+GilDean Posted October 10, 2021 Share Posted October 10, 2021 I read with interest that the top Geocacher in the world has 215,000+ finds across all types of hides. This equates to an average of 31 a day, every day for the 19 years they have been a member. I walk reasonably quickly and don’t do Geocaching for the numbers, it is more about the walk and the interesting caches people make or the clever way they hide them. My most finds in a day was 59 and it was 8 hours of walking and driving, I did 5 hours yesterday and walked 8 miles getting 20+ caches, how can you physically do 31 a day for 19 years and have a job etc. I am retired so could do it every day if I wanted, but not sure I could do it every day for 19 years. How can you do so many? Is there a secret to doing so many? 3 1 Quote Link to comment
+Mausebiber Posted October 10, 2021 Share Posted October 10, 2021 Yes, the secret is: walk less, find more. The question I find much more interesting is, how do you maintain more than 1000 geocache owned? 1 Quote Link to comment
+frostengel Posted October 10, 2021 Share Posted October 10, 2021 9 hours ago, GilDean said: How can you do so many? Is there a secret to doing so many? The better question in my eyes would be: why do you (or anyone) want to find so many caches over having fun geocaching? Do you have fun the way you are caching? Are you outside and do something good for your body? If you say yes both times don't change anything. Don't try to be as others are if that's not your style. It is absolutely not about the numbers. Several of these high number cachers may be cheating in any way (and if it is just getting final coordinates from mystery and multi caches from data bases). Some might be doing it without cheating by spending there whole life (plenty of hours each day) for this hobby. I don't think any of these things is something to mimic. Keep it simple and have fun! Jochen 1 Quote Link to comment
+GilDean Posted October 10, 2021 Author Share Posted October 10, 2021 Agree totally with Frostengel. I am happy doing it the way I do it. You are only cheating yourself if you log and haven’t done them, not really in the spirit of Geocaching I feel. I was just interested to see how somebody can get so many more than others and how with distances between caches and time taken to do them, how an average over the period was possible. My answer to Mausebiber is, I am not after numbers, so will carry on walking and finding caches how I like to do it, but thank you for comments to the question. 1 Quote Link to comment
Darwin473 Posted October 10, 2021 Share Posted October 10, 2021 It's possible they may do a lot of travelling. Constantly going to new areas give you more opportunities to log power trails. Power trails are a good way to get high numbers quickly - at the expense of doing lots of repetitive, identical caches. It's possible they may have done the ET Highway - that one is a few thousand caches that can be done in a day or two. Not my idea of fun, but it's mecca for the number chasers who want legit counts. It's possible that they constantly join up with different teams in order to get co-finder finds where ten people find ten caches each but each signs for all so that all get 100 finds. It's also possible that it's a team account shared across multiple people and they all log under the same username. I know what is possible is that I'm not too fussed what others do, there's no prize for "winning" geocaching and I'll continue enjoying my hobby the best I can. Props to them for being the highest finding account, but if it wasn't them it'd be the next account. 1 2 1 Quote Link to comment
+Wacka Posted October 10, 2021 Share Posted October 10, 2021 I know the #1 geocacher and yes, he finds them all. As soon as he signs the log, he is on his way to the next cache, walking or walking to the car to the next one. They had a georally in the area and I was with his group (3 of us and his wife(she doesn't log caches)) We all had to go to 4 places to get info. Then everyone met back at the georally and made sure we all had the right info. Plugged in the data and instead of starting where we all had met he (was the driver) said "lets start at the farthest ones. We ended up being FTF on 25 of the 35 caches and found all 35. We even had time to go to the fair in town to meet some of the other catchers and have dinner. He had to have a stent and only took a week off of geocaching to recuperate. Last time I saw him at a big party (event) at his house for his 100,000 th find in July '14. I had a stroke 3 days later and moved out of the area. 2 1 1 1 Quote Link to comment
+Bundyrumandcoke Posted October 10, 2021 Share Posted October 10, 2021 Not everyone has, or needs a job. The fortunate ones dont have to work to maintain their lifestyle. I know one of the top cachers in Australia. She is deaf. As far as I know, she doesnt work. She travels around, almost continually, seeking caches. Another top couple are retired. They travel around Australia on a continual basis. 1 1 Quote Link to comment
+Wacka Posted October 10, 2021 Share Posted October 10, 2021 The #1 guy told me he sold his company to the phone company in the 90s. Hasn't worked since before geocaching was thought of. Quote Link to comment
+niraD Posted October 11, 2021 Share Posted October 11, 2021 3 hours ago, Unit473L said: It's possible they may have done the ET Highway - that one is a few thousand caches that can be done in a day or two. They may have done the ET highway and similar numbers trails, but that alone isn't how anyone gets a find count above 100k. There just aren't enough numbers trails out there. If you hit 100k, then most of that has to be regular caches. Lots and lots and lots of regular caches. And a find count above 100k also requires a lot of travel, because you would quickly deplete even the most heavily saturated local area at that rate. 2 hours ago, Wacka said: I know the #1 geocacher and yes, he finds them all. As soon as he signs the log, he is on his way to the next cache, walking or walking to the car to the next one. Sounds about right. I've never gone geocaching with him (or with anyone else with a find count above 100k), but I know people who have gone geocaching with him. They said that it was very hard to keep up with him. He moves quickly. He finds caches quickly. He signs quickly. And then he's moving quickly to the next cache. He doesn't go geocaching every day, but when he does go geocaching, he finds a LOT of caches. 1 Quote Link to comment
+barefootjeff Posted October 11, 2021 Share Posted October 11, 2021 (edited) Another way to quickly boost find counts is with Adventure Labs, where you get five smileys for about the same time and effort as it would take to get one with other cache types, but I'm not sure if there are enough ALs around yet to be significant for someone in the 100,000 find stratosphere. For those wanting to fast-track their gallop to 10,000 finds, though, it might be worth considering. But, as I see it at least, caching's not a competitive sport where a higher smiley count beats a lower one. To me, a "top cacher" is one who always takes the time to write good logs specific to the cache they're logging (no TFTCs or cut-and-paste), puts out good quality fun hides in interesting out-of-the-way places, attends and hosts events, is quick to respond to any maintenance requirements and is helpful and encouraging when someone needs that extra hint. They're the ones who make the game fun for everyone else, not the high-fliers with six-digit find counts. Edited October 11, 2021 by barefootjeff 5 1 2 Quote Link to comment
Darwin473 Posted October 11, 2021 Share Posted October 11, 2021 15 hours ago, barefootjeff said: << The whole previous post >> Can we get that put on a plaque somewhere? Or on the "welcome to geocaching" page of the main site please? 1 Quote Link to comment
+Uncle Alaska Posted October 11, 2021 Share Posted October 11, 2021 Throwdown Artistry 4 Quote Link to comment
+Max and 99 Posted October 11, 2021 Share Posted October 11, 2021 As a reminder in another post I mentioned one person who placed 300 throwdowns in one day!! 2 2 Quote Link to comment
+baer2006 Posted October 12, 2021 Share Posted October 12, 2021 On 10/11/2021 at 6:37 AM, barefootjeff said: Another way to quickly boost find counts is with Adventure Labs, where you get five smileys for about the same time and effort as it would take to get one with other cache types, but I'm not sure if there are enough ALs around yet to be significant for someone in the 100,000 find stratosphere. I know a couple of cachers, who armchair-log ALs en masse all over the place. But even they have tallied up "only" around 11K Lab Cache finds so far. So for 6-digit find counts, ALs are not around in large enough numbers. 1 Quote Link to comment
+cerberus1 Posted October 12, 2021 Share Posted October 12, 2021 14 hours ago, Uncle Alaska said: Throwdown Artistry 14 hours ago, Max and 99 said: As a reminder in another post I mentioned one person who placed 300 throwdowns in one day!! Yep. One hit one of ours, even though the hint should have been an easy find. Got notice from another CO. We checked, it was there. Took the film can home and deleted that find. Found at an event there were dozens of COs that had the same. Guess that extra minute or two messes up the days numbers. The person is highly regarded by others at large events. Go figure... 1 Quote Link to comment
+Corp Of Discovery Posted October 15, 2021 Share Posted October 15, 2021 (edited) Free time + disposable income + burning desire = high find counts. Edited October 15, 2021 by Corp Of Discovery 3 1 Quote Link to comment
+EthisEthat Posted October 17, 2021 Share Posted October 17, 2021 On 10/13/2021 at 12:48 AM, cerberus1 said: Yep. One hit one of ours, even though the hint should have been an easy find. Got notice from another CO. We checked, it was there. Took the film can home and deleted that find. Found at an event there were dozens of COs that had the same. Guess that extra minute or two messes up the days numbers. The person is highly regarded by others at large events. Go figure... Look on the bright side, extra cache container if you need it! 1 Quote Link to comment
+cerberus1 Posted October 17, 2021 Share Posted October 17, 2021 13 hours ago, EthisEthat said: Look on the bright side, extra cache container if you need it! If you think a film can is a good cache container, it's a shame you're on the other side 'o the world... We just put shopping bags in them in hopes people will CITO, and you'd be welcome to a bunch. Quote Link to comment
+GeoElmo6000 Posted October 17, 2021 Share Posted October 17, 2021 (edited) On 10/10/2021 at 2:42 AM, GilDean said: I read with interest that the top Geocacher in the world has 215,000+ finds across all types of hides. This equates to an average of 31 a day, every day for the 19 years they have been a member. I walk reasonably quickly and don’t do Geocaching for the numbers, it is more about the walk and the interesting caches people make or the clever way they hide them. My most finds in a day was 59 and it was 8 hours of walking and driving, I did 5 hours yesterday and walked 8 miles getting 20+ caches, how can you physically do 31 a day for 19 years and have a job etc. I am retired so could do it every day if I wanted, but not sure I could do it every day for 19 years. How can you do so many? Is there a secret to doing so many? During the beginning of the pandemic, I hosted some live interviews with some geocachers, one being Mondou2, the geocacher you are referring to. He currently has 222k finds. There is some controversy to his numbers because in the interview (around the 57 minute mark) he does mention working in teams that split up and claim finds as a group. I don't believe that's a big number of caches and it's done as part of these multi-geocacher adventures he's part of. But if you're interested, here's the interview I did. I also interviewed MissJenn and Bl4ckh4wkGER of Geocaching HQ, and Chris Mackey, a geocoin designer who I wound up using this year to design a geocoin I'm currently working on. I enjoyed each of the interviews. Edited October 17, 2021 by GeoElmo6000 2 1 Quote Link to comment
+Max and 99 Posted October 17, 2021 Share Posted October 17, 2021 (edited) So disappointing to hear. Nice job on the interview and video! How about we change the title to Geocacher with the most logs? Edited October 18, 2021 by Max and 99 6 1 1 Quote Link to comment
+cerberus1 Posted October 18, 2021 Share Posted October 18, 2021 16 hours ago, Max and 99 said: So disappointing to hear. How about we change the title to Geocacher with the most logs? Yeah... We attended an event once, and as usual a cache was close-by for attendees to find. Nice walk in the dark, but the cache wasn't there. We heard later the CO didn't ask permission, and it was removed by the caretaker. Every person but us logged a "Found It" on a cache not there. We logged a DNF. A "finned" forum member bored one evening noticed that, and we're now mentioned in the "Found it = Didn't Find It" thread. 1 1 Quote Link to comment
+CheekyBrit Posted October 19, 2021 Share Posted October 19, 2021 There is so much that has to line up for high level geocachers like Mondou2 to have such numbers - the time, the skill, the patience, but most of all the access to travel. Well done. I'm happy just plodding along on my 1 cache a day streak trying to ration out what is near me. I don't know if I'll ever break 5 digits of caches but like you said, everyone has fun in their own way in this game. It is quite diverse. 1 Quote Link to comment
+bflentje Posted October 19, 2021 Share Posted October 19, 2021 On 10/17/2021 at 5:16 PM, GeoElmo6000 said: There is some controversy to his numbers because in the interview (around the 57 minute mark) he does mention working in teams that split up and claim finds as a group. I don't believe that's a big number of caches and it's done as part of these multi-geocacher adventures he's part of. But if you're interested, here's the interview I did. I cannot confirm with 100% certainty but mondou2 and almogul have been accused of tag-team caching.. while on opposite sides of the country. I HAVE NO IDEA IF ITS TRUE OR NOT. Nor do I care about someone's find count. Though I would hope that honesty should be the best policy. 3 Quote Link to comment
Popular Post +j_czerwin Posted January 18, 2022 Popular Post Share Posted January 18, 2022 (edited) My father JMCz found and personally signed all of his caches. His top rank was #3 in the world and holds #12 at the time of this posting. He helped start a company in the late 80's (Xircom) which sold to Intel eventually for $750M. Dad retired early and made geocaching his main hobby for quite a while. He would travel to a city and hit the first cache at sunrise and continue until it was too dark and he was too tired to continue. Then the next day he would repeat until the saturated caches were found. Then he would continue to the next city. I went caching with him once for my record of 300 in a day on one of those desert roads. But, in the city where I would be happy if I could get 15-20 in a day, he managed to do 50-100 with ease. He bought his vehicle just for caching and carried spare tires, a bicycle, and multiple computers and equipment with food and water. He backed off over time, maybe from fatigue from people that criticize or rudely attacked his efforts, hides, and many geocoins and travel bugs he contributed to the game. I can honestly say it got old for me to have people complain about hides or the way I shared geocoins. Red Handed geocoin was a classic with crazy lady I will never forget, but I digress... His numbers won't rise anymore as he passed away of pancreatic cancer this last Sunday, January 16, 2022. I'm in the process now of going through the trackables and collectables he has accumulated over the years. It's a treasure trove, but my treasure was having him in my life and discovering so many things in the world - even geocaches and the cool geocachers. Edited January 19, 2022 by j_czerwin 12 Quote Link to comment
+BirdSearcher Posted January 18, 2022 Share Posted January 18, 2022 Thank you for the story of your dad j_czerwin.. 1 Quote Link to comment
+MNTA Posted January 19, 2022 Share Posted January 19, 2022 Caching is not a competitive sport. If folks want to play the game differently than you or I let's not worry about did they follow your/my rules. All my crazy days of caching were because I had the time and chose to spend it on some great adventures caching. My most recent was we finished a project at work after working 7 days a week 12 hour days for a few months I got two weeks off, being unable to plan ahead I chose to road trip close to 1500 miles to Potter's Pond and on the way back hit the League of ID Caches challenge trail again and got 60+ that day. I did it because I loved the area and love challenges. I stopped when I stopped having fun and getting in and out of the car was becoming painful. The funny thing is even my dogs were tired as I'd open the door and they stopped wanting to go as well. Oh and still had over 400 miles drive to get home. Great 3 day road trip with only myself some audio books and my dogs. These times it is about the open road, being in the middle of no where. Reflecting upon life and at times just zoning out. Will I do it again? You bet just no time soon. 1 Quote Link to comment
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.