Here’s a spotlight on the next five, new cachers. Thanks you to the cachers who answered my questions. It’s been fun learning about all of you! ~ Tabbikat
- How did you become involved in geocaching
- What is your most memorable Delaware cache?
- Where have you always wanted to do some caching but haven’t yet?
- What kind of caches do you enjoy the most?
- What changes have you seen in caching since you started?
- Whatt advice would you give a new geocacher in finding caches or hiding them?
- Do you have a funny story about an interaction with a muggle?
- What are your caching goals?
- If you had to use a PAF, who would you call because they have a great memory?
- Where have you been caching before that you would recommend to other cachers?
Drew136
8020 caches found
1. How did you become involved in geocaching?
I read about it in the News Journal. A friend of mine then gave me a Garmin E-trex and my journey began.
2. What is your most memorable Delaware cache?
I have a few: I enjoyed Nick Horn’s “One Step Forward, Two Steps Back”, a really tough cache for two beginners. It was a daunting puzzle and a tough hide. I enjoyed Mike Ott’s Year 2000 Challenge – it encouraged me to head up to New England to grab all those old caches – a great trip with my son. I also enjoyed Mike’s Caching Like its 2002 in Delaware Challenge – another great trip to grab all the old caches with my caching friends.
3. Where have you always wanted to do some caching but haven’t yet?
All the states I haven’t been to yet; Key West, and New Orleans.
4. What kind of caches do you enjoy the most?
Caches that blend well into their surroundings; caches that challenge you by hiking, climbing or making you think; caches that take you to interesting places, like old graveyards or historical sites.
5. What changes have you seen in caching since you started?
More pill bottles and Tupperware; less film containers and ammo cans. More C&D’s, less hikers; Power and Biking trails are coming on strong.
6. What advice would you give a new geocacher in finding caches or hiding them?
In finding them: expand your search area before you give up; as most caches aren’t evil, the coordinates are soft. In hiding them: find at least 100 before you hide 1. And recheck your coordinates several times.
7. Do you have a funny story about an interaction with a muggle?
Muggles almost always just want to know what we are doing. I usually tell them. Their next question is almost always how much money we get from caching or how much we find in the containers. I usually disappoint them.
8. What are your caching goals?
To find at least 10,000, to cache in all 50 states, to hunt down all 50 oldest state caches, to finish the ET trail, to complete the Jasmer Challenge, and to find the original hide and Groundspeak HQ.
9. If you had to use a PAF, who would you call because they have a great memory?
Just about everyone I’ve asked for assistance has been a big help to me at one point or another. Rick (shorttripp) has a good memory. Mike Ott has a good memory if he isn’t cranky. Jan (Evanspack) has a good memory too.
10. Where have you been caching before that you would recommend to other cachers?
Albuquerque, San Antonio, Seattle, Central Park, Sanibel Island, Newport, RI, Mesa Verde, Monument Valley and Death Valley.
Mortonfox – Po
19,980 caches found
1. How did you become involved in geocaching?
Someone (probably ManInTheWild) mentioned geocaching on Where’s George IRC in April 2001. Then I signed up and went off to look for “Pumper” in Rockland County, NY. It wasn’t the best cache but I thought the location was interesting. (old stone structure ruins)
2. What is your most memorable Delaware cache?
It’s a virtual but I did Tour De Solar System a very long time ago and I still remember it. I also remember that it was raining on that day and it was the first time I really explored the UD / downtown Newark area.
3. Where have you always wanted to do some caching but haven’t yet?
The UK. But I need a really good reason other than geocaching to visit the country first.
4. What kind of caches do you enjoy the most?
I like caches that are sponsored by nature centers. Those always seem to be educational, thoughtfully-placed, and well-maintained.
5. What changes have you seen in caching since you started?
Considering that I started in 2001, I’d say cache density has
increased tremendously. When I went to Virginia Beach on vacation in 2001, I was done with the whole area after finding 8 geocaches! I can now go pretty much anywhere, even in the most rural of areas, and see more geocaches in the listings than I have time for. There are now a lot more micros compared to regular and small caches. Folks are quicker to note inaccurate or soft coordinates nowadays. Back when I started, there were geocaches that were 50 feet off in deep woods but we found those without much issue because we expected to have to search the whole area anyway.
Perhaps the biggest change has been the way I cache. I used to bring printouts but now, I have cache information on smartphone where it can be filtered and browsed efficiently. Also, GPS navigation seems to have improved and automotive GPSes have become a lot more affordable.
There are a lot more rules now concerning where and how one may place geocaches. I don’t agree with every single restriction but I
appreciate that one is less likely to encounter nasty surprises while
geocaching.
There also seem to be more ticks and chiggers in recent years but this may be a weather-dependent phenomenon. Either that or I am now more aware of those.
6. What advice would you give a new geocacher in finding caches or hiding them?
Wait for the GPS to settle before reading coordinates. I’ve heard
complaints about specific devices or smartphones being inaccurate but those usually work fine for geocaching if you wait a few minutes.
7. Do you have a funny story about an interaction with a muggle?
I was doing a lunchtime cache in Garret Mountain Reservation in
Paterson, NJ. There was a van that appeared to be unoccupied parked next to the cache site. So I went and looked for the cache. What I didn’t know was there was a couple having a lunchtime quickie (the other kind of lunchtime quickie) in the back of the van. When I grabbed the cache, a man in a bathrobe hopped out of the back of the van, hurriedly got into the driver’s seat, and drove to the next parking lot! (which was unfortunately where the next cache was)
8. What are your caching goals?
I don’t really have many goals. I want to have fun, do a lot of
geocaching, and always end up around where I plan to have dinner.
9. If you had to use a PAF, who would you call because they have a great memory?
I don’t have many cacher phone numbers in my contacts. I guess if I’m in his area, I’d text Gumshoe89 because he has supplied good
intelligence on some caches before.
10. Where have you been caching before that you would recommend to other cachers.
I’ve always liked Lancaster since I started going there. The area has
a character of its own with lots of scenery and Amish novelties to
see.
Tabbikat – Chris
7230 caches found
1. How did you become involved in geocaching?
I was in a hiking group at the time and a man in the group who was a Boy Scout leader, told me about geocaching. I looked it up and found my first cache near my house. I was hooked ever since.
2. What is your most memorable Delaware cache?
My most memorable Delaware cache was Collins Beach, which is archived now. I had never been back there nor did I know this old house and graveyard existed. Another great thing about caching bringing you to places you didn’t know about. I loved seeing the old house, tower and graveyard. There are new caches there now so it’s still worth the trip!
3. Where have you always wanted to do some caching but haven’t yet?
I’ve always wanted to go caching in New Orleans. It’s a city I’ve always wanted to go to check out the history, nightlife and food. Plus there are a lot of caches there!
4. What kind of caches do you enjoy the most?
I enjoy cemetery caches the most. The locations are usually so beautiful and peaceful. Plus, there aren’t too many muggles around.
5. What changes have you seen in caching since you started?
In the short time I’ve been caching, going from printing out the cache pages to paperless printing has been amazing. Thanks to the new types of gps units. I’ve also noticed how the word is spreading about caching. It seems to be mentioned in more newspapers, movies, etc.
6. What advice would you give a new geocacher in finding caches or hiding them?
For hiding caches, just be aware of your surroundings when picking a location. Know what poison ivy looks like or if there is an appropriate place to park.
7. Do you have a funny story about an interaction with a muggle?
One that comes to mind was when I was in Baltimore working on the SSB caches and we had to search a bench. There were two men sitting there so I asked them if we could look underneath. They said ok and the one man said, “She must be looking for a diamond ring!” Haha, I wish!
8. What are your caching goals?
My caching goals are to cache in more states and fill in my map. I have my map hanging up at work and I’m always thinking of how to color more red on it!
9. If you had to use a PAF, who would you call because they have a great memory?
If I have to use a PAF, I call anyone who’s number I have!
10. Where have you been caching before that you would recommend to other cachers?
There are so many places I’ve loved caching. Louisville KY had some memorable caches, but the coast of Maine is absolutely beautiful. Closer by, I would say Eastern shore of MD has been a lot of fun with nice caches.
Rehobch – Jerry
12,345 caches found
1. How did you become involved in geocaching?
Bought a GPS & then had to find something to do with it!
2. What is your most memorable Delaware cache?
Thurston Howell’s Treasure by Delawhere. She really has some innovative caches. Too bad this one is archived.
3. Where have you always wanted to do some caching but haven’t yet?
Hawaii .
4. What kind of caches do you enjoy the most?
Regular caches with a short hike of no more than .2 miles.
5. What changes have you seen in caching since you started?
Massive switch from regular to micro caches. Way too many LPs & GRs. Log books of regular caches used to have many comments & logs. Now they are just signed & the logs are all online.
6. What advice would you give a new geocacher in finding caches or hiding them?
For finding, start with the easier ones and don’t be discouraged by DNFs. For hiding them- definitely do NOT use a smart phone to get the cache coords. Many of them have large errors & it makes it tough if not impossible to find a micro in the woods that is 50-100 ft off. And while I’m at it, if you’re hiding a cache in the woods that is very unlikely to be muggled, why not hide a regular instead of a micro?
7. Do you have a funny story about an interaction with a muggle?
Got caught once opening a cache beside a bridge with a small stream. The muggle asked if I was inspecting the water & how was the quality. I told him it was fine for fishing- but don’t eat them!
8. What are your caching goals?
To have fun caching and to place new ones- especially puzzles!
9. If you had to use a PAF, who would you call because they have a great memory?
Definitely any cacher younger than myself!
10. Where have you been caching before that you would recommend to other cachers.
Near Martinsburg , WV . A cacher there, WVTIm, has quite a few homemade gadget caches that are great fun to find and open.
Shorttripp – Rick
5842 caches found
1. How did you become involved in geocaching?
In Feb. 2008 A friend and I were at a High School Wrestling match. He asked me if I ever heard about Geocaching and said yes, but didn’t know much about it. He said come with my wife and I we are going to get some caches in the area. Told me that they had looked for a cache and didn’t find it. The next day we went to Red Lion road in Kirkwood. Parked and started looking. The deli was on the opposite corner, I even went in and asked. They knew nothing about it. My first GPS was a Nuvi200 and in about 15 minutes we had it in hand. Cache name “71” my first cache. My friends no longer cache and they are around 150 finds.
2. What is your most memorable Delaware cache?
The “Tidbury Triple” in Tidbury Park.
3. Where have you always wanted to do some caching but haven’t yet?
Nevada, California and Oregon. Have a few caches in Florida and would like to back.
4. What kind of caches do you enjoy the most?
Trails where you can drive or bike.
5. What changes have you seen in caching since you started?
They gave us a stat. page instead of making your own. Caches get published much faster.
6. What advice would you give a new geocacher in finding caches or hiding them?
In hiding they should not use their phones. In finding them expand your search area. Always have a PAF.
7. Do you have a funny story about an interaction with a muggle?
Was down state looking for a Rehobch cache on a GR. When a woman riding a bike came by and asked what we were doing. Explained and she helped search. I think she was homeless because her basket on the bike was full of clothes and acted a little weird. Just then Jerry drives by and sees us, said we were very close but we needed a stronger extracting tool. He went home and returned with it . We got the cache and the Lady wanted to go for more. We left and so did Jerry.
8. What are your caching goals?.
Finding 100 a month or more.
9. If you had to use a PAF, who would you call because they have a great memory?
IMSpider, Drew136. Hostanut if I’m in his area.
10. Where have you been caching before that you would recommend to other cachers?
New Jersey it’s close and there are a lot of driving and biking trails.
