CACHEMAS 2021

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Written by Pete Shaw

Published: December 11 2021

Last Updated: December 11 2021

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THE SLAGA TWELVE DAYS OF CACHEMAS ARE BACK!!!

Here’s how it works: For 12 consecutive days beginning December 13th, 2021 (Day 1), a new cache will be published and every day afterwards until December 24th. If you are able to First to Find, FTF, one of these daily caches, an FTF Cachemas Ornament will be in the container for you to keep. Once again, L Frank has designed a unique ornament that can be converted to a cache container for a future hide; or, you may keep it, your choice. PLEASE, if you get an FTF on one of the 12 days, do not go for another one until Bonus Day, let someone else have the fun.

This year, there will be a Bonus Cache on December 31st. EVERYONE is eligible to FTF the bonus whether or not you have FTFed a Cachemas hide. This cache can only be found by using all the codes inside of the container of each daily cache. Keep these codes and use them to solve the location of the Bonus cache which will publish on the final day, December 31st. The Bonus solution will be included in the final day Cache description and I am promised, it is not a difficult solution. We are publishing the Bonus 7 days after the 12^th day of Cachemas in order to give cachers time to acquire all the 12 codes.

THE BONUS CACHE CONTAINS TWO LARGE PREMIUM GEOCOINS

AS WELL AS AN AWESOME ORNAMENT

St. Louis County Park Ranger Earns National Recognition

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Written by David DeWitt

Published: March 04 2020

Last Updated: March 04 2020

Hits: 2043

St. Louis County Park Ranger Earns National Recognition

We are happy to announce that St. Louis County Parks Ranger Laura MacLeod received the award for Ranger of the Year from the Park Ranger Institute. This national award recognizes an individual who exemplifies all the personal and professional traits necessary to carry out their duties in the most efficient and effective manner possible. This can include work production, arrests/citations, voluntary overtime, program development, community relation efforts and education efforts with school groups, scouts, disadvantaged youth, elderly.

"Ranger MacLeod is a Ranger who is an avid programmer with both geo tracking, spelunking and equestrian programs. Ranger Macleod does an excellent job when interacting with the children involved in programs and is constantly making herself available to groups both inside and outside the park system,” said Deputy Commander Richard Banahan. “The St. Louis County Park Rangers are extremely proud of this national award.”

Ranger Macleod also coordinates outdoor scouting opportunities and the Junior Ranger program. Ranger Macleod has been with the department since 2011. 

For over 50 years the St. Louis County Park Rangers have provided public safety for visitors to the parks in our system. The main goals of the Ranger division are public relations, programming and protection.

New Missouri Reviewer, MrHarmonica

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Written by Denmother

Published: July 08 2019

Last Updated: July 08 2019

Hits: 1794

Geocachers in the western half of Missouri may have noticed that there was a new Missouri reviewer publishing their caches -- MrHarmonica. After keeping his identity a secret for almost a year, it was time to reveal himself last month. The New MO Reviewer Reveal Event (GC8782Q) was hosted by neighboring reviewers Iowa Landmark (Iowa), Heartland Cacher (Nebraska), Reviewer Smith (Illinois), and Banjo-Boy (6-year retiring reviewer from St. Louis). Geocachers from all over the state gathered at Cosmo Park in Columbia, Missouri, to play a game of Clue to see if they could solve the mystery. Finally, a team arrived at the correct set of clues -- 1) Geoname starts with an L; 2) Lives in St. Louis; 3) Hides birdhouse caches. Who could that be? L Frank? How could L Frank keep a secret for so long?
After the reveal, L Frank changed into his Volunteer Reviewer shirt, and MrHarmonica handed out souvenir harmonicas to everyone who guessed correctly. Then his fellow reviewers joined him for a Q&A session.
The next time you see L Frank/MrHarmonica, you can congratulate him and ask him a question or two about getting your caches published. Tell him that you knew it was him all along.

A Chi-Town Adventure

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Written by Patricia Hutchison

Published: April 26 2019

Last Updated: April 26 2019

Hits: 1589

By Terri Nealon

     We blew in and out of the Windy City this past weekend, which was the second time our geo-foursome had visited Chi town. Last year along with another good friend, we'd conquered 'Beverly' and other grid-filling caches, but this trip we spent a good portion being 'blown' away by the awe and beauty of the city.

     Like all good geocachers, we stopped in route to and from our destination; at an awesome and favorited TB hotel, a glacial erratic to play awhile, the stomping grounds of Chicago's most famous ghost (Resurrection Mary), a D5 cemetery Earthcache with 6 waypoints, and a giant chicken (who knew?). But it was the time spent in and around downtown with three fun friends, walking in wind gusts over 35mph and temps in mid 40s that fills my memory the most.

     The lake cache hike Friday had us bundled up and freezing but laughing all the way. We all felt some mist from the spray of the white caps as they crashed into the wall, but Capn Sea Bert, living up to his name, got caught in a big one unawares while signing a log for us all. Spiritwolf922 won the longest deep-dish pizza cheese string-pull at our table at Giordano's Friday night, before we hit up Vanille Patisserie for some delicious macarons. Saturday brought milder weather and many virtual wonders. The Cloud Gate, aka The Bean, was a must-visit to kick off our morning cache hike. How-D even brought along some 'MARVEL'ous muggles to join the party and make us laugh. As for me, TerriBikes+, I was just my quiet self-soaking in the camaraderie and the sights and sounds of the city.

     My geofriends and I had such a great time again in Chi town that I brought up the idea about making this and every spring geotrip, as there's still so much to see and experience here. As Mark Twain once said: “It is hopeless for the occasional visitor to try to keep up with Chicago-she outgrows his prophecies faster than he can make them. She is always a novelty; for she is never the Chicago you saw when you passed through the last time.”

Peace and Smileys, TerriBikes+

A WyckedAnn Story

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Written by WyckedAnn

Published: December 09 2018

Last Updated: December 09 2018

Hits: 1870

            In October, 2014, while I was living in California, I went to Chloride, Arizona to visit family.   Traveling back home, I drove through Laughlin, Nevada on Interstate 40. When I got home, I was on Facebook checking the Geocaching Singles page when I saw a lady had posted that she was in Laughlin, Nevada and was looking for a geocaching buddy. I commented that I had just been in Laughlin, Nevada the other day and that I had family in Arizona.

            And that is when Cyndee B and I started talking and forming a friendship. We friended each other and would chat here and there as time went by. In The beginning of July 2015, I told her that I was moving to Missouri and would be stopping in Laughlin on our way East at the end of the month.

            We had planned to finally meet up, but as time was getting closer to the move East plans changed for her; she was helping a friend move around the time we would be passing through. But we promised each other we would try and meet up again another time. Over time we continued our friendship. I loved hearing about her geocaching adventures and in February, 2016, she and her geocaching friends drove to Yuma, Arizona for the MEGA Yuma S.W.A.G. Event. When she got home, she sent us some Extagz and Pathtags she had gotten while she was at that event. That was the start of our Extagz/Pathtags trades. If we had extras of tags we would send her and same with her. She would send us extras she would get for us.

            And that is what leads me here to this story. Christmas, 2016, we decided to get her the first ever Geocaching coin she owned. It is a beautiful Narwhal coin. Rainbow, it glows in the dark. I picked it out for her because it just reminded me of Cyndee B, a beautiful, whimsical soul. She loved it! She said she was afraid of collecting geocoins because she had an addicting personality and that was one more thing to be addicted to. I told her she could blame me for it. hahaha...

            The next spring, she had found out she had breast cancer. I was heartbroken to find out my friend was sick. I started a YOUCARING Fundraiser account for Cyndee to help raise money for her bills and such. What was raised helped her.

            Christmas, 2017, we sent her a SLAGA Christmas geocoin along with some Extagz/Pathtags. At the beginning of 2018, she was cleared of the breast cancer but then they found that she had brain cancer. She surprised me by telling me she was going to come out to Missouri to visit but after finding the brain cancer, she had to cancel.

            She kept going for treatments with hope of getting better. About a month ago, she sent us a package with some travel bugs to send out into the world for her along with her Narwhal coin we had given her for Christmas two years ago. We decided that we would keep the coin and take it on our geocaching adventures – like it would be her with us, still going on that geocaching adventure.

            Most unfortunately, she passed away on November 15, 2018. She was unable to change ownership of the coin but we want it to still be under her geocaching account, as a tribute to her memory. I share this story because she is my friend. We never got to meet face to face but it feels like I have known her for so long. You meet some incredible people on this geocaching adventure and Cyndee B is one of those people.

            We wanted to share this trackable and its story with all of you. Please feel free to discover this Narwhal coin (NWR8RE). And be sure to say Hi to CYNDEE B, in your log.

Thank you. ~WyckedAnn, Cyndee B and ResurrectionJ