Multi-Cache GC3KWJE by duck 43 Difficulty: 3 Terrain: 1.5 Location: Western Australia, Australia S 32° 00.400 E 115° 50.109 Have you ever wished for a magic wand that could solve all of your problems with just a wave? While wielding this power in everyday life may only exist in fairy tales, you can experience the next best thing. Visit this Multi-Cache where your wish for a “magic” wand comes true to reveal the smiley for this Geocache of the Week! Image by duck 43 – Perth, Western Autstralia's capital city, can be viewed in the background of GZ The backdrop for the Multi, Magic Wand, is the capital city of Perth in Western Australia (WA). Ground zero overlooks the Swan River, an idyllic estuary that contrasts the bustling metropolis of WA's largest city. Cache owner, creative wizard, and Australia's highest Favorited hider, duck 43 located the spot over six years ago. “It was such a lovely location, I simply had to come up with something special. At the time I was not an experienced hider and could not have imagined how popular this cache would become.” Image by Dark Energy – the wand is in close proximity to the cache containerThere are two stages to the Multi-Cache: one for the cache container and one for the key to access the log— the magic wand! Step aside Harry Potter and Fairy Godmother, this wand consists of a classic, black rod with an attractive special feature (no, not fairy dust). “I don't know how I came up with the idea for the mechanism, but I knew I would have to use magnets to open the box,” duck 43 said of their creative process. The wand was specially made for this cache. The cache itself is nestled nearby under a natural, cave-like arch of foliage. It is comprised of an outer box (on which you can cast your spells) that provides protection for the inner Lock & Lock with logbook. Image by duck 43 – the container can be seen under a cave-like structure in the brushGeocachers can proclaim Alohomora! if they wish to astound young wizards with ‘sorcery' in opening this cache, but the components all conform to the laws of physical science. “It is quite simple really. A magnet moves across, like a latch, and prevents the lid from opening. By sliding a magnet on the outside, it would move another one on the inside which would move into a position to become a locking bolt. To close it you simply place the wand magnet in a position to repel the internal magnet.” Image by duck 43 – geocache container placed with permissionThe combination of a beautiful venue and cache design have drawn geocachers from across the globe to the Multi, including from the United Kingdom, the United States, and the Netherlands. “We have a limited population in Western Australia, so most geocachers have found it but people from overseas and interstate put it on their priority list. It has been muggled a couple of times but generally not badly and I have been able to fix it. . .The favourable logs help to keep me motivated!” The attention garnered this cache with over 200 Favorite points, the current leader in Western Australia. We're positive you'll understand why! Continue to explore some of the most amazing geocaches around the world. Check out all of the Geocaches of the Week on the Geocaching blog. If you would like to nominate a Geocache of the Week, fill out this form. [...]

From September 15 through September 23, over ten thousand geocachers participated in 2018's worldwide Cache In Trash Out® Events. Let's take a moment to do just a tiny bit of eco-math, shall we? If everyone picked up just one bag of garbage, each weighing 20 pounds (9 kilograms), that means a whopping 200,000 pounds (91,000 kilograms) of rubbish were gathered from Mother Earth. Nice work, geocachers! Take a look at ten wonderful Cache In Trash Out® 2018 moments from around the world. Kaena Point CITO, Hawaii — GC7VHK1 This monk seal hung out on beaches of Oahu's North Shore to offer moral support. Manquehue LimpieCITO, Chile — GC7X7X6 Six proud Chileans climbed The Manquehue Hill (Mañkewe, ‘place of condors'), the highest hill of the valley of Santiago for their CITO. How did young Mr. East take a boat to UB-ville?, Mongolia — GC7X2MP We found out that Mongolia has really big garbage cans in addition to geocachers who care. The Cutting & Seeding of Bell's Weir Meadow, Scotland — GC7W9TW Not all heroes wear capes. Some pour the tea at CITOs. Pomôžme materskej škole, Slovakia — GC7VHY3 These young geocachers gave an old rusty fence a fresh, rainbow-hued coat of paint.COLOSSEO CITO EVENT – FALL 2018, Italy — GC7VQC0 C'era un CITO vicino al Colosseo di Roma (There was a CITO near Rome's Coliseum).GCF18 – Au revoir à l'Île Mystérieuse, France — GC7BFVV A whopping 261 geocachers attended this CITO near GeoCoinFest in France.Leineauenputz 2018, Germany — GC7WMN7 Lots of teamwork happened at this CITO in Germany and many other events around the world.CITO Kullaberg 2018, Sweden — GC7WCYP These brave geocachers scaled down a ravine for their terrific T3 CITO.NEOGEO Adopt-A-Highway CITO #2, USA — GC7WDZEThis beautiful photo with flowers in the foreground and CITO-ers in the background was taken, and says it all. [...]

Multi-Cache GC1FPN1 by DerPate Difficulty: 2 Terrain: 4 Location: Bavaria, Germany N 48° 08.157′ E 011° 34.233′ Geocaching comes in many forms and shapes. Sometimes it is a quick park and grab, sometimes it is a nice hike through the forest, and sometimes it comes in the form of a 28 stage Multi-Cache that takes you on a trek across three countries. If the line “But I would walk 500 miles, and I would walk 500 more” appeals to you, this is the cache for you (though the actual distance is “only” 350 mi / 563 km). As the name suggests, München-Venedig / Munich-Venice / Monaco-Venezia takes you on a journey that starts at the Marienplatz in Munich and ends at St. Mark's Square in the heart of Venice. It follows a route which is one of the most popular long-distance hiking routes in Europe, referred to as “Traumpfad München-Venedig”. At each stage, you must find a clue that gives you information about the final coordinates of the cache. Make sure to be thorough, as it would be a shame to walk this far and then not find the actual cache! The hike takes you from the Bavarian lowlands across the Alps, through Austria, and into Italy. Along the way, you will experience the beauty of the Alps in all its facets, from lush rolling hills to breathtaking mountain passes and traditional lodges. Stage 16 on the way to Boèhütte is when you reach the highest point of the hike (1804 mi / 2904 m). Stage 22 is the most challenging part of the trek which requires climbing experience to cross the Klettersteig (equipment can be rented on site). But for those who feel less adventurous, there is a bus that will take you to Rif. 7° Alpini, the start of the next stage. From here on out, your journey takes you into the countryside of northern Italy. The remaining stages of the Multi let you focus on enjoying the landscape, fed by the Mediterranean Sea. This is only a glimpse of the sights leading up to your arrival in picturesque Venice and your well earned reward of finding the cache. In the 10 years since publication, this regular-sized cache has amassed 105 finds, 96 Favorite points, and nearly 2,000 images! Would you make the journey? Continue to explore some of the most amazing geocaches around the world. Check out all of the Geocaches of the Week on the Geocaching blog. If you would like to nominate a Geocache of the Week, fill out this form. [...]

Introducing the next challenge in our four month series “You might be a geocacher if…” From October 1 at noon UTC through October 29 at noon UTC, use the Friend League to individually earn points towards the “Caching Connoisseur” souvenir. Keep reading to learn October's challenge below! In October, you might be a Caching Connoisseur if… There are no LPC (lamp-post caches), guardrails, or PnG's (Park and Grabs) for you! You're all about creativity, the higher the Favorite points the better, and like a fine wine these quality caches have stood the test of time. To earn the Caching Connoisseur souvenir, earn 60 points individually on your Friend League beginning Monday, October 1 at noon UTC and ending at noon UTC Monday, October 29. During this time, earn higher points for finding geocaches with 10 or more Favorite points! A true connoisseur could achieve this score by finding four great caches. How many will it take you? The scoring*: Found a geocache with less than 10 Favorite points: 5 Found a geocache with 10+ Favorite points: 15 Attended Event: 5 Drop Trackable: 1 For example, if you log a geocache with over 10 Favorite points you will earn 15 points for logging the find, giving you a total of 15 points on your Friend League! There are no extra points for Difficulty/Terrain ratings this month. *The Friend League will not reflect this scoring until Monday, October 1 at noon UTC. FAQ: How do I play? Find different geocache types to individually collect 60 points on the Friend League between Monday, October 1 at noon UTC and Monday, October 29 at noon UTC and earn the Caching Connoisseur souvenir. How can I earn points? If you log a cache, attend an event, or perform other geocaching actions, you collect points. Action Point value Log a Found it on any geocache 5 Log a Found it on a geocache with 10 or more Favorite points 15 Attend any event 5 Drop off trackable 1 *The max number of points you can earn for any find log is 15 points by finding a geocache with 10 or more Favorite points. For example, if you log a geocache with over 10 Favorite points you will earn 15 points for logging the find, giving you a total of 15 points on your Friend League! There are no extra points for Difficulty/Terrain ratings this month. What is the Friend League? The Friend League is a leaderboard that shows you and your friends' geocaching activity. Earn points when you log a cache, attend an event, or complete other geocaching tasks. The number of points vary depending on the task at hand. The Friend League displays the total points you individually collect during the month. You can also see how many points your friends have earned. After October 1, the Friend League will reset to zero on Monday, October 29 at noon UTC when the next souvenir challenge will begin. Can I join at anytime? Of course! Join anytime between October 1 through October 29 and earn 60 points individually on your Friend League and earn the Caching Connoisseur souvenir. Where can I see my souvenirs? As soon as you collect a certain number of points, the associated souvenir will automatically be awarded to your profile. The souvenirs appear on your profile under the souvenir tab. Is the Friend League in the Geocaching® app? The Friend League is not in the Geocaching® app but can be viewed in your phone's web browser. My Friend League points aren't correct. Help! If you change a Note, DNF, or other log type to a Found it log, it will not be recognized on the Friend League. You may have found and logged a Lab Cache. At this time, the Friend League does not award points for finding Lab Caches. You logged on Monday, October 1 before noon UTC (convert to your local time here). We suggest that you wait to log until AFTER Monday noon UTC – which in some places like New Zealand is Tuesday at midnight – to log your geocaches. Otherwise the points will count towards the September challenge and not the October challenge. You saved a Draft on a Monday, October 1 before noon UTC (convert to your local time here). If you have already posted your logs, select “View / Edit Log / Images”, then click the pen icon and “Submit Log Entry” on the website. Your logs should now be counted towards your total. What does UTC stand for? Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) is the basis for civil time today. It is the time standard (not a time zone) commonly used across the world. You can convert UTC to your local time here. Do I get points for attending a CITO, Mega or Giga-Event? Yes. Attending any event earns you five points. Still have a question? Having trouble logging your finds? Have a question about scoring? The best way to get answers quickly is to write to us using this form. Thanks and good luck! [...]

Perfecting your geocaching treasure-hunting technique takes practice. The best kind of practice is simply to geocache more. Here are three quick tips that can help add more joy to geocaching for new cachers and those who have a few finds under their belts. 1. Set yourself up for successStart your first geocaching adventure by looking for geocaches with easier Difficulty and Terrain ratings, such as those below Difficulty 2, Terrain 2. Check the logs to make sure the geocache has been found recently. This will let you know the geocache will be in place. Search for a “regular” size or larger geocache that has at least a few Favorite points.2. Know your geocache containersGeocaches are often cleverly hidden. They might be camouflaged to look like a rock or to blend into the environment. Check out this video to see 5 Geocaches in 30 Seconds. If you're still stumped while looking for a geocache, check out the recent logs and the hint. You can also email the cache owner for an additional hint, or phone-a-friend who's also found the cache.3. Find a geocaching friendGeocachers enjoy sharing their geocaching adventures. Attend a local geocaching event to meet other geocachers or join a geocaching organization. They'll be glad to help with any questions and offer a wealth of knowledge into geocaching around your region.Once you've found a geocache, make sure to write a log thanking the cache owner and detailing your adventure. You might even spice up your log with some geocaching lingo like TFTC (Thanks for the Cache) or TNLN (Took Nothing Left Nothing). You'll be a geocaching pro in no time! [...]

If you've ever gone down a geocaching rabbit hole on YouTube, you likely came across Joshua Johnson, better known as The Geocaching Vlogger. His charisma and enthusiasm towards geocaching can be contagious on film. He's quirky, funny, relatable, and expressive. While most of us are excited internally when we find a cool cache, Joshua's extroverted enthusiasm expresses what we all feel but don't always show. Joshua began caching 10 years ago when some friends mentioned the game to him in passing. He purchased a Garmin eTrex GPS device and tested it out on a geocache across the street and thought to himself, “I drive by here everyday and never knew this existed! It was like a whole new world was opened up to me, and I have been hooked ever since.” A few years later, Joshua purchased his first Flip camera, recorded a geocaching adventure, posted it online, and never looked back. From 2011–2018 he has not missed a week of uploading at least one entertaining video of unique and awe-inspiring geocaches. Since there are so many cool hides in the archives of his YouTube channel, we wanted to ask him what makes a quality geocache and what words of inspiration he has for future cache hiders to make caches worthy enough for the big-screen — among a few other questions. Where did you grow up? I grew up in a small town in southern Minnesota. (Fairmont) What were your hobbies and interests back then? I have always been a performer. I took to the stage from a very young age. I was involved in a lot of theater. It wouldn't have been strange if you saw me in my youth impersonating Elvis Presley or Jerry Lee Lewis. Did you ever think creating video content was going to be a part of your life? Not really. I was very involved in video production when I was in high school. We had free reign of the local TV studio. It was almost eight years ago that I decided to get a Flip camera to film my kids growing up that I decided to start shooting video. The day I got it I tested it out by filming a geocaching adventure and putting it up on YouTube. Who knew that many years later I have never missed a week putting out a geocaching video. Do you have a career outside of Vlogging? Yes, I work for a non-profit that involves me speaking to young people in schools about the importance of kindness, courage, and respect. The cool thing is that it gives me a chance to travel which means new geocaches all the time! Do you ever find it difficult to find content? Not really. The great thing about geocaching is it often takes you to new amazing places, amazing creative caches, or allows you to meet fascinating people. Those are the three main ingredients for a great video and geocaching adventure! In your opinion, what makes a geocache stand out to you? Again, a creative geocache, an awesome unique location, and being with great people. If all three of those are present, it makes it stand out as an amazing experience. Top 5 favorite caches and why (in no particular order) “The Doctor is In!” – GC6YDR6 In my opinion this might be the best geocache in America. It is a Dr. Who Tardis smart cache that is truly an amazing interactive experience. “Sliding Rock Earthcache” – GC17869 I love geocaches that are an amazing experience. The cache involved the full of sliding down a long natural rock waterslide! So much fun! “The Hannover Germany Geotour” – GT31 You can't pick just one cache. EVERY…. SINGLE… CACHE… is awesome. The whole city of Hanover Germany is filled awesome caches. A geocachers dream for sure! Over 11,000 Favorite points, need I say more? “Mission 9: Tunnel of Light” – GC1169 This would be on many people's list. There is nothing like attending the Going Ape Mega Event walking through a two-mile tunnel to find an ammo can with hundreds of your best friends to get a famous ammo can! GC1169 “My Fair Lady” – GC78W0M I have never laughed or been more surprised than at this ingenious geocache! There is even a Lab Cache on site! What does a quality geocache look like to you? Something that you know has taken hours of time and thought to create. A geocache that has all the elements of art, tech, and craftsmanship is what really makes a geocache great. If an aspiring cache hider is reading this, what advice would you give them? Especially if they wanted to make it onto your show? Think to yourself, what kind of geocache or series of geocaches would make someone buy a plane ticket to find it? That kind of dedication to the excellence makes me excited! You're so expressive in your videos, what keeps you motivated, and how do you maintain that energy? I have passion for geocaching! The passion comes from the love of the activity. But it also comes from the countless stories I have heard from other geocachers that have watched my videos. When I have the opportunity to connect with viewers they have shared stories like how my videos have inspired them to get off the couch and start geocaching. I have had parents tell me that watch my videos with their kids before they go to bed and it motivates their whole family to go caching. I hear from others that say that the videos often are the bright spot in a difficult day. Stories like those motivate me to be positive and energetic when it comes to geocaching videos. Have you ever broken-down in laughter while recording? Yes, I once tried to explain the Jasmer Challenge on video and I just couldn't get the right words out. When watching back the “bloopers” I laugh quite a bit at myself. What were some of your favorite episodes to record and why? The episodes that involve my kids and co-workers are my favorite. My co-workers are a very animated bunch and often make for entertaining videos. I love filming people finding their first caches. There is nothing like seeing that “Eureka!” moment for the first time. That never gets old. If you were a geocache type, what type would you be and why? Wherigo, because you never know where I'll go next! New to The Geocaching Vlogger? Watch the playlist below to see him in action: [...]

Traditional GC6YDR6 by Doctor Dolittle and djwhouse Difficulty: 2.5 Terrain: 1.5 Location: Wisconsin, United States N 43° 08.855 W 087° 56.450 An apple a day keeps the doctor away. However, since this a doctor you'll definitely want to visit, grab your bananas instead, as we journey through time and space to our Geocache of the Week, The Doctor Is In. Image by muumitrollet For this adventure, the TARDIS has touched down just north of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Its ordinary Yale lock has transformed into a memory puzzle consisting of four lights that blink in increasingly difficult patterns. Cachers who travel with the Doctor must repeat the patterns perfectly. Only then are they rewarded with flashing lights, the signature TARDIS parking brake groan, and doors that open to reveal the famed “bigger on the inside” interior. Images by spiritwolf922 and SFC Soto, FIn addition to the standard logbook and pencil, the clever cache also includes props and costumes so fans can dress up as their favorite Doctor for a log photo that's sure to be fantastic! Image by PorkwatchCaching buddies Doctor Dolittle and djwhouse created a “next level” experience by choosing a theme with wide appeal. Doctor Who is such a well known and long running show (it celebrated its 50th birthday in 2013), that many fans around the world have made this cache a destination, awarding it over 350 dalektable Favorite points! Doctor Dolittle provided the original idea and TARDIS shell, while djwhouse installed the electronics necessary to replicate the TARDIS's iconic sounds and lights. To top it all off, the entire time machine is self sustaining — its 12 volt battery recharges via a solar panel. One of many schematics. Image by djwhouseThough these two cache owners live a full state apart, they worked together over text, phone calls, and many a day trip to bring this cache to life, and are absolutely thrilled by the happiness their cache has caused. djwhouse says: I read every log. I view every video I can find if someone puts their experience at the TARDIS online. For all the time, worry, sweat and effort that went in to make this vision a reality, I can definitely say the logs have been the sweetest reward and exceeded my expectations … Nothing should sensibly compensate a CO for the sweat and effort that can go into a challenging cache or series. Yet somehow, a simple log from you to me, that tells me you enjoyed your day, that cache, or just getting out and about is so appreciated! That's one tall cache! Photo by djwhouseFor aspiring Time Lords wanting to create a MASTERful geocache of their own, Doctor Dolittle has some advice: Go with what you know and things you like. Use your natural ideas. However, start off by copying some super caches, but still make them your own. For example, a singer can do a cover of an old song and make it new and unique. As you make your first caches, you will develop skills. Soon, you will have the experience to make your original ideas come to fruition. So allons-y, and don't forget to leave your TFTC or, as they say in Gallifreyan: Continue to explore some of the most amazing geocaches around the world. Check out all of the Geocaches of the Week on the Geocaching blog. If you would like to nominate a Geocache of the Week, fill out this form. [...]