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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! 

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Written by Terri Nealon

Published: December 13 2025

Last Updated: December 13 2025

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Repeat Adventure Awaits Winner MrsSpongy (Carolyn) is smiling again with her November 2025 win!  Carolyn has been a loyal challenge cacher since the beginning of SLAGA's Adventure Awaits initiative. She first won in May 2024 and some of her caching history was noted in that May article.  But since then, Carolyn has continued to accomplish more personal goals in her caching career, one being her continued monthly caching to participate in Adventure Awaits. For the month of November, Carolyn chose the following caches to fulfill the challenge of finding four geocaches each with a different size, plus one event. 

Cache 1: Small-GCBEM7D Here's Barb

Cache 2: Regular-GCAMBWO Walker's Rest

Cache 3: Micro GCBDYQQ Stay in Love

Cache 4: Other-GCB9HXJ Found It!

Event: GCBEK4H SW STL Happy Hour

Carolyn still says, "Geocaching is my therapy, and my geocaching 'family' remains a big support as I continue playing this fun game."  Since her past win, Carolyn has found caches in 5 new states, bringing her total to 35 USA states (including DC).  Speaking of totals, Carolyn is at an amazing 18,281 geocache finds since she started in 2009.  One of her current goals is to achieve her fifth Fizzy grid filler. She only needs two more D/Ts to complete that goal.  

Carolyn's fondest geocaching memories are made while out with friends.  "I really enjoy getting smileys with my friends, especially at events, either locally or travelling out of town to big events.  This past spring I went with different girlfriends to both the MOGA in Abilene, KS and GeoWoodstock in Morgantown, VA!"   

CONGRATULATIONS CAROLYN ON YOUR NOVEMBER 2025 ADVENTURE AWAITS WIN AND $10 GIFT CARD PRIZE!  

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Written by Terri Nealon

Published: November 11 2025

Last Updated: November 11 2025

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One of geocaching's charter members. and a SLAGA forefather, has joined the winners circle for SLAGA Adventure Awaits Challenge.  Jim Greene, aka Strider, has participated many of the months and enjoys the variety of challenge criteria, but has finally won for the month of October 2025. His qualifying caches to find four geocaches each with a different Cache Owner (CO) and one event, are as follows: 

GC2DA4M Fourth Spiral CO / Flic

GCBC70N Fish in a Barrel CO / JoeBum

GC3XDCW Just Jonesburg...again / CO Quailman2

GC53XXN The Great Westbound Treasure Hunt / CO ottieolsen (Dustin & Heather)

GCAYRTR Geocoinfest 2025 - Castle Rock, CO / CO A_Novel_Cache_ Cmte

Most of Jim's qualifying caches were from his recent trip with Sarah (Crowesfeat30) to Colorado for the Geocoinfest Event, which he chose as his event cache.  Some caches were from the different states he and Sarah visited on the trip. He commented that, "It was a great 10-day vacation, and we got a lot of caches and Adventure Labs in 30 new Colorado counties and several in Nebraska. We now have 53/64 Colorado counties with only the NW corner left."  

As for his geocaching history, Jim jumped on the game board in February 2001, less than a year after The "Original Stash Geocache" was placed. He found his first cache GC147 "Under the Boardwalk" in Missouri not too far from his current residence by chance, and he wasn't even the first to find but was the sixteenth. He didn't hit the ground running at the start of his caching career, with only two finds his first year, but if you look at his stats now, you'll see a diverse caching history throughout his 19,352 finds and 785 FTFs to date.  Jim's completed every caching grid multiple times, has cached in 49 United States plus DC and in a few countries as well. Looks like a trip to Hawaii is next for Jim.  His contribution to this game is awesome with 363 hides so far, as the 'bear' is awakened often at Queeny Park so his hide count is always increasing.  Jim has also served SLAGA well, not only as a local hider, mentor, and events volunteer, but also served on the board as Treasurer from 2007 to 2009 and as Vice President from 2009 to 2011. 

Jim said, "When I started this game, I borrowed a GPS from some friends and got a few caches before they took it away from me. It was an old Magellan and only went to two decimal places, so I got hung up on Super Bowl Stash from that problem. After I got my own GPS I really got into it. I cached with my two dogs, Charlie and Sophie who thought it was great fun. After a while I met Sarah (Crowesfeat30), and we started caching together and have been together for 20 years now.  I've made so many great friends along the way and have visited some fantastic places.  I sure didn't expect when I started this that it would become such a part of my life."

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Written by Terri Nealon

Published: October 14 2025

Last Updated: October 14 2025

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On September 25, 2025, SLAGA representatives John Layman and Nan Dabler were interviewed live on  'St. Louis on the Air' public radio station 90.7 KWMU. SLAGA member, Sara Christy had mentioned geocaching to a friend of hers who interns at the station, and he thought a piece on geocaching would be perfect for the show. He was right! John and Nan made SLAGA proud by describing the organization, explaining the game of geocaching, offering personal insight and experiences, and promoting CITOs as a way to "keep the game board clean." The infamous D5/T5 Mystery cache 'The Architect' (GC4CQ9V), by Forest-Ghost and Curlycue 109, was highlighted during the interview also.   

The 20 min interview is definitely worth a listen, so use the link below and enjoy. Thanks to Sara for making this possible and to John and Nan for representing SLAGA so well.

https://www.stlpr.org/show/st-louis-on-the-air/2025-09-26/geocaching-invites-st-louis-adventurers-to-find-hidden-treasure-and-clean-as-they-goi

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Written by Terri Nealon

Published: September 13 2025

Last Updated: September 13 2025

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August in SLAGA-Land brought us sunshine and heat with days as long as 14 hours, temperatures over 90*F for 11 days, and 0% precipitation recorded.  But it also brought us our August Adventure Awaits Winner, Denise Muskopf, better known as 6dancer.

Denise has been caching exactly 16 years to the day that she was notified of her August challenge win! She started geocaching when her sister, Deborah, returned home from a Colorado visit and the two of them went on a picnic in Valmeyer, IL. Deborah had been caching for about 5 years by then, and as they were picnicking, she told Denise that there was a geocache under their table! Denise was amazed! The following day she found a cemetery cache and after that was hooked. She has since found 6850 geocaches to date, has cached as far north as Alaska and as far south as Argentina.  She has cached across the Pacific ocean west in Hawaii and across the Atlantic ocean east in Germany. She's missing only one day to fill her calendar grid, so everyone wish her a Merry Christmas on December 25th with a reminder to go out and grab a cache that day! (HoHoHo)

But back to the summer heat and her August accomplishment. Denise endured the heat to complete her task of finding five different geocaching types with one event in the mix. These are her qualifying geocaches.

Cache 1: GC6QGW4 Wherigo - aLieNs

Cache 2: GC4MT9J Multi - Red Corvette

Cache 3: GCB9W73 Event - The Gateway to Finland

Cache 4: GCB7972 Traditional - LesMar's Little Library on Lansdowne

Cache 5: GCBATRM Mystery - DDH US # 35 - 100 Field Puzzles Challenge

When interviewed about why she chose to participate in this month's SLAGA's Adventure Awaits challenge, Denise said, "I chose to participate in this one because they were my recent finds, so the challenge was easy since I had the ones I needed to qualify.  I'd previously sent in qualifying caches for maybe eight months."

A worst geocaching experience that Denise shared in the interview, was when she " got lost in the woods trying to find Misi-ziibi (GC8KRWQ) a D3/T4 in Cliff Cave Park.  [She] was lost wandering for a good hour and finally prayed for help.  About 5 minutes later, a young man stepped in the path.  [She] asked if he knew the way out and he said sure.  He was an Angel."  That was brave (or maybe a little risky) of Denise to attempt a T4 with needed TOTT solo. Happily she made it out of the woods, but sadly she never got that smiley.  Another geo-fear she shared is that she is a bit scared about going down steep hills, because falling is always on her mind. 

Nevertheless, geocaching is Denise's favorite hobby!  She goes out with her friends 3Nina and NEgirl every week.  Her favorite geocache is one she owns and is in her yard, GC89GP7 "GNOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS."  She also enjoys reading and playing games.  

 CONGRATULATIONS 6DANCER ON YOUR AUGUST CHALLENGE WIN!