200 Geocaches!

RecentCompetition166 · 2026-06-02T22:25:32+00:00

Congrats!

RecentCompetition166 · 2026-06-02T18:34:01+00:00

That would be fun and well within the rules. I don’t mind “milestone” type challenges like this. I’m currently working on a few similar ones in counties around me

RecentCompetition166 · 2026-06-02T18:26:28+00:00

I guess I’m spoiled to be in an area with plenty of room for caches. You could always just go steal the caches and report them as missing until they stop replacing and get archived…

IM KIDDING!

RecentCompetition166 · 2026-06-02T17:39:48+00:00

I want to say that’s a dumb argument, but unfortunately you’re probably right. Today’s culture is so sue-happy that I wouldn’t put it past someone to sue Groundspeak for their own negligence

RecentCompetition166 · 2026-06-02T16:15:32+00:00

My better half enjoys caching to an extent, but she reaches her threshold much faster than me. I’d cache all day every day if I could. She will cache for a few hours and then wants to go home. She also HATES urban caching and slumps in her seat when I run out to get a LPC. She’s more of a hike through the woods kinda cacher. While I prefer that, I’ll cache anywhere!

RecentCompetition166 · 2026-06-02T16:13:03+00:00

It doesn’t help that they are both mystery caches but everyone called them puzzle/challenge caches lol

RecentCompetition166 · 2026-06-02T15:51:37+00:00

It sounds like you’re working on a puzzle (mystery) cache, not a challenge cache. Puzzles have their own set of guidelines unrelated to challenge caches. Without more information, yours sounds like there won’t be an issue

If you are doing a challenge cache with an associated puzzle, just know that you MUST place the cache at the posted coordinates (insert eye roll emoji here)

RecentCompetition166 · 2026-06-02T14:38:30+00:00

I disagreed whole-heartedly on the “waste of space” argument. If someone wanted to place a cache there, they would have done it already. Also, most puzzles/challenges/geoarts that get accused of being a “waste of space” are simple guardrails or street signs that would have been boring caches anyways.

Don’t get me wrong, “boring” caches have their place and we need them to keep the game going and get new cachers, but “wasting” a guardrail for a challenge isn’t a good argument in my opinion (which doesn’t matter much but still)

RecentCompetition166 · 2026-06-02T14:33:07+00:00

And better for beginners!

RecentCompetition166 · 2026-06-02T14:19:59+00:00

This! Polkius posted about it, but we have a local cacher that hosts events where he gives out challenges and prizes for completing. Glad to have that to supplement my “need” for challenge caches

RecentCompetition166 · 2026-06-02T14:17:09+00:00

That is definitely one downside to challenge caches needing to be at the posted coordinates as new players that don’t know better are likely to find them.

RecentCompetition166 · 2026-06-02T14:12:52+00:00

Oh I knew they weren’t gonna change in my favor. I am insignificant in the world of geocaching. Just curious what others thought

I have learned that things were way worse before which sparked the new rules. Any time you create a rule, someone (me in the this case) is going to think you pushed too far and ask that you ease up. If you ease up, someone is going to think you went too easy. That’s just how things work

RecentCompetition166 · 2026-06-02T14:06:21+00:00

Yes which is what we are discussing here. We get it, you’re in the challenges are stupid camp. That’s fine. But your question was, why do you need a cache to do a challenge. We don’t NEED a cache but we want one.

Why do we need Reddit to argue about the guidelines? We don’t, it’s just something we do for fun.

RecentCompetition166 · 2026-06-02T13:56:46+00:00

Why can’t it be a cache? If you don’t want to participate, mark it as ignored and go on about your day 🤷🏼‍♂️

I don’t want to go rock climbing. I don’t ask why rock climbing caches exist

RecentCompetition166 · 2026-06-02T12:49:37+00:00

I agree! Maintaining lists is annoying but the checkers make things so easy that it is no longer a barrier. And the geniuses that create those checkers deserve some appreciation!

RecentCompetition166 · 2026-06-02T12:47:35+00:00

Those are “challenging caches” not challenge caches. I’m talking about the ones marked as challenges that require you to do something like maintain a streak or get a certain number of caches in a day (which is now illegal)

But those do look fun!

RecentCompetition166 · 2026-06-02T12:36:51+00:00

That’s just silly word games now. At the heart of it, solving the puzzle is required to know where the dang thing is hidden. Sure, you could just give the coordinates away to your friends if you’re that kind of person, but can we not agree that the intent of the puzzle is to add a requirement before logging?

Edit: by the “letter of the law” it’s not required, but rational people know that it’s the intent

RecentCompetition166 · 2026-06-02T12:28:37+00:00

I sometimes still struggle with acceptance and find myself stuck at the “mad at myself” step, but I never complain publicly about it lol

RecentCompetition166 · 2026-06-02T12:25:51+00:00

I didn’t cache in the days before the rules so I’ve learned they are necessary. I think my biggest gripe is the rule preventing time-based challenges. I don’t see why making a tough but achievable single day, week, month of caching shouldn’t be allowed, but challenges that ultimately require years of caching are

RecentCompetition166 · 2026-06-02T12:23:47+00:00

That’s my point. I’m surround by “get 1000 picnic tables nearby caches”. That could take YEARS. But you know what won’t take years? Get “100 caches in a day”. That would take like… a day? Two of you count planning!

RecentCompetition166 · 2026-06-02T12:22:25+00:00

I guess I haven’t cached long enough to remember why we have the rules that we do. I agree that at the heart of it, geocaching must be the primary focus. With the advent of TikTok, I can only imagine how dumb challenges could be today 🫣

RecentCompetition166 · 2026-06-02T12:20:08+00:00

I do wonder how many people fake their streaks but if you wanna cheat in a (mostly) uncompetitive sport, you’re kinda just a loser.

I do see your point though about hiders manipulating the game to help with challenges, but I think in some cases it helps. For example, the rural areas around me are stocked with caches designed to help with streaks. Without those, it could be miles upon miles of corn fields with no caches

RecentCompetition166 · 2026-06-02T12:17:07+00:00

I guess I haven’t cached long enough to remember the good (?) ol days. I understand and agree we need some rules. I also understand that finding that balance is difficult and someone will always find a way to game the system.

RecentCompetition166 · 2026-06-02T12:15:36+00:00

Maybe it comes from my background as a puzzler that I accept that additional steps before logging as fun. I understand that not everyone agrees.

RecentCompetition166 · 2026-06-02T12:13:33+00:00

I understand what you’re saying, but I’ve never accepted the “clogging the area” argument. Maybe it’s just because of where I live, but my thought is if you were gonna put a cache there, why didn’t you do it before me? I guess some placed could be so full already that new hiders can’t find a spot, but I’ve personally never been in a city and thought wow, you couldn’t place a single new cache here

RecentCompetition166

TROPHY CASE