Let the 2026 Travel Bug Race Begin…

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Written by Terri Nealon

Published: March 31 2026

Last Updated: March 31 2026

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The 2026 SLAGA Travel Bug Race Begins in May! Send your trackable into the wild and watch the adventure unfold.

TB Drop-off: SLAGA Spring Picnic – April 25, 2026 (GCBKMAJ)

Official Race Start: GeoWoodstock XXII – May 23, 2026 (GCB7GWH)

Race Finish Line: One week prior to the January 2027 SLAGA Potluck (TBD)

The starting line is back in sight as SLAGA kicks off a brand-new Travel Bug Race season. This annual favorite invites members to send their travel bugs and other trackables out into the world, watching as fellow geocachers help them journey from cache to cache.

How to Enter the Race

Race Core Categories

This year's race will use the same categories as last year.

In the event of a tie in any category, total miles shown on the TB’s page (minus any starting corrections) will be used as the tiebreaker.

Each participant may enter only one Travel Bug and may win only one category. If a participant places in multiple categories, the second-place TB becomes the category winner.

Racing Tips to Improve Your Chances

New to Travel Bugs?

A Travel Bug or trackable is a uniquely coded geocaching item owned by a player. Its tracking code allows its movement to be logged online each time it is picked up and placed in another cache, creating a shared adventure for everyone involved.

We encourage participants to prepare their trackables in advance and bring them to the designated SLAGA kickoff event for official entry. From there, the community takes over, moving the trackables along and adding stories to their travels.

Whether your travel bug crosses state lines or circles close to home, every log adds to the story. Throughout the season, updates and standings will be shared so everyone can follow the progress and cheer on their favorites.

So dust off those dog tags, prep your trackable, and get ready to race. Adventure, camaraderie, and plenty of logging await in this year’s SLAGA Travel Bug Race!

[Race Information provided by SLAGA member and Travel Bug manager, Mark Derr.]

A Cozy Gathering-2026 SLAGA Winter Potluck

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Written by Terri Nealon

Published: February 14 2026

Last Updated: February 14 2026

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The 2026 Winter Potluck SLAGA picnic, hosted by L Frank and Denmother was held on Jan 31, 2026.  It was a cozy gathering this winter in The Lemay Pavillion at Jefferson Barracks County Park.  More than 60 members plus several muggles attended the potluck bringing and sharing a delicious spread of food including salads, soups, pastas, meats and sandwiches, veggies, chips, and a very nice array of scrumptious deserts.  "There was enough food that attendees could visit the 'buffet' three times!," said CO L Frank.

Wonderful volunteers assisted the COs so the event ran smoothly and included several fun activities.  Many thanks to the following members for jobs well done. 

SETUP                                        spiritwolf922, Treasure Isle, Rouseabouts

FOOD TABLE                             SWAseeker, nan-d1955

REGISTRATION/GEOBINGO    How-D, Treasure Isle

50-50 TICKETS                           turtleladi1020

GEOCOINS/TRAVEL BUGS      6dancer

RAFFLE/TICKET SALES           bluedaisy, Loonwoman

CLEANUP                                   arabbit&ubuck

In addition to the picnic activities, there were various awards handed out.  The 9-month long travel bug race culminated at this picnic with the announcement of winners. Here are all the winners from this year's potluck event:

5000 MILESTONE - Mathmanbill

 50-50 WINNER - bazfum

GEO-BINGO WINNERS $10 Gift card:

Repmul, Team DLADL, Driver2, IBEW ret, and How-D

TRAVEL BUG RACE WINNERS $25 Gift card:

PHOTOS: 2roadtrippers

TOTAL GEOCACHERS: turleladi1020nhubbs

TOTAL LOGS: 6dancer

The raffle item winners were all pleased with their treasures too, but one in particular stood out.  A 3-D printed puzzle box type geocache was made by SLAGA member Team State and won by spiritwolf922. 

Everyone in attendance had a great time and left with smiles on their faces (and some in their geocaching stats), as well as full tummies!  Congratulations to all the potluck and award winners!   Have a cozy rest of the winter and hope to see many more SLAGA members at upcoming events.   

December 2025 Champ

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Written by Terri Nealon

Published: January 22 2026

Last Updated: January 23 2026

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Congratulations to Trailliart, Jesse McCarty, SLAGA's December 2025 Adventure Awaits Challenge Winner!  He has participated in Adventure Awaits since August and won this past month, with these qualifying Cachemas caches and an event.  

GCBEWXT Day 6 - 2025 Cachemas in STL

GCBEQKG Day 11 - 2025 Cachemas in STL

GCBDYTJ Day 9 - 2025 Cachemas in STL [FTF]

GCB1XZB 2025 Community Celebration Event-Last Chance

Amazingly, Jesse has only been geocaching for one year, even though he'd heard about it 15 years ago. In Jesse's short caching history, he's found nearly 750 caches, but is currently 'streak' caching with 333 consecutive days as of this article posting.  He also only has 15 D/T spots left to complete a Fizzy grid, but already has six 5/5s.  He also only has 18 upcoming days left to complete the 366 calendar day grid.

An achievement that amazes this geocaching journalist is that Jesse solved and completed 'The Architect' mega-multi just 6 months into caching!  When asked about a favorite caching memory, Jesse stated that his, "most favorite moment geocaching was completing The Architect (GC4CQ9V). When I first learned of that cache, it was early on I my caching days and I didn't know where to begin. Eventually, I not only learned how to get started, but I did it entirely on my own in just under a month." Now that's impressive!

And what's even more impressive and makes Jesse a champ of another kind is a personal accomplishment he shared.  

    "I use to weigh north of 260 lbs, but got down to about 157 lbs by late October 2024. Following that, I wanted to take part in physical activities, such as walking a number of miles per day to stay fit. In the first half of January 2025, I remembered about geocaching and figured that might be an interesting way to stay active. I don't regret any bit of that decision at all." 

Jesse has been an outdoorsy person since a child. He says he "likes to explore the woods and go on long hikes. Forest-Ghost caches have made it especially fun for me to go in the woods, because I didn't know you could find so many unusual things such as abandoned structures and decades old cars."  

Geocaching certainly seems like the perfect fit for Jesse. Extending congratulations again to him on his December win, but also for his  caching prowess and personal achievements and success! 

2025 ENDINGS and 2026 BEGINNINGS!

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Written by Terri Nealon

Published: January 21 2026

Last Updated: January 21 2026

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The 2025 holiday season was an active one for our SLAGA community. The first weekend in December kicked off the season with the spirit of giving at the 2025 Community Christmas Celebration Event (GCATM25) hosted by nan-d1955/Nan. This memorable and very fun event included, not only great food and conversation, but also the generosity of the 42 members in attendance, through food, toiletry and toy donations. These were collected for the local food pantry and Birthday Club of ‘Circle of Concern’ in Valley Park. Over 250 pounds of food and nearly 70 toys were donated. This yearly event is always a great way to start the season. 

CO Nan said that spending time with her fellow geocachers at this family time of year warms her heart. “I get so much joy out of being with my friends at this event that I stop and wonder how many others there feel the same joy. If even one, that makes me happy."

Next came Santa Cachemas (GeoKid12) and his many elves hiding caches all around SLAGAland for 12 straight days, while geocachers practically dropped everything in their personal lives to try for a coveted First-to-Find honor and ornament. This past season the caches were all letterbox hybrid type with cute stamps that ended up being the clues for the bonus day. Having participated every day of 2025 Cachemas, this writer can attest to the great quality and variety of caches in this whole series!  While the excitement of the hunt has always been a Cachemas high, the gathering of geofriends throughout and the tailgate festivities sure add to the joy of the Cachemas season!  

GeoKid12/Robert/Santa always does an amazing job organizing the series and hiding some caches himself.  The other hider elves definitely put effort into their choice of locations and caches too this year.  Then there's toy-maker elf, LFrank, who provided all the FTF ornaments. Over the years, this 2-week long Cachemas experience has turned into a holiday social favorite for many who not only get outdoors and earn a smiley, but really enjoy holiday time with friends too.

There were other fun events held in the month of December, including happy hours and game nights and Christmas Day lunch. But the Holiday season and 2025 came to an end and the new year began with the official SLAGA New Year's Day Hike on January 1st!

The 2026 hike, hosted by Treasure Isle/Susan, took place at 1 pm in the beautiful Laumeier Sculpture Park, which happens to be celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. "Laumeier is a place where art and nature come together to spark curiosity, creativity, and connection." More than 50 SLAGA members gathered on the back patio of the office building to enjoy a warm beverage and  holiday chats during the 30-minute meet-n-greet portion of the event. Then all cachers were invited to hike with the larger group or break off themselves to enjoy the many areas of the park. There were several old and new geocaches that could be found, so many hikers departed not only with smiles but smilies too. CO Susan hosted a terrific event and thanked all who attended as stated in her Attended Log. "Thanks to everyone who made this a successful start to the new year. Special thanks to cootie_man who provided drinks, cookies, and cups, etc. Also special thanks to Geokid12 for the huge variety of cookies and to Strider for placing a cache in the last available spot in Laumeier. Here's to another amazing year of geocaching!" 

SLAGA's 2025 was magnificent with new members joining, new geocaches hidden, numerous events and CITOS conducted, as well as activities like Cachemas and the year-long Adventure Awaits Challenges!  On that topic, the December challenge winner will be announced and honored in their own article soon.

But this is a great opportunity to announce the 2025 GRAND PRIZE WINNER, drawn from all participants from each month.  Drum Roll please......The Adventure Awaits Grand Prize Winner for 2025 is SWASEEKER/BILL! Congratulations and enjoy your $25 gift card prize!  
  

As 2026 begins, you can already see new changes, like our SLAGA board's new Adventure Awaits Challenge plans that are in play for this year.  As for geocacher 'resolutions' ideas, consider planning new caching adventures, setting some caching goals, exploring interesting new places, or committing to attending more SLAGA events or volunteering at one.  And there's no better time or place to start that last idea, than at the upcoming SLAGA Winter Potluck and Cabin Fever-2026 Event (GCBEWXB), hosted by L Frank and Denmother on January 31, 2026. 

Cheers to a great 2025 and

to an adventurous, happy

and healthy 2026!

Best of SLAGA 2025

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Written by John Layman

Published: January 06 2026

Last Updated: January 06 2026

Hits: 698

Best of SLAGA, Favorite Caches Placed in 2025

Of the ~287 new caches published in the 100 mile radius SLAGA territory in 2025, these are the top caches, as determined by % of favorite points awarded.

By cache type

By overall % of favorite points awarded

Congrats and thanks to the Cache Owners and everyone else who continues to create and support quality caches in the St. Louis area!