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FTF Magz

The bi-monthly publication of the FTF Geocachers Magazine is enjoyed by thousands of geocahers as it is a forum to share their stories, photos, advice, milestones, and more.  Our SLAGA VP, vorlon40 (John Layman), was surprised when he received his copy, which was a special 'Golden Seal' trackable edition!  John was honored  because he was one of the few drawing winners of the past edition's "Were You Puzzled?" contest called, 'Catsup or Mustard."  "It was cool that it was close to home and one I had visited," said John.     

 FTF John Layman2 FTF Puzzle

In addition to John's accolade, both PaulGracie (Paul Williams) and TerriBikes+ (Terri Nealon), the SLAGA reporter/article writer, were also thrilled to see their names in print.  Terri's August 11,2023 article, which has been viewed nearly 800 times, entitled, "Bike 'Across America' - PaulGracie's Adventure," was chosen as a Feature Story in the same FTF Geocachers Magazine as vorlon40's win!  "It's exciting to see that Paul's adventure could now reach geocachers worldwide, and I'm psyched to be a 'published' feature story writer in the magazine," commented Terri.  When Paul was asked how he feels about his article in the FTF Geocachers Magazine, he exclaimed, "It's cool...I'm famous now!"

FTF Article FTF TERRI

If you subscribe to the magazine, you'll notice your local cachers being honored in the edition.  Kudos to all three SLAGA members!   

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...AND THE WINNER IS...STEVENDEDE
 
Win Nov 23 Stevendede
 
Congratulations to Steve Jacobs on his November SLAGA Adventure Awaits Monthly Challenge win and $10 Gift Card prize for finding and submitting five different types of geocaches and one event cache.  His November 2023 geocaching entries, listed below, were chosen because they were each favorites of the month for him.  When asked why Steve decided to take part in the November challenge, he said it was "because cootie-man pestered me" to participate, "but I think it's great that SLAGA is trying something new."
 

GCA1FPG. Rapunzel Traditional

GC6FXDF  Lewis and Clark Expedition. Letterbox

GC7KT9P  1150 AD. - Tour Through Time. Wherigo

GCACYW6  Pop-A-Squat Port-A-Pot Challenge. Mystery

*GCAEF3M  Geocaching International Film Festival SLAGA Style. Event *

Steve started geocaching in 2011 with his 12 year old daughter, who cached with him for several years. His wife DeDe is a muggle, but has always let him grab a geocache or two during their travels together, so Steve has cached fairly steadily over these past 12 years. As a matter of fact, there were only 21 days between his first and second geocaches, and amazingly that is still the longest slump in his geocaching history.  Steve retired this past April, so he definitely has more time to dedicate to geocaching and his other hobbies now, including collecting and repairing vintage pocket watches and travel.
 
It's a good thing travel is a hobby of Steve's, because his favorite caching experiences involve traveliing and letting geocaches bring him to places that he wouldn't have experienced otherwise.  In September of 2023, Steve and DeDe traveled through Ireland, Sweden, Denmark, and Germany.  Some of the best sights they visited  were ones where Steve targeted a geocache.  During their trip, Steve actually enjoyed a day in Wachtendonk, Germany with another geocacher from Frankfort, whom he had met at an event in Creve Coeur, MO.  The caching duo accomplished two multis that took 4 hours each.  Steve commented that he never could have done those without a native German-speaking cacher.  Now that's an example of international geocaching fun and friends. 
 
Steve is most proud of having geocached in every county on the Isle of Great Britain, with the exception of Cornwall.  According to Project-GC (quite a fun fact), Steve has cached in more counties in the UK than any other American geocacher.  Steve has hidden 30 geocaches to enhance this fun game and has found an astonishing 16,056 caches as of this posting.  He has now won the November SLAGA Adventure Awaits challenge.  Only Steve knows what is next on his geocaching bucket list.  The Adventure Awaits! 
 

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 SLAGA UGLY SWEATER NAN

It's the most wonderful time of the year.

With cachers just 'gelling'

And everyone telling you be of good cheer.

It's the most wonderful time of the year.

 

It's the hap-happiest season of all.

Food and toys were collected and all felt connected

When geofriends called.

It's the hap-happiest season of all.

 

Geo-parties for hosting,

Hope you saw the posting,

Cause Nan planned a really fun day.

There were sweaters so ugly,

But they were still snuggly,

And raffle gifts given away.

 

It's the most wonderful time of the year.

The event smiles were showing

And hearts were all glowing

with geofriends near.

It's the most wonderful time of the year!

 (Parody of original song "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year," written by G. Wyle and E Pola, 1963.)

 SLAGA UGLY SWEATER EVENT     

The SLAGA-land Christmas Bash Event (GCAFWP9), hosted by nan-d1955, was held Saturday, December 9, 2023 in Arnold, MO., and was a smashing success!  There was a tremendous turn out of nearly 75 geocachers, with a few muggles scattered here and there.  Attendees brought charitable donations, enjoyed delicious food, had fun conversation, laughed at some pretty ugly sweaters, and crossed their fingers for raffle prizes. 

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Cache in Cold Scene Cache_in_Cold_Container.jpg

    
There is nothing like bundling up head to toe for a hike in the crisp winter air, through a forest blanketed with snow. The beautiful scenery, lack of bugs, spotting animal tracks, and uncovering nearly frozen geocache containers, hidden under a foot of snow, makes caching in the cold a worthwhile and fun adventure. But being prepared for winter caching is a must, because you leave behind the  warmth, shelter, food, water and other comforts of home. 

 
Cache in Cold Gusteroids Cache in Cold 3 men Cmas Cache in Cold nand MrsS

Before you head out for a hike and geocache find, in this beautiful cold world, keep in mind several winter hiking and geocaching tips and essentials.  Obviously the longer the adventure and more intense the winter bushwhack, the more of the following information will apply, but it's good information regardless.

Begin at home by checking the weather conditions during your trip outdoors. Then see if the geocaches you're interested in finding are actually available and able to be found. Check the cache page attributes and recent logs.  Remember too that some trails are closed in winter, or not marked and maintained. so route-finding skills are important.  Plan and know your route because snow-covered landscapes look very different than in those warm dry months.  If creek crossings are required, remember thin layers of ice on water can be decieving and dangerous, so don't count on walking across unless you know the freeze is over a long period of time and the ice is indeed thick. 

Cache in Cold rogbane TerriBikes Cache_in_cold_bridge_creek.jpg Cache in Cold Cmas group 

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OCTOBER 2023 WINNER - ROUSEABOUTS

Adventure Awaits

 
Congratulations to the Rouseabouts, Lee and Dawn Rouse. They won the first ever SLAGA Adventure Awaits Monthly Challenge, which includes a $10 Gift Card for finding and submitting five traditional geocaches and one event cache.  Their October 2023 geocaching entries were:
 GC8P22X  Oak Hill
GCA8CRZ  Block Head
GC48XMT  Metcalf Park #2
GC6HNDM  #14 Angrybird Series
GC31ZBG  Well, what did you expect
* GCABE7B  2023 SLAGA Fall Picnic *
 
Roustabouts.jpg
 
The Rouseabouts enjoyed the October challenge, nearly qualify for November already, and look forward to what the following months' challenges will bring.  They have fun trying to complete the challenges and enjoy meeting other geocachers at the events. In October, they actually found 56 geocaches and attended two events.  Surprisingly, these were the very first events they had ever attended in their geocaching career! 
 
They started caching in late 2006 when Lee's sister and brother-in-law piqued their interest in the game. From 2006 to 2011 they were midly active, until their kids kept them busy with a variety of activites and functions.  But after twelve busy family years, the Rouseabouts, who are empty nesters now, are back in the gecocaching game. They love to do Adventure Labs and find new parks to take walks and find geocaches. They have gotten almost as many smileys in the last few months as they did in all the years prior to their hiatus. Currently they have found a total of 350 geocaches and are working on a 100-day streak (73 days and counting) in order to log their first 'challenge' cache. 
 
The Adventure Awaits for the Rouseabouts, as they once again enjoy this fun, outdoor, high-tech recreation fondly known as geocaching.  

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Here are the current standings in the SLAGA Travel Bug Race:

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  1. SLAGA Fall Picnic 2023
  2. SLAGA 2023 Travel Bug Race October Update
  3. ADVENTURE AWAITS - October Challenge LIVE!
  4. ADVENTURE AWAITS - A New Monthly Challenge
  5. SLAGA 2023 Travel Bug Race September Update
  6. Bike ‘Across America’ - PaulGracie’s Adventure
  7. SLAGA Featured on Geocache Adventures
  8. SLAGA 2023 Travel Bug Race Update
  9. IT'S TICK CHECK TIME!
  10. A Busy Spring in SLAGA-Land