February 26, 2014 / Derek H /

This one is a shoe-in. — Tree of Soles (GC27XEW) — Geocache of the Week

The Tree of Soles. Photo by geocacher RebelGTP

Geocache Name:

Difficulty/Terrain Rating:

1.5/1.5

Why this is the Geocache of the Week:

In my opinion, one of the coolest parts of geocaching is finding places you never would’ve seen before. Whether it’s a scenic lookout, a city park, a landmark—or in this case, something a little stranger. One of the running themes in the Found It logs for Tree of Soles is that it never would have been visited had there not been a geocache there. Think about your neighborhood, is there a secret amazing place that people should know about? It doesn’t have to be elaborate, just a new discovery to add a little delight to their day. If there is, consider hiding a geocache there and share that place with the world.

# of Finds:

149

# of Favorite Points:

What geocachers are saying:

“Wow…we’ve been to a ‘mug tree’ and we’ve been to a ‘shoe corner’, but we’ve never been to a ‘shoe tree’ until today! Life is full of surprises…thanks for bringing us here!” — JustUsTwo

“We added two pairs!!! My mom says her friend has been tossing her shoes into this tree since she was a teenager!! Too funny! They also call this ‘Roller Coaster Road’. I wonder how many pairs are lying in the woods here?? TFTC!” – getn froggy

“Awesome sight. Threw some wayward shoes back up there where they belong. Once again geocaching takes me to another cool place I never knew about.” – Aiwendil67

Photos:

There's something special about this place, but I can't quite put my foot on it. Photo by geocacher madameyounger — There’s something special about this place, but I can’t quite put my foot on it. Photo by geocacher madameyounger

Sunset at the tree of soles. Photo by geocacher MASIE2012

Walking a mile in these shoes may prove to be difficult. Photo by geocacher TomEagle55

See More Photos

What’s your favorite thing you’ve seen that you never would’ve discovered without geocaching? Post your stories and photos in the comments.

Continue to explore some of the most engaging geocaches around the globe. Check out all the Geocaches of the Week on the Geocaching blog.

If you would like to nominate a Geocache of the Week, leave a comment below with the name of the geocache, the GC code, and why you think we should feature it.

February 26, 2014 / Derek H /

Picture This: A Geocaching Trackable Frames a Journey

Geocaching trackables travel far and wide—hopping from geocache to geocache in the hands of geocachers. If we could hear the stories they had to tell, we’d have an endless supply of tales that include action, adventure, love and maybe even some sci-fi. We haven’t developed talking trackables just yet (soon?), but they can still tell a story via the pictures you post on the trackable’s page. The next time you pick up a Travel Bug or Geocoin, make sure to add to the story and post a photo of its journey to the next geocache. You could help tell a story like Kelly Frazee (geocaching name: kelwin).

Kelly recently had the opportunity to take a picture perfect bike tour across Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand—and she brought along the perfect travel companion: a Geocaching trackable. The trackable, “Picture This” (TBKXCT), is an ornate wooden frame and has the mission to collect as many interesting photos as possible. So as she pedaled along the Silk Roads, she took photos of the trackable and posted them in a note on the trackable’s page. Here are a few photos of this amazing journey:

Wat Phra Si Sanphet Ayutthaya, Thailand Photo by Kelly Frazee

Bayon Temple Siem Reap, Cambodia Photo by Kelly Frazee

Downtown Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam Photo by Kelly Frazee

Angkor Wat Temple Siem Reap, Cambodia Photo by Kelly Frazee

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam Photo by Kelly Frazee

Have you taken any trackables to amazing locations? Tell the story and post the photos below.

February 25, 2014 / Paige Edmiston /

Maker Madness Event Center

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Click on the map to find a Maker Madness event near you!

Whether you’re a Social Butterfly or a Nature Lover, a Stats Geek, Traveler, or Puzzler (take the quiz and find out your geocacher type), it’s time to say thank you to a geocache maker near you. From March 28 – April 7, geocachers around the world will join together to celebrate the people in their community who make geocaching possible. We call this celebration Maker Madness.

Every geocacher who logs an “Attended” at a registered Maker Madness event will earn a Maker Madness souvenir.

Take a look at these tips for hosting an event that will have your guests inspired to go forth and create their own magical geocaching experiences:

MakerMadness_Souvenir_LG_vFINAL — Maker Madness Souvenir Image

1.) Think ahead. The best geocaches are not just thrown together willy- nilly. They are a labor of love that take time and careful planning. The same should apply to your Geocaching Event. Do you need to make reservations for a venue? Do your guests need to bring their own creative supplies? Keep in mind that you have to submit your Geocaching Event at least 14 days prior to your Maker Madness celebration, which means that Monday, March 24th is the cut off date for your online submission. You will also want to submit the Maker Madness registration form as soon as your event is published.

2.) Think collaboration. Geocaches are a gift to the community. It’s time to get the community together to give back to those who make geocaching tick. To maximize the number of geocachers at your event, check to see if there is already another event published in your area. If there’s already an event, be a team player! See if you can help the event host with planning their event.

3.) Think education and inspiration. Are you an accomplished geocache maker? This is your chance to share your mad skills and big brain with your fellow geocachers. Incorporate a class or workshop into your event to show others how you implemented your best creations, or teach them the very basics of geocache making. Imagine what it would be like if every one of your guests walked out of your event inspired to make their own awesome creation. Imagine all of the cool, new geocaches to find!

4.) Think celebration. We heart geocache makers and we know that their local (and world) communities do too. If you yourself are not a maker, this is your chance to celebrate your favorites! Organize an event to show your appreciation, showcase their geocaches, and maybe even ask them to share a few of their best tips and tricks with all of their fans who attend the event.

We hope that these tips will help you to spread your creative geocaching juices, inspire a new generation of awesome hiders, honor your favorite makers, and (let’s hold nothing back) make your event the very best Maker Madness bash ever.

A few things to remember:

Dates: March 28 – April 7
Don’t forget to register your event after it has been published by a reviewer. Events that are not registered will not qualify for a souvenir.
You can check to see if your event or an event you are attending has been officially registered here.
Share photos and stories from your event with us on Facebook, Twitter, and/or Instagram.
And don’t worry – special Maker Madness GeoCoins, Tags, Trackable Patches, and T-shirts coming soon to Shop Geocaching!

February 25, 2014 / Annika /

Geocaching Caption Contest 41 – Win a Barely Coveted Prize

Help us find a caption for this stealthy predator – geocaching cat Mr. Pickles – , like “Just follow your nose to the geocache!” Tell us your funniest caption for this picture! You could even win a ‘barely coveted prize’ (emphasis on the ‘barely’) in the 41st Geocaching Caption Contest. This picture was discovered on the Recent Geocaching Log Images page. You can discover the 1000 most recent images from recent logs.

Continue reading →

February 24, 2014 / Derek H /

5 Geocaching Etiquette Tips

Keep your geocaching skills on the up-and-up.

There are two steps to any geocache: 1) it’s hidden and 2) others are challenged to find it. As easy as that is, it’s even easier to make sure you’re keeping your geocaching adventures on the up-and-up. Check out five helpful geocaching etiquette tips below or just watch the geocaching etiquette video.

Bring a Pen – It’s like the first day of school. You need to be prepared. Always pack a pen to make sure you’re ready to sign your Geocaching username and the date.
Leave No Trace – Be kind to the geocaching game board, which happens to be the entire world. Make sure to Cache In Trash Out (CITO) when you geocache: pick up litter along the way and don’t leave anything behind.
Write a Great “Found It” or “Didn’t find It” Log – When you find a geocache, or even when you don’t find a geocache, make sure to share the spirit of adventure with the geocache owner and for other geocachers. Write a log detailing your journey.
Put the Geocache Back Where and How You Found It – The geocache owner placed the geocache at a specific location for a reason. Make sure the owner can find it again later and that other geocachers have the same experience as you.
Move Trackables Along – If you remove a trackable, like a Travel Bug ®, from a geocache make sure to post a “retrieved” log and move it to another geocache as soon as possible.

These five steps will have you rocking the geocaching world in no time. What geocaching tips would you add? Post your thoughts on our Geocaching Facebook page. Oh, and don’t forget the sixth step: repeat steps 1 – 5 often!

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Official Blog

Month: February 2014