Geocaching vs Letterboxing

[+muncle56]

I'm a little confused about the cache's that have the Letterboxing symbol. Do I need to have my own stamp to consider it an "official" find or can I just sign the log book? Also, what is a "letterbox hybrid" and how do I tell the difference?

[+Coldgears]

I'm a little confused about the cache's that have the Letterboxing symbol. Do I need to have my own stamp to consider it an "official" find or can I just sign the log book? Also, what is a "letterbox hybrid" and how do I tell the difference?

 

I'm pretty sure a letterbox hybrid is a letterbox that has been posted on the letterboxing website, that is also posted here on geocaching.

[+dfx]

a letterbox hybrid is a geocache that's also a letterbox, and a letterbox that's also a geocache.

 

geocachers (maybe) trade items and write their name in the log. letterboxers leave their stamp in the log and stamp their own log with the letterbox's stamp. the container must allow for both to qualify as letterbox hybrid.

 

and that's it. a geocacher doesn't need a stamp to log it, and a letterboxer doesn't need to trade items. (not that anyone needs to do that.)

[GermanSailor]

I'm a little confused about the cache's that have the Letterboxing symbol. Do I need to have my own stamp to consider it an "official" find or can I just sign the log book? Also, what is a "letterbox hybrid" and how do I tell the difference?

The big differences are:

 

- Geocaching means a GPSr is involved, so Letterbox-Hybrid-Geocaches must have some Coordinates. Sometimes those geocaches are like multis with clues as Stages or QTAs. A stamp may be in the letterbox. The guidelines say, "should contain" a stamp.

 

- Letterboxing is a different hobby. There no GPS is needed, everything works with clues. And you have to have a stamp to sign the logbook. Trading item is not a part of letterboxing.

 

To answer you question:

 

You don't need a stamp to log a geocache. At geocaching.com only geocaches & benchmarks are listed, so sign the logbook and log is only like you would do with any other geocache.

 

GermanSailor

[+L0ne.R]

I'm a little confused about the cache's that have the Letterboxing symbol. Do I need to have my own stamp to consider it an "official" find or can I just sign the log book? Also, what is a "letterbox hybrid" and how do I tell the difference?

 

I'm also a letterboxer (membership on Atlas Quest and letterboxing.org). I've planted letterbox hybrids (under our team name - example). The number one thing to remember when it comes to letterboxes.....Don't take the stamp in the letterbox.

 

The stamp is what defines the cache/box as a letterbox. It's used as proof that you visited the site. You stamp it in your personal logbook - the one you carry to collect letterbox stamp images.

 

You do not need to have a stamp to find and log a letterbox although it's a nice touch to have a personal signature stamp - something that defines you (commercial stamp or hand-carved stamp).

[+briansnat]

a letterbox hybrid is a geocache that's also a letterbox, and a letterbox that's also a geocache.

 

geocachers (maybe) trade items and write their name in the log. letterboxers leave their stamp in the log and stamp their own log with the letterbox's stamp. the container must allow for both to qualify as letterbox hybrid.

 

and that's it. a geocacher doesn't need a stamp to log it, and a letterboxer doesn't need to trade items. (not that anyone needs to do that.)

 

That pretty much nails it. The caches with that letterbox symbol ARE letterbox hybrids

[+nativtxn]

 

I'm also a letterboxer (membership on Atlas Quest and letterboxing.org). I've planted letterbox hybrids (under our team name - example). The number one thing to remember when it comes to letterboxes.....Don't take the stamp in the letterbox.

 

The stamp is what defines the cache/box as a letterbox. It's used as proof that you visited the site. You stamp it in your personal logbook - the one you carry to collect letterbox stamp images.

 

You do not need to have a stamp to find and log a letterbox although it's a nice touch to have a personal signature stamp - something that defines you (commercial stamp or hand-carved stamp).

What is the difference between Atlas Quest and Letterboxing?

[+briansnat]

What is the difference between Atlas Quest and Letterboxing?

 

Nothing. Atlas Quest is simply a listing service for letterboxes. The way geocaching.com is a listing service for geocaches.

Edited August 25, 2010 by briansnat

[Pup Patrol]

What is the difference between Atlas Quest and Letterboxing?

 

Nothing. Atlas Quest is simply a listing service for letterboxes. The way geocaching.com is a listing service for geocaches.

 

Confusion.... is Letterboxing.org a different listing service, with different letterboxes listed?

 

http://letterboxing.org/

 

http://www.atlasquest.com/

[+NYPaddleCacher]

What is the difference between Atlas Quest and Letterboxing?

 

Nothing. Atlas Quest is simply a listing service for letterboxes. The way geocaching.com is a listing service for geocaches.

 

Confusion.... is Letterboxing.org a different listing service, with different letterboxes listed?

 

http://letterboxing.org/

 

http://www.atlasquest.com/

 

I've looked at both sites and from what I can tell they're just different listing services, but a letterbox could not be listed on both as long as it meets the guidelines for both.

 

It's really no different then geocaching.com vs. terracaching.com. One geocache could be listed on both sites as long as it meets the guidelines for both.

[+L0ne.R]

What is the difference between Atlas Quest and Letterboxing?

 

Nothing. Atlas Quest is simply a listing service for letterboxes. The way geocaching.com is a listing service for geocaches.

 

Confusion.... is Letterboxing.org a different listing service, with different letterboxes listed?

 

http://letterboxing.org/

 

http://www.atlasquest.com/

 

Letterboxing.org started in 1998. It's a 'on-purpose' low tech, very few bells and whistles, owner-centric, basic listing service.

 

AtlasQuest.com started in 2004. It's ever-evolving, higher tech, lots of bells and whistles, more finder-centric listing services (online comments, box attributes, maps, pda downloads, saved searches, finds/attempts lists, on-site forums, wiki help pages etc.).

 

They are both listing services. Letterboxes can be posted to both and often are.

[+briansnat]

What is the difference between Atlas Quest and Letterboxing?

 

Nothing. Atlas Quest is simply a listing service for letterboxes. The way geocaching.com is a listing service for geocaches.

 

Confusion.... is Letterboxing.org a different listing service, with different letterboxes listed?

 

http://letterboxing.org/

 

http://www.atlasquest.com/

 

They are different listing services. Atlasquest is fairly new and is more like geocaching.com in that it has a robust search feature and online logs. Atlasquest also seems to have a tie in to Letterboxing.org, because a number of the clues on Atlasquest are hosted on Letterboxing.org.

Edited August 25, 2010 by briansnat

[+L0ne.R]

What is the difference between Atlas Quest and Letterboxing?

 

Nothing. Atlas Quest is simply a listing service for letterboxes. The way geocaching.com is a listing service for geocaches.

 

Confusion.... is Letterboxing.org a different listing service, with different letterboxes listed?

 

http://letterboxing.org/

 

http://www.atlasquest.com/

 

They are different listing services. Atlasquest is fairly new and is more like geocaching.com in that it has a robust search feature and online logs. Atlasquest also seems to have a tie in to Letterboxing.org, because a number of the clues on Atlasquest are hosted on Letterboxing.org.

 

Used to be that when you posted a letterbox on AQ there was a checkmark on the form that would automagically post the box on letterboxing.org at the same time (on LBNA there'd be a link back to the AQ posting) and vice versa. But after a couple of years letterboxing.org changed their minds and asked AQ to remove the feature. In my area there are fewer letterboxes being posted on the LBNA site, 98% are posted on AQ, about 75% of those are crossposted on LBNA, and probably 2% are only on LBNA. If you're looking for letterboxes in an area it's best to check both sites.

[+briansnat]

What is the difference between Atlas Quest and Letterboxing?

 

Nothing. Atlas Quest is simply a listing service for letterboxes. The way geocaching.com is a listing service for geocaches.

 

Confusion.... is Letterboxing.org a different listing service, with different letterboxes listed?

 

http://letterboxing.org/

 

http://www.atlasquest.com/

 

They are different listing services. Atlasquest is fairly new and is more like geocaching.com in that it has a robust search feature and online logs. Atlasquest also seems to have a tie in to Letterboxing.org, because a number of the clues on Atlasquest are hosted on Letterboxing.org.

 

Used to be that when you posted a letterbox on AQ there was a checkmark on the form that would automagically post the box on letterboxing.org at the same time (on LBNA there'd be a link back to the AQ posting) and vice versa. But after a couple of years letterboxing.org changed their minds and asked AQ to remove the feature. In my area there are fewer letterboxes being posted on the LBNA site, 98% are posted on AQ, about 75% of those are crossposted on LBNA, and probably 2% are only on LBNA. If you're looking for letterboxes in an area it's best to check both sites.

 

There still seems to be a link from AQ to LBNA. I clicked on a few clues on AQ and the LBNA listing popped up.

[+sbell111]

I'm a little confused about the cache's that have the Letterboxing symbol. Do I need to have my own stamp to consider it an "official" find or can I just sign the log book? Also, what is a "letterbox hybrid" and how do I tell the difference?

 

I'm pretty sure a letterbox hybrid is a letterbox that has been posted on the letterboxing website, that is also posted here on geocaching.

This is incorrect. A letterbox hybrid geocache may or may not be crosslisted to a letterboxing website. In fact, it would probably have to be tweaked to be put over there since some use of coords is required by GC.com.

 

The only real difference between other geocaches and letterbox hybrids that is mandated by the guidelines is that letterbox hybrids have a stamp. A finder of a letterbox hybrid can feel free to stamp the logbook with his personal stamp, but he is not required to.

Edited August 25, 2010 by sbell111

[+L0ne.R]

What is the difference between Atlas Quest and Letterboxing?

 

Nothing. Atlas Quest is simply a listing service for letterboxes. The way geocaching.com is a listing service for geocaches.

 

Confusion.... is Letterboxing.org a different listing service, with different letterboxes listed?

 

http://letterboxing.org/

 

http://www.atlasquest.com/

 

They are different listing services. Atlasquest is fairly new and is more like geocaching.com in that it has a robust search feature and online logs. Atlasquest also seems to have a tie in to Letterboxing.org, because a number of the clues on Atlasquest are hosted on Letterboxing.org.

 

Used to be that when you posted a letterbox on AQ there was a checkmark on the form that would automagically post the box on letterboxing.org at the same time (on LBNA there'd be a link back to the AQ posting) and vice versa. But after a couple of years letterboxing.org changed their minds and asked AQ to remove the feature. In my area there are fewer letterboxes being posted on the LBNA site, 98% are posted on AQ, about 75% of those are crossposted on LBNA, and probably 2% are only on LBNA. If you're looking for letterboxes in an area it's best to check both sites.

 

There still seems to be a link from AQ to LBNA. I clicked on a few clues on AQ and the LBNA listing popped up.

 

Yes, but the owner has to add the link and then go over to the other site and post the letterbox. Used to be you could post it on one and then have it automatically listed on the other site too.