vw_k

Permanently marking the container with a mig-welder would make it less attractive to some theives. Maybe mark your username, the GC code and the word "geocache" on more than one side of the ammo can. Unfortunately though you sometimes have to know when to give up on a location. If a location gets muggled more than once there's a chance someone will keep checking back there and you'll just lose more containers.

Pyoung1s heading on his way towards the next cache after finding GCRV2Q Guess Who?'s Grotto.

Welcome to the world of geocaching, David. You can check out local event caches here: http://www.geocaching.com/local/default.aspx?state_id=31 Geocachers are a friendly bunch and I'm sure you'll find people to show you the ropes.

Welcome to the world of geocaching!

For me one of the many attractions of caching is the ability to create a record of where I have travelled and found geocaches. As has been mentioned before, geocachers like to see pictoral records of their achievements. Smileys on the map are great but for many of us the oppurtunity to find a cache in a whole new country is a big deal. Not everyone has the time/money/health etc to travel abroad often and my one Italian cache find on my 6 day trip meant alot. I probably won't get the oppurtunity to visit another country for a while so it would be nice for people to get souvenirs for the small amount of international caching they do manage to achieve. It also seems unfair that one cacher could get a souvenir for their travels to a certain country (France for example), however another cacher who visits an adjoining country (for example Belgium or Italy) could get nothing. Although all the souvenir artworks I have seen are really nice, I'm sure many people would be happy with just a flag and the country's name as a piece of artwork to remember their trip by. Not only would this hopefully take less time to produce (if artwork for a country hasn't already been produced), this would also hopefully avoid some of the offence that has been caused as mentioned in Moun10bike's quote above.

Sounds like an amazing trip. I'd love to say I'd join you but as I'm currently out of work and getting married next May I'd better count myself out for now. Never say never though!

This^ I've seen lots of things turned into trackables by having the TB code written on them. I've seen trackable codes carved into wooden items, moulded in clay items, engraved into metal objects etc. Or to make it more obvious to other cachers that the item is trackable you could simply attatch the TB dogtags to the coins your daughter makes. The TB dogtag is instantly recognisable to someone who opens the cache.

Welcome to the addiction!

Hi Sarah, welcome to the addiction. Be sure to check out the "United Kingdom and Ireland" forum and if you're on a well known social networking site there are lots of regional groups and a UK group on there too.

I think with alot of caches this won't be a problem, for example if the cache page mentions that the cache is a "lock & lock" box and that the cache is in woodland a photo of the cache on a forest floor isn't going to give anything away. As has been mentioned already, use your judgement. If the container's colour, shape or camoflage would spoil the hunt for others or if a photo could give away a final location then I wouldn't post it. I've recognised final locations for mystery caches and multis that I hadn't yet visited because of photos posted in logs.

Most of the things I carry in my caching pack (a small pencil case) have already been mentioned but I also carry a pencil sharpener for sharpening pencils in caches, of course this could also be done with a small knife if you are carrying one. I see alot of blunt/broken pencils in caches.

Go ahead and ask! This is a helpful read for beginners too: http://www.geocaching.com/guide/

It may be worth checking the accessibility of some Earthcaches and Virtual caches too. Earthcaches and Virtuals have no physical container that needs retrieving but require you to visit a spot and gather some information. I have done a few of these caches that were at wheelchair accessible viewpoints or information boards.

Welcome to the hobby and good luck!

Abseiling is actually quite simple and safe but you do hear of abseiling accidents happening due to people making basic mistakes. I'd advise getting someone to show you the ropes (excuse the pun) rather than trying to teach yourself. A good outdoors store will be able to supply everything you need, try contacting your local indoor climbing centres, they will probably give lessons on climbing and possibly abseiling too. If you've learned how to "top rope" at an indoor wall then you will have alot of the knowledge needed for abseiling.

It depends on the person and situation. Sometimes I will tell the truth and explain geocaching, if I don't want to tell the person about the cache I make up some sort of excuse.

A nice use of rage comics.

I was introduced to geocaching whilst working at an outdoor store by a colleague who was doing a GPS training session. I've stayed caching as it is something that can be done alongside other outdoor pursuits like walking, cycling, camping, and even when just visiting new towns or areas. I've always been into collecting and logging things and caching is a good way of logging places that I have been.

If a physical cache isn't allowed somewhere then I'd rather see an Earthcache placed there with co-operation from the relevant authorities, or perhaps another kind of educational "virtual" be introduced for locations with historical or cultural importance. I really don't see what the fun is of finding a QR code and scanning it.

Looking at the cache page and gallery the cache looks like a typical magnetic nano type container. Be prepared to maybe feel round the back and underneath of metal objects to find it. The clue may come in handy when you are at the cache location. I'd agree with NanCycle and say take a pair of tweezers to extract the rolled up logstrip that will be inside. Due to their size nanos can be tricky to find, so don't be disappointed if you don't find it first time. There's plenty of caches to find and plenty of fun to be had. Welcome to the hobby.

Welcome to the addiction!

Physical caches such as traditional cahces or the final cache for a multi should have a logbook in, but it could be possible that the logbook was missing (stolen, dropped etc). If you are sure that what you have found is the cache, for example there are trade items inside or it is labelled as a geocache, then one option is to replace the logbook with a sheet of notebook paper as a temporary measure. Unfortunately caches do sometimes get stolen or taken, if you think this has happened you can leave a "did not find" log on the online cache page to alert the owner.

No aerial map for me either, and the map scale has gone, pretty useless I'd say!

As long as you replace any items you take with something just as nice (or nicer) then it's fine. The catchphrase people often quote is "trade up or trade even". As Mrs Blorenge said though, not all caches will have swag your children may want, or some may have poor quality or no swag in, so I'd encourage them to enjoy the "hide and seek" aspect of geocaching and to see any "treasure" they find as a bonus. Have fun!

For me the fun of a FTF is just being the first! But I have found a few FTF prizes like a plastic toy medal with "FTF" painted on it or a FTF pin badge that you can get from online geocaching stores. They may only be fairly cheap trinkets but because they remind me of finding that empty logbook they are like solid gold to me