24 hour record - HOW ?

[+Team Balders]

After reading a recent posting, I got to thinking about the logistics of planning and actually achieving a 100+ caching day?

 

Even more amazing is the fact that the US record is, I believe, over THREE HUNDRED !!!

 

How would you plan such an event?

[+Mr'D]

You need a lot of friends to do the 'hard' bit of finding them before you sign the log...

or am I batting from a sticky wicket?

Jon

[+ventura_kids]

You need a lot of friends to do the 'hard' bit of finding them before you sign the log...

or am I batting from a sticky wicket?

Jon

 

Sign the log? Preposterous. Just cheat... and sign the outside of the cache container with a Marker

[+Renegade Knight]

From what I've read, you need a local driver. It helps if they know the caches so they can drive you to the spot. It helps to have more than one set of eyes. It helps if they are all closely spaced. You have to plan a route so you dont' criss cross yourself and waste time.

 

If you get the logistics set up before hand the finds take care of themselves. Also don't waste too much time on a DNF. If you aint got it quickly you need to move on to one you can find.

 

Maybe someday I'll beat my personal best of 24.

[+Mr'D]

... a local driver, logger, see'er, signer... in fact why not stay at home and log into your 'local' caching forum instead?

 

Oops... what have I said?

 

[+Roland_oso]

After reading a recent posting, I got to thinking about the logistics of planning and actually achieving a 100+ caching day?

 

Even more amazing is the fact that the US record is, I believe, over THREE HUNDRED !!!

 

How would you plan such an event?

 

From another thread.......

 

I found 67 caches within a 24 hour period. 13 hours and 10 min of actually caching. I covered 64.4 miles according to my track log of which 12.1 miles were hiked during my spree. I started a 4:30 Thursday afternoon and cached for 5 1/2 hours and found 30 on Thursday. Then got up the next morning found 37 more caches before the clock struck 4:30 on Friday afternoon.

 

BOOKMARK LISTING

 

I spent just a few hours of planning and only cached for just over 13hrs. If I concentrared on park and grabs only and cut the 12 miles of hiking, a 100+ day would have been easily attainable.

 

I looked for clusters of single stage caches and set up PQ's around those pockets and then went for everything except puzzels.

[fraggle69]

Team of three makes for a good numbers cache.

!) Driver taks care of all the driving duties

2) Navigator takes care of telling the driver he's gone the wrong way or that the driver should throw the car in the bushes.

3)Cache man, he's the one with the hints, past logs and specialist equipment. Works closely with the nav man.

 

It's important to plan for more caches than you are likely to find, so that any DNF's are taken care of by the extra caches, keeping the numbers up.

 

Above all, plan your route and stick to it. There's nowt worse than getting cold tired and hungry, then for some idiot to say, I have a plan lets try this one, it's not far!!!!!

 

You should attempt to park as close to caches as possible, then run to GZ and run back. I may well be testing myself on these techniques soon. I am gagging to see how many I can bag before the 24 grains of sand run dry for meeeeeee.

[+Birders]

We were talking about that earlier and wondered if they use techniques employed in bird races, where birdwatchers try to see as many species as possible in a given period. In the days leading up to the event birders will recce the area to get a good idea of where particular birds can be found. If geocachers actually found caches, but didn't log them, prior to the event a huge amount of time normally spent searching would be saved. Lrt's face it, if you could go straight to the caches then 100 in a day would be a doddle.

[fraggle69]

We were talking about that earlier and wondered if they use techniques employed in bird races, where birdwatchers try to see as many species as possible in a given period. In the days leading up to the event birders will recce the area to get a good idea of where particular birds can be found. If geocachers actually found caches, but didn't log them, prior to the event a huge amount of time normally spent searching would be saved. Lrt's face it, if you could go straight to the caches then 100 in a day would be a doddle.

I would say that this is not in the spirit of the game.

[+Stuey]

Team of three makes for a good numbers cache.

!) Driver taks care of all the driving duties

2) Navigator takes care of telling the driver he's gone the wrong way or that the driver should throw the car in the bushes.

3)Cache man, he's the one with the hints, past logs and specialist equipment. Works closely with the nav man.

 

That's exactly what we (Cachemad, Wadders and me) did in Los Angeles earlier this year, but we all changed roles from day to day. I'm glad we were doing things properly, hehe. 73 was our best day. I think we were out for about 10 hours that day??? I really can't remember specifics, not even individual caches, lol.

 

We didn't do much more than 5 minutes planning before each day out. We just decided which cache dense area to hit and what time we'd get up in the morning. We cached til dark, and beyond if the area was safe.

 

I don't suppose it will be all that long before someone gets 200 in the UK in a day.

[+mongoose39uk]

Planning more planning and a lot more planning is how.

 

Look for high density areas

 

Make sure the caches are active, not far from the road and have been found recently.

 

Up to date pocket queries help you identify caches with a good chance of being found (not many dnf's), and have low difficulty and terrain.

 

Use memory map to plan a route around them. Don't spend too long looking if you cant find it in a few minutes move on.

 

Tom tom or similar with parking co ords in (yours not necessarily the cache setters, they may take you a more enjoyable but not so quick way)

 

Make sure urban ones in busy areas are planned for quiet times.

 

Plan a lot more caches than you need so you can move on quickly from an area if its not working for you.

 

Have hints to hand in case you need them quickly.

 

Avoid Multi's and puzzles unless you have solved the puzzle in advance and its on your route.

 

Take lots of batteries.

 

It also helps massively if you enjoy the company of the people your are going to be with for a lot more than 24 hours.

[+Bear and Ragged]

Bolas Heathens may have a good techneque...

 

" The Bolas Heathens found CACHE PHRASE (Unknown Cache) 25 of 32 on a trip to the Coventry and Kenilworth areas."

 

They did this cache the day before us. Even though it's close to home, I know we would be struggling to go for so many!

 

G

Edited April 21, 2007 by KandG

[+harrogate hunters]

Its just good planning...

 

I had the delight last week to cache with CCCooperAgency in the States who has now as an individual found over 19,500 caches !!!

 

On the day I went with her we met at 11.30am and I left at 4pm, and in 4 1/2 hours we found 35 caches !!!

 

Basically she downloaded all the waypoints into the GPS but produced a printout of car driving directions, using mapsource I think, so basically

 

get in car, follow driving directions, at cache location, jump out and then start to follow GPS, back in car, back to printout and drive to next.....

 

Simple no personal computers, no maps, just a simple GPS.

 

By the way we never looked at any cache page printouts, no clues nothing ! Amazing and eye opening !

 

She wanted to meet me and have a full day as she saw I had 902 caches and would like me to leave the States with 1000 !!! 100 in a day - a quiet day for her !!!

 

Anyway other items prevailed and I had a delightful 4 hours with her. An amazing lady who has seen so many interesting places in the states.

[+macroderma]

Its just good planning...

 

I had the delight last week to cache with CCCooperAgency in the States who has now as an individual found over 19,500 caches !!!

 

On the day I went with her we met at 11.30am and I left at 4pm, and in 4 1/2 hours we found 35 caches !!!

 

Basically she downloaded all the waypoints into the GPS but produced a printout of car driving directions, using mapsource I think, so basically

 

get in car, follow driving directions, at cache location, jump out and then start to follow GPS, back in car, back to printout and drive to next.....

 

Simple no personal computers, no maps, just a simple GPS.

 

By the way we never looked at any cache page printouts, no clues nothing ! Amazing and eye opening !

 

She wanted to meet me and have a full day as she saw I had 902 caches and would like me to leave the States with 1000 !!! 100 in a day - a quiet day for her !!!

 

Anyway other items prevailed and I had a delightful 4 hours with her. An amazing lady who has seen so many interesting places in the states.

 

has this lady got, ahem, time on her hands?

 

19500 in 6 years is 240 a month or 67 a week, 10 a day

 

I am lucky to cache on 2 days a week....

[+kennamatic]

Having been lurking for some time and not really caching, (something to do with the local constabulary requesting I didn't drive for 12 months), I now have 38 aches within 2 miles of my home, and over a hundred within 4 miles. That obviously covers about a 16 square mile area but I think if I planned the route and was lucky I might knock them off in one, very long day. Actually, I might try it. My best number of finds in a day I think are only in the teens so I should break my personal record whatever happens.

[+macroderma]

Having been lurking for some time and not really caching, (something to do with the local constabulary requesting I didn't drive for 12 months), I now have 38 aches within 2 miles of my home, and over a hundred within 4 miles. That obviously covers about a 16 square mile area but I think if I planned the route and was lucky I might knock them off in one, very long day. Actually, I might try it. My best number of finds in a day I think are only in the teens so I should break my personal record whatever happens.

Is that on foot, by bike or public transport?

 

A record set for public transport only would be interesting

 

Big cities only I suspect!

[+kennamatic]

Having been lurking for some time and not really caching, (something to do with the local constabulary requesting I didn't drive for 12 months), I now have 38 aches within 2 miles of my home, and over a hundred within 4 miles. That obviously covers about a 16 square mile area but I think if I planned the route and was lucky I might knock them off in one, very long day. Actually, I might try it. My best number of finds in a day I think are only in the teens so I should break my personal record whatever happens.

Is that on foot, by bike or public transport?

 

A record set for public transport only would be interesting

 

Big cities only I suspect!

 

I have my licence back in 5 days time so it would have been by car, but I might look and see what I could manage by walking and the odd bus. I think I need a planning session!

[+Dorsetgal & GeoDog]

 

Is that on foot, by bike or public transport?

 

A record set for public transport only would be interesting

 

Big cities only I suspect!

 

How does 14 in a day by wheelchair sound (no cars involved at all)? In fact, it was in 5 - 6 hours I think.

 

Dubin, 4th May 2006 by yours truly.

[+Trucker Lee]

14 in 24 from a wheelchair sounds like a true accomplishment. WTG!!!

 

Loading your GSAK into a good mapping program that puts markers on the caches would allow you to easily see how to drive closest to the cache.

[+Simply Paul]

29 in about 8 hours is my record, I think. The right area is the key. After that it's just donkey work. 100 in the UK in 24 hours is quite doable these days, and 300+ in the US is probably even easier. Easy being a relative term.

[+HazelS]

Having had the pleasure of caching with the current record holders on several occasions, I found it REALLY insulting to say the least that they can be accused of either chreating, splitting up, not signing log books etc...

 

On days when 10 or 50 caches are planned, they are planned with military precision - those record holders have got the art of caching down to a tee.

 

May I be so bold as to suggest that those that make wild accusations without knowing the redcord holders might just be plain jealous??

[+Sensei TSKC]

Having had the pleasure of caching with the current record holders on several occasions, I found it REALLY insulting to say the least that they can be accused of either chreating, splitting up, not signing log books etc...

 

On days when 10 or 50 caches are planned, they are planned with military precision - those record holders have got the art of caching down to a tee.

 

May I be so bold as to suggest that those that make wild accusations without knowing the redcord holders might just be plain jealous??

 

Don't take this the wrong way, but I don't think anyone was accusing any particular person about cheating! More than likely making a suggestion to the OP topic title. I thought it was made 'tounge in cheek'. If I'm wrong..... Sorry.

[+purple_pineapple]

...It helps to have more than one set of eyes. It helps if they are all closely spaced. ...

 

closely spaced eyes? how does THAT help?

 

Dave

[markandlynn]

The US record was done with the hiders knowledge.

(how it can be record i dont know how do you compare a 1/1 with 4/3 or a 5/5 for example in terms of effort required ?)

 

Micros hanging from trees above the road etc in massive power trails.

 

Pull up with a cacher driving who has over the last few weeks done the caches in question find the cache stamp log book or the outside of the container drive to the next one.

 

cache not there ? take one from the back of car (ready signed) replace it (you know its gone because the drive tells you where it is meant to be)

 

Our kids do swaps at every (non micro) cache so that slows us down (thankfully) i can understand the whole count thing for the numbers cachers but that's not why we personally go out geocaching.

[+Team Sieni]

Is that on foot, by bike or public transport?

 

A record set for public transport only would be interesting

 

Big cities only I suspect!

 

Odd you should mention this, because I saw the congrats thread for "Pengy & Tigger" reaching 3000. I went & had a shufty at their profile, where they say:

 

Most found in 24 hours (by public transport)- 55 on 01/08/04 (UK Record)

 

So there you have it.

[+Renegade Knight]

...It helps to have more than one set of eyes. It helps if they are all closely spaced. ...

 

closely spaced eyes? how does THAT help?

 

Dave

Good catch. Closely spaced caches...but I suspect you knew that.

[+kennamatic]

Having been lurking for some time and not really caching, (something to do with the local constabulary requesting I didn't drive for 12 months), I now have 38 aches within 2 miles of my home, and over a hundred within 4 miles. That obviously covers about a 16 square mile area but I think if I planned the route and was lucky I might knock them off in one, very long day. Actually, I might try it. My best number of finds in a day I think are only in the teens so I should break my personal record whatever happens.

Is that on foot, by bike or public transport?

 

A record set for public transport only would be interesting

 

Big cities only I suspect!

 

I have my licence back in 5 days time so it would have been by car, but I might look and see what I could manage by walking and the odd bus. I think I need a planning session!

 

Despite the density that are placed around me, which I don't think is too bad it would be impossible to do 100 in a day I reckon. Allowing for no sleep I would have to pick up a cache every 15 mins which doesn't allow enough travelling time, time for signing logs and with each DNF the figures get worse.

 

I still might have a go just to see what I can manage, but if I do it will be on caches I haven't checked before hand so it is done within the spirit of geocaching.

 

I think bike might be the best form of transport as well. Must order a well padded saddle!!!!

[+stonefielders]

I've been considering a go at 100+ for a while

The longer I leave it though, the more caches will be placed, therefore making it easier

 

However I think it would be more enjoyable to have a go at the maximum caches with Terrain of 2 or more - thereby excluding the roadside caches

 

It all reminds me of doing the 3 peaks in 24 hours (Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike, Snowdon) which is more down to how fast you drive your car & not how quick you can get up & down the mountain.

[+kewfriend]

How does 14 in a day by wheelchair sound (no cars involved at all)? In fact, it was in 5 - 6 hours I think. Dublin, 4th May 2006 by yours truly.

I've seen your wheel chair - its got rocket motors - I couldn't outrun it if I tried ... and wasn't wearing a stitch ...

[+mongoose39uk]

I've been considering a go at 100+ for a while

The longer I leave it though, the more caches will be placed, therefore making it easier

 

However I think it would be more enjoyable to have a go at the maximum caches with Terrain of 2 or more - thereby excluding the roadside caches

 

It all reminds me of doing the 3 peaks in 24 hours (Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike, Snowdon) which is more down to how fast you drive your car & not how quick you can get up & down the mountain.

 

In my opinion it certainly would be possible to get over 100 in a day without doing just drive by cache and dashes. Looking at some of the series that are around it would be possible to pick groups of 10 to 20 where going back to the car would more than likely slow you down.

 

After the planning its more a matter of getting out and doing it. Set a date and go do it.

[+Foinavon]

I've been considering a go at 100+ for a while

The longer I leave it though, the more caches will be placed, therefore making it easier

 

However I think it would be more enjoyable to have a go at the maximum caches with Terrain of 2 or more - thereby excluding the roadside caches

 

It all reminds me of doing the 3 peaks in 24 hours (Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike, Snowdon) which is more down to how fast you drive your car & not how quick you can get up & down the mountain.

 

In my opinion it certainly would be possible to get over 100 in a day without doing just drive by cache and dashes. Looking at some of the series that are around it would be possible to pick groups of 10 to 20 where going back to the car would more than likely slow you down.

 

After the planning its more a matter of getting out and doing it. Set a date and go do it.

 

I just want to beat my total of 7!

[+Donmoore]

This has a lot to do with the saturation problem so much so that one guy actually accidently found 3 one day. See when you go out and are a clumsy person who trips a lot. i reckon in certain areas out of every 10 rocks said clumsy guy trips on he will find 3 caches.

 

But saying that finding 100+ in a day is still good going think of all those rocks you would have to replace as if they had never been tripped over.

[+Alice Band]

A record set for public transport only would be interesting. Big cities only I suspect!

I'd be up for that having cached using a one day Capitalcard in London.

 

I'm slowly working my way to my 300th cache via public transport. Its not as bad as people think and you don't have the added worry of parking and break ins.

 

I suspect you could easily do 100 caches in 24 hours in Oxford or parts of Manchester.