocaching for some, but for others it just means that they have slightly more of a challenge now.

My goal for this post is to provide some tips for cache owners and hunters during the Winter months . But I also want to provide some motivation and remind you that Geocaching is not only fun; it's mentally and physically healthy! So don't let the cold weather keep you indoors. Get out there and have some fun finding caches, while improving your health at the same time.

Winter Geocaching Tips and Reminders

1. Safety - Obviously the first reminder is the most boring, but most important too. Be SAFE! People have been tragically killed in accidents while caching and during the Winter months there are more hazards than ever! Never go geocaching alone! It doesn't matter who you are or how fit you are. Anyone can slip, bust their head open, lose consciousness and freeze to death. I know that sounds bad, even morbid, but it's a reality, so please keep it in mind.

2. Cache Maintenance - Probably the biggest issue with cache containers in the winter months, especially in areas with heavy snow, is wet logs. The most important thing is to use sturdy containers that are air-tight. But it's also a good idea to keep moisture packs in your caches. Above all keep up your responsibility of checking on and maintaining your cache(s) more frequently during the winter. If you don't maintain any caches, you can always help out your fellow cachers by bringing alog some small zip lock bags for those caches you find that need protection from the elements.

3. Watch your tracks - If you're caching in the snow or mud think about your tracks. Lots of tracks are like a big arrow and muggles like following big arrows

4. Use Pencils - In freezing weather, pens will not work in many cases. Be sure to carry a few pencils along with you.

5. Don't damage frozen containers - If you go geocaching in freezing weather you are almost guaranteed to come across multiple caches that are frozen shut. Don't ruin the cache by hitting it against hard object in an attempt to open it. You couuld break the seal and ruin the fun for everyone. Take along some cheap, throw away hand warmers. Often times holding one or two hand warmers against the lid will melt away the ice enough to open it. Also your car heater will do wonders.

That's all I have for now. Don't let the cold keep you inside all winter. Geocaching is fun year round. It's up to you whether or not you go out and collect on those fun times or not

Happy Caching!

img credit: Ronan_C

One thing I'm sure many Geocachers wonder is how some people add images, links and flashy design elements to their Geocache listings.

The answer is HTML (HyperText Markup Language) which is basically the code that your Internet browser, like Internet Explorer, reads in order to display a web page. When you create a new Geocache listing and submit it, the server turns it all into html behind the scenes. Since the broswer can't read your mind, if you don't use html in your listing it just displays your listing as plain text.

So, now that the explination is out of the way, I'll show you how to create links and display images in geocache listings.

Creating a link in a geocache listing

1. When composing your listing, you'll see "The descriptions below are in HTML" option under "Details". You must tick that box in order for this to work (Very Important!) Please see below:

2. Copy and paste the following line of code into your listing:

<a href="http://www.url.com/">Link Text</a>

3. Replace the URL within the code with the URL that you want the link to point to.

4. Replace the Link Text with whatever you want your link text to be.

So here are two examples for you. If you wanted the words "this is an example" to be linked to http://www.examplesite.com/this-is-an-example-page.php the code would look like this:

<a href="http://www.examplesite.com/this-is-an-example-page.php">this is an example</a>

That would display like this: this is an example

Or if you wanted the URL to display the actual URL the code would look like this:

<a href="http://www.examplesite.com/this-is-an-example-page.php">http://www.examplesite.com/this-is-an-example-page.php</a>

That would display like this: http://www.examplesite.com/this-is-an-example-page.php

That's all there is to it. Now you can use that code to create links within sentences or anywhere else you want.

Adding images to Geocache listings

Adding images is very similar to adding links. A line of code, just like a link.

1. Copy and paste the following line of code into your listing where you want your image to display:

<img src="http://www.website.com/images/testpicture.jpg">

2. You will need a URL for the image, so the image will need to be upload to a website.
You can do that by uploading your image to a popular image sharing site like Flickr.com or something similar.
These sites give you a URL to your image.

3. Replace the image URL in the code with the image URL of your image.

That's it. Your image will then display on the Geocache listing!

Fixing the spacing issue when using HTMl in a listing

When you use HTML in your listing, you will notice that all of the text is all bunched up. To fix this you'll just need to use a few HTML tags. Put this at the beginning of each paragraph:

<p>

And put this at the end of every paragraph

</p>

That will create a white space between each paragraph. Additionally, you can use the following to start a new line:

<br />

That's it. With the tips in this article you should now be able to easily add links and images to your Geocaching listings.