A Cozy Gathering-2026 SLAGA Winter Potluck
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- Written by Terri Nealon
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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
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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
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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
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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
| Earthcache | ?? Missouri’s Rosy Heart: The Granite Shut-In EC | LosVagabundos | GCBE76P |
| Traditional | Strange Things in the Woods-Toadstool in the Woods | SlamminElla | GCBCF95 |
| Letterbox | Day 4 - 2025 Cachemas in STL | HiddenCrazy | GCBEZK4 |
| Unknown | Afowl of Perche Creek - Snipe (Bonus) | Unitzoid | GCBCK3W |
| Multicache | Buddy's Projection | Strider | GCBCKEY |
| Virtual | Historic Daniel Boone Home | vorlon40 | GCAJJ8J |
| Lab Bonus | Tombstone Tourist Adventure Lab Bonus Cache | Denmother and L Frank | GCB7GNW |
By overall % of favorite points awarded
| 80 | Traditional | Strange Things in the Woods-Toadstool in the Woods | SlamminElla | GCBCF95 |
| 71 | Traditional | The Saber in the Stump | ice_mermaid & HiddenCrazy | GCB7XXG |
| 69 | Traditional | What Do You See? | HiddenCrazy | GCB13BJ |
| 67 | Traditional | LesMar's Little Library on Lansdowne | LEchterWhite CardsFan4 | GCB7972 |
| 67 | Traditional | Time To Branch Out | ClumsyJudo | GCBAZXH |
| 67 | Traditional | Strange Things in the Woods - A Rock in the Woods | SlamminElla | GCBCEKP |
| 67 | Traditional | MKT Memories | Delbadore | GCBCK9X |
| 67 | Traditional | Paint it, Cache | kawiaj | GCBEN77 |
| 65 | Traditional | Stumped in Tower Grove Park | ToeFur9er | GCB6QHA |
| 63 | Traditional | My First Find (Now Archived) | stevendede | GCB7GAR |
Congrats and thanks to the Cache Owners and everyone else who continues to create and support quality caches in the St. Louis area!
Smiling Again at a November Win
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- Written by Terri Nealon
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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!
2025 SLAGA Travel Bug Race November Update
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- Written by Robert Klemme
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Looking for an update on the SLAGA Travel Bug race standings? Well look no further, here they are!
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