_Franky_ Posted October 3, 2024 Posted October 3, 2024 Hello I need help^^ I'm pretty new to geocaching and I'm still bit confused about the other pieces larger cache containers have in it beside the logbook. I found out these are "trackables". https://www.geocaching.com/track/default.aspx If I find such a cache, I am supposed to to do these steps, right? 1. First log the cache by the logbook and on geocaching.com 2. If I have a piece from a previous cache, I have to put it into this cache - and log that on geocaching.com 3. If there are already other pieces in it, I take one of them - and log that on geocaching.com too As I understand, that's how these trackables travel around. Today, I found a geocache with this feature for first time. But the related page says "In diesem Geocache befinden sich keine Trackables." (There are no trackables in this geocache) so logging step 3 seems to be impossible. Now I'm confused. The box had two or three pieces in it where I think these are trackables. The cache: https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC4HJJP_7-zwerge-6von7 What to do with the piece from step 3? Quote
+Max and 99 Posted October 4, 2024 Posted October 4, 2024 (edited) 1 hour ago, FR_S said: Hello I need help^^ I'm pretty new to geocaching and I'm still bit confused about the other pieces larger cache containers have in it beside the logbook. I found out these are "trackables". https://www.geocaching.com/track/default.aspx If I find such a cache, I am supposed to to do these steps, right? 1. First log the cache by the logbook and on geocaching.com 2. If I have a piece from a previous cache, I have to put it into this cache - and log that on geocaching.com 3. If there are already other pieces in it, I take one of them - and log that on geocaching.com too As I understand, that's how these trackables travel around. Today, I found a geocache with this feature for first time. But the related page says "In diesem Geocache befinden sich keine Trackables." (There are no trackables in this geocache) so logging step 3 seems to be impossible. Now I'm confused. The box had two or three pieces in it where I think these are trackables. The cache: https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC4HJJP_7-zwerge-6von7 What to do with the piece from step 3? The help center explains that you may need to wait a little bit before logging it. It could be that someone may have just dropped it off and hasn't yet logged that online. I have not looked at the geocache yet which may have some clues! By the way, just to clarify, you do not have to drop a travel bug in that cache and you do not have to take a travel bug with you. From the Help Center: Trackables If you pick up a trackable that is not logged into the inventory of the cache you find it in, be considerate and give the person who left it there a few days to post their log online. This lets them complete their part of the trackable's journey, and keeps the trackable's travel record accurate. Edited October 4, 2024 by Max and 99 2 Quote
+CAVinoGal Posted October 4, 2024 Posted October 4, 2024 16 hours ago, FR_S said: The box had two or three pieces in it where I think these are trackables. Are they, in fact, trackables? Or just items someone left as "swag"? if there is a tracking code (usually 6 digits/letters) you can enter those at Geocaching > Trackables and see if it is a trackable, what its "mission" might be, and from there, figure out where to move it to next. And yes, trackables are a side game that CAN get very confusing when people don't realize what they are to do with them! 15 hours ago, Max and 99 said: By the way, just to clarify, you do not have to drop a travel bug in that cache and you do not have to take a travel bug with you. As Max and 99 said, you don't have to play the trackable game - you can leave them in the cache for someone else to move along. It is completely optional. I enjoy moving trackables and usually have half a dozen or more at any one time that I am visiting to caches, and dropping when I find an appropriate cache. I have several in my hands now that I will take to Arizona with me later this month when we visit Lake Havasu, as they have not been there yet. I'll either leave them there or bring them back home if I don't find a good place to drop them. That can also be a challenge; finding a cache that is large enough, and "safe", visited often enough that they are likely to be moved in a timely manner. Trackables can be a fun side game, if you want to participate, but it is by no means mandatory that you do. Totally up to you! 1 1 Quote
_Franky_ Posted October 5, 2024 Author Posted October 5, 2024 Quote Are they, in fact, trackables? Or just items someone left as "swag"? if there is a tracking code (usually 6 digits/letters) I cannot tell. I didn't look that closely at them and I didn't actually took any. The items were painted acorns. 1 Quote
+Max and 99 Posted October 5, 2024 Posted October 5, 2024 23 minutes ago, FR_S said: I cannot tell. I didn't look that closely at them and I didn't actually took any. The items were painted acorns. My guess is that is a swag item, not a trackable. Quote
+Smitherington Posted October 5, 2024 Posted October 5, 2024 A trackable has a 6 digit code. It often indicates that it can be tracked at geocaching.com. Other stuff is not trackable at geocaching.com. 1 Quote
RuideAlmeida Posted October 5, 2024 Posted October 5, 2024 6 minutes ago, FR_S said: What is the difference? Any trackable needs to have an alphanumeric tracking code, provided by Geocaching HQ. Quote
+kunarion Posted October 5, 2024 Posted October 5, 2024 (edited) On 10/3/2024 at 7:55 PM, FR_S said: Hello I need help^^ I'm pretty new to geocaching and I'm still bit confused about the other pieces larger cache containers have in it beside the logbook. I found out these are "trackables". https://www.geocaching.com/track/default.aspx If I find such a cache, I am supposed to to do these steps, right? 1. First log the cache by the logbook and on geocaching.com 2. If I have a piece from a previous cache, I have to put it into this cache - and log that on geocaching.com 3. If there are already other pieces in it, I take one of them - and log that on geocaching.com too As I understand, that's how these trackables travel around. Today, I found a geocache with this feature for first time. But the related page says "In diesem Geocache befinden sich keine Trackables." (There are no trackables in this geocache) so logging step 3 seems to be impossible. Now I'm confused. The box had two or three pieces in it where I think these are trackables. The cache: https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC4HJJP_7-zwerge-6von7 What to do with the piece from step 3? From your description of painted acorns, those might be signature items, not Trackable. Signature items are trade items. If you take one, trade up or even. Trackable items work best when they have a recognizable attached official tag, such as a Travel Bug tag. As you see, "painted acorns" are not good as Trackables. People may add a Tracking Code, but it will be confusing without that tag and some additional information (such as an info card). Here's a video with general information about Trackable items: If a Trackable item was not properly logged, it won't show up in the cache inventory. But it's not impossible to log it. In your "Step 3" example, you could wait to see if it gets logged, or try to figure out who is holding it and ask them (or ask the owner). Or if it seems like an error, you may make a "Grab" log, and then continue the proper logs. A Trackable not listed in a cache, is a little more complicated than one that has been logged correctly. So it's good to learn how this all works. If you can't figure it out at all, you may leave the item in the cache. If you see the Tracking Code, log "Discover", and you're done. There's no requirement to take nor "trade" Trackables. Edited October 5, 2024 by kunarion 2 1 Quote
_Franky_ Posted October 6, 2024 Author Posted October 6, 2024 (edited) Trackable items... trade items... signature items.... swag items... The acorns absolutely don't look like what is shown in the video. They were just acorns painted (likely by a child) with no number tag attached to or so. Google translates "swag" into the german word "Beute" which means "loot". But someone else did the exact opposite and put them in for some unknown reason. I'm really new to geocaching :D. So I decided to continue just log those caches itself and ignore all this extra stuff. But thank you all. Edited October 6, 2024 by FR_S Correction Quote
+niraD Posted October 6, 2024 Posted October 6, 2024 (edited) 11 hours ago, FR_S said: Trackable items... Just to be clear, these are the items (generally tags and coins, but there have been a few others) with a tracking code that can be tracked on the geocaching.com site. They are NOT considered trade items. You don't have to trade for them. You just move them to new caches and log their travels on the geocaching.com site, hopefully moving them in a way that helps them towards any goals the owners might have created for them. 11 hours ago, FR_S said: trade items... signature items.... swag items... These are all essentially the same. They are items that geocachers can trade for. The rule I learned when I started was "trade up, trade even, or don't trade." As long as you leave something of equal or greater value, you're free to take things from the cache container. But don't trade for things that need to stay in the container, like the log, or the stamp of a Letterbox Hybrid cache. Edit to add: And signature items are just things that someone left that are often homemade, with their geocaching name on them. Check my profile for a photo of the personal signature tokens that I've made. Edited October 6, 2024 by niraD 1 Quote
+CAVinoGal Posted October 8, 2024 Posted October 8, 2024 On 10/5/2024 at 6:17 PM, FR_S said: I'm really new to geocaching :D. So I decided to continue just log those caches itself and ignore all this extra stuff. Perfectly fine, and a good choice especially if you aren't even sure what all the "extra stuff" is all about! Some cachers don't do the trackable stuff at all and just ignore them if seen in a cache; completely acceptable! Some (like me) take them, log them, move them along, taking pictures along the way. Also an acceptable way of handling them. Then there are those that collect them, hoard them, steal them, and they disappear forever - NOT acceptable! But you only have control over what YOU do with them. Enjoy this hobby we call geocaching - there are several associated "side games" as well to discover and trackables is only one of them. You'll discover those that captivate your interest that you want to explore further, and those parts you want to ignore and leave to others to enjoy. 1 Quote
Pup Patrol Posted October 8, 2024 Posted October 8, 2024 (edited) On 10/5/2024 at 9:17 PM, FR_S said: Trackable items... trade items... signature items.... swag items... Sounds like the OP is confused about the difference between swag and trackables, which is a shaky start to geocaching. I would suggest that the OP attend an event, or hook up with some experienced cachers, and get some mentoring. Pup Patrol Edited October 8, 2024 by Pup Patrol 3 Quote
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