My last find was in 2016 and I'm looking to get back to it. What equipment and supplies are you taking with you on your adventures? Are you using a standalone GPS or just your phone?

Looking forward to seeing/hearing about your kit.

Bushwhacked for half an hour to get to this one in the middle of the forest.

This was in a recent puzzle cache I found. All these wooden blocks in a large container, which spelled out the title phrase when arranged correctly. The final container was, indeed, buried in the same spot!

Just a regular old find while walking around the neighborhood, but it made me happy so I wanted to share

Opensource geodata of celltowers, wifis and bluetooth beacons is crucial.

It allows apps like UnifiedNLP to give the OS the location data it needs, without relying on GPS Sattelites.

GPS can be tampered with, and A-GPS is not privacy friendly at all.

UnifiedNLP is only found included in microG, which is pretty insecure.

But GrapheneOS devs are working on a regular user app that serves network location data, using Apple, Apple (proxied) or a local BeaconDB database!

BeaconDB is a new service to replace MozillaLocationServices which has shut down unfortunately.

Apps like TowerCollector dont yet support it, but NeoStumbler does, and also has more advanced features.

Collect network info in your region, and in the future you (and everyone else using it) dont need GPS anymore!

(You can also use the screenshots in that mastodon thread as reference)

Source

Messaged some of the guys who did the cache, they pointed me towards something like this. Got it off of harbor freight, it's named "magnetic pickup tool."

"clever outdoor art installation: that’s what most passersby will think as they pass GZ. Little do they know, one of these bottles is not like the others. Thanks to the custom label, geocachers should be able to locate the correct bottle easily enough. Uncorking this cache will be a whole other challenge, though. Those who partake in puzzles will know to check the cache page to decant the mystery of this cache."

Geocaching Blog

Geopause, also known as Mid Cacher Crisis, is an affliction many geocachers suffer after a decade or two of geocaching. It is more pronounced in seasoned geocachers although it has been seen in all adults. The early stages of Geopause are often overlooked.

Stages of Geopause to look for:

1. The Introspective Phase

There is a time in a geocacher's career they realize the goals they set out early in their geocaching life have not been fulfilled. There may be Challenge grids left unaccomplished. They may lament over the lack of finds in other states, provinces or other countries. Geocachers begin to feel that their find count is inadequate and DNF's become a greater source of stress. It's during this period geocachers become withdrawn. You may find them on their phones or desktop computers looking at far-off geocache hides around the world.  Depression often sets in.

2. The Blame Phase

Children who loved geocaching in elementary school undoubtedly find other interests in their teens

I come across some caches that I haven't been able to find that indicate requires TOTT. What exactly are TOTT and do you need them? The only ones I've done are the birdhouses one where I use a long paint roller so that's obviously necessary. I did a nano size one that said it requires TOTT but it was a small ass magnet sized thing and I just found it using my eyes.

TLDR; What are TOTTs and do I need to buy TOTTs to do caches?

Geocaching HQ created a souvenir for geocachers to celebrate the September equinox. To earn this souvenir, geocachers must find a total of 3 geocaches, Event Caches, and/or Adventure Lab® Locations between September 22–28, 2024.

https://www.geocaching.com/blog/2024/09/celebrating-the-september-equinox/

My favorite feature: The Team-Mode, where you and friends can battle it out. Great when hanging around with a bigger group of friends, you can split up for a set amount of time and see, who gets the most points.

I am not affiliated with the app, but really enjoy it and thought that you guys might like it as well. Have a nice day!

Just saw this post via the cross-stitching community, and thought it'd fit perfect here too! Anyone use such a device to find magnetic nanos? Or is there a different tool of the trade you never go without?

https://mastodon.social/@Stitch26/113150645821886853

"Mechanics normally use a #Mechanics Telescoping Magnetic Pick-Up Tool 2 pick up small bolts & other metal that have fallen as they work, but those who #CrossStitch, #Sew, #Quilt, etc., can use it to pick up lost pins & needles so they don't wind up goosing someone when they sit on the couch. 😅 Can be found in almost any automotive store or automotive tool section in Walmart. Some versions even have flashlights on the end!"

A friend of mine took me on a boat trip from Point Roberts to Patos Island (San Juan County) to find a geocache and finish the map.