Introducing Geocaching Challenges - Sort Of

Well someone threw it out on the forums, so I thought I would throw a little bone out here.  This new geocaching.com update added some of the backbone for the challenges/virtual system, and some forum discussion is going on about it.

http://www.geocaching.com/my/challenges.aspx

I know they have spoken about it at a couple of events, but I really do not know what has been discussed.  Without knowing what can and cannot be discussed I will stop my personal discussions here.

Here is a clip from Jeremy Irish:

In the UserVoice updates I never said that virtuals were coming back in their previous form, but instead something would be available that should capture the interest in virtuals without the baggage (such as the subjective review process).

To me, this is the most exciting project that we've worked on in years, but it will take some time to iterate through the idea and I know we'll get some things wrong, but the framework is solid. We'll be investing a substantial amount of effort with this project moving forward.

Some points:

• It will be on Geocaching.com, not a new web site. It will be a separate section in the beta, but I expect it to be integrated into a joined search at some point.
• Currently they will not go towards your find count, but it might at some point. It won't at the beginning though.
• It will be a visible statistic, so you will see them on the profile, on the logs, etc.
• We'll be hopefully launching with mobile applications to compliment the activity. I expect that the majority of participants will be using smartphones, but we will have components (Pocket Queries, GPX file downloads, etc) for traditional GPS devices.

So that is what I have to share.  Some who went to Mega Events might want to share info that you have heard.  

My GUESS as to the release.  End of the month, I would also think at the same time all the phone apps will be upgraded to them as well.

Update on 2011-08-06 17:02 by firennice

Highlight - Germany

Population 81 Million people, 138,000 square miles, Nearing 200,000 geocaches

Comparison to California

Population 37 Million people, 160,000 square miles, Nearing 100,000 geocaches.

It is amazing to me to see a country where caching has taken off like Germany.  So much so that groundspeak is doing a series of videos highlighting caching there.

The thought I had was a country the size of Montana or New Mexico.  With 81 million people in it.  (That is a lot of people) and not a lot of country and mountains has nearly 200,000 geocaches.  Making it the biggest group of cachers outside the United States. 

There is a large group of reviewers for Germany.  There are about 35 reviewers in Germany, and they review a vast number of different kinds of caches.  On a day to day basis 15-20 come across my queue in Utah.  Sometimes far more, and in the winter maybe 5-15.  I think about 15% are puzzle caches, and 2-3% multi caches, it is rare that I see anything else.

However Germany is full of creative puzzles and multi caches.  The sheer number make people take the time and look at what they are doing. Make something that people can talk about and stand in awe of.

I notice the difference when I look at the map.  In Utah and many of the other states in the US you see a sea of green tiles with some blue tossed in.  here you see the yellow of the multicaches as well.

That creates a huge challenge for the cache placer and the reviewers.  there are far many more caches where you may not know where the physical stages or the finals are.  You have to be much more careful and expect to be told that there is a problem.

In any case I recommend that a cache page be created with the approximate coords then email the reviewer asking if there are issues.  Nothing is more depressing than someone traveling 50 miles up into an area and finding out that there is a cache located nearby.

Well.  That is it for today.  See you soon on the trail.

Update on 2011-08-05 16:31 by firennice

International Geocaching Day

August 20th 2011

The magic day.  On that day will be the International Geocaching Day.  In the future the plan is that we hold it every 3rd Saturday of August.

Groundspeak has said they are making a special souvenir for everyone that caches or attends an event that day.

Contrary to some rumors there is no special Icon for events held that day.  There will be one event in Seattle that appears to have a special icon, but it will not be available for other events.   It is a one shot deal, go there and get it or miss it.

Remember to take the time to go find a cache that day, and celebrate.

Update on 2011-07-29 22:57 by firennice

Geocaching accidental death and safety

Sometimes in the process of caching I find a story that saddens me.

This one came accross my computer today.

On Wednesday July 20th at around 2:20 pm the Creston RCMP, BCAS Services and Nelson Search and Rescue were dispatched to a roadside pull off area near Alkokli Creek Rd, where a 75 yr old man had fallen down a steep embankment after the group had stopped to locate a geocache site.

Despite the efforts of the man's family who were with him and another group of motorists who also assisted to provide first aid and CPR, the man died at the scene as a result of the injuries sustained in the fall.

It is sad to think what can happen.  I have ran into spiders that I were sure were going to kill me, and a few places that made me question my sanity.  My thoughts and prayers go out to him and his family during this difficult time.

I teach the Boy Scout merit badge on geocaching.  One of the first sections is safety.  Often we toss that aside.  Some go crazy to grab a cache, but don't forget to look around.  Snakes, spiders, loose ground, cliffs, on a busy road, etc.  No cache is worth dying to try and get (except maybe the space station). 

People forget what is around them.  Take a moment when you look, and think before you go.  I know cachers that do slot canyons and cliffs.  They go prepared with helmets, ropes and safety gear.  Other friends that explore caves and old mines, they take helmets, ropes, multiple lights, and backup gear. 

Any cache is findable, but plan ahead and be safe.  I would be horror struck to find out that some cache of mine caused a death. I try and warn people beforehand.  Geocaching does not police the danger, that is up to the individuals.  The police in the article give some great advice.

We do caution people to consider the terrain at these sites, to ensure that it is safe to attempt to retrieve the item, if deemed that it's in rough terrain, simply skip it. -Cpl Dan Moskaluk

Update on 2011-07-25 20:16 by firennice

Time to geocache again

I have been busy this summer, camping with the family, sleeping, working, eating, sleeping, etc. 

There has been a lot going on so I thought that I would toss some stuff out that I noticed.

Tico Jeffrey

Latitude 47 the geocaching blog did an article on Tico Jeffrey.   I have been happy over the last few years to see a number of his caches listed.  So it was cool and a surprise to have him highlighted. Congrats for all your caching, and the article

Geocacher of the Month

Also on Latitude 47 is the geocacher of the month.  Geocaching.com is going to select outstanding cachers.

Groundspeak needs your help acknowledging a geocacher each month that stands out by inspiring other geocachers with their innovation, creative hides and/or logs, respect for the environment, and geocaching etiquette.

It goes with the focus this last year to improve he hides and highlight outstanding caches and now cachers.   There will be a special coin, hat, and certificate given out.

So if there is someone that inspires you.  They may be creative in hiding, or showing respect for others and the environment around us.  Email geocacherofthemonth @ groundspeak.com

Every nomination must meet the following requirements. Please include your name, the name of your nominee, their username, at least one picture of the nominee and description (in 500 or fewer words) explaining why he or she deserves to be the Geocacher of the Month. Please inform your nominee that you’ve submitted them for the award. Nominations for the first Geocacher of the Month must be received by August 4^th.

It is a great way to point out to others cachers that have contributed to the community we are a part of.  Perhaps they have found 200 but share experiences with others.  Perhaps they have placed a number of creative hides, make logs that are interesting.   Toss out their names.

Munzee

A munzee is a little barcode tag that you hide.  Similar to a geocache.  Someone hides it and then you go find it and scan it with your phone.

I thought the idea was cool, as I played with it for a while.  However it quickly lost its luster as I began to think why I would place one instead of a geocache.  It is just as much work, more difficult to create the tags, then activate them.  They are not as usefull in the mountians (looking for a little tag)

So thought they are interesting.  I would much rather place a micro cache then go out and place a munzee. No offense to the munzee folk, but it is the same reason I would rather deal with geocaching than opencaching.   There are more, they are reviewed so you dont place a cache in a sensitive spot, phone GPS are mediocre. (for placing and finding).  Plus there are not enough players and none around. Bleh... back to my wherigo I am working on... actuall one of my two wherigos, or is it three I am working on.

Update on 2011-07-22 05:19 by firennice