Leaving your mark on a Geocache

Finding that micro container with the log only is exciting!  There is no doubt any day that you can geocache is a good day!  My kids all love the ammo can geocache and the trades that they can make. Sometimes the trades get better from my kids than they had in them. 

I have learned to love finding the unexpected trinkets!  Below for my muggle readers is a list of the hidden treasures for us to find!

Geocoin: 

Geocoins work similarly to Groundspeak Travel Bugs in that they are trackable and can travel the world, picking up stories from geocache to geocache. Geocoins are often created as signature items by geocachers and can also be used as collectibles.

Hitchhiker

 

A hitchhiker is an item that is placed in a cache, and has instructions to travel to other caches. Sometimes they have logbooks attached so you can log their travels. A Travel bug is an example of a hitchhiker.  It can be anything that you want to send and others are willing to pick up, to take somewhere you have chosen. 

Pathtag (www.pathtags.com)

A Pathtag is a single-sided custom metal tag about the size and weight of a U.S. Quarter or a one Euro coin. The precise dimension of Pathtags are 23mm in diameter and 2.0mm thick. Pathtags are made from a solid iron base and are plated in a protective colored plating of either silver, gold, copper, or black nickel.

Pathtags are not typically traveling items such as Geocoins or Travel Bugs. They are generally used as personal "signature items" for Geocaching or other trade item. If found, simply log it and the tag's profile will display for you to view. Unless the profile says otherwise, you are welcome to add it into your permanent collection.

There are Pathtags accessories, like the Pathtag Sherpa Geocoin, which turn the Pathtag into a traveling item. In these cases, they are intended to stay with the coin or travel bug to which they are affixed and should be moved along like another traveler.    I have also noticed that people are selling pathtags on EBay! 

 

Travel Bug:

A Groundspeak Travel Bug is a trackable tag that you attach to an item. This allows you to track your item on Geocaching.com. The item becomes a hitchhiker that is carried from cache to cache (or person to person) in the real world and you can follow its progress online. 

All of the above are just fun things to stumble on, and make the sport more interesting and fun.  Remember to Geocache often and have tons of fun....oh yes, don't forget the family and the pictures!