100 Plus Geocaching Terms you may not know
If you are new to geocaching I’d advise you first pop over and read my What is Geocaching post – it will give you some more information. Once you have read it though then there will likely be phrases you don’t understand. Whether these are in the clues, or comments, or anywhere really, we all find things we don’t quite understand sometimes. Explicitly this post is, I hope, going to help you out. To that end 100 plus Geocaching Terms aims to be a place to learn some of the intricacies you will find in this fascinating hobby.
If you are a regular reader or have spotted the menu bar at the top of this blog you will know that we are keen geocachers. We love nothing more than spending a few hours hunting through the briar and bramble for tiny pots; hidden by equally enthusiastic hiders. As weird as that sounds it really isn’t that odd. However there are loads of us out there.
100 Plus Geocaching Terms you may not know
The idea of this post is to provide a long list of terms that you may come across if you take up this fun hobby. When we first started there were often words or phrases that we just didn’t understand. We ended up researching as much as we could, and these are the ones we have found most useful. Hopefully you will find this list very useful in your geocaching journey. Basically just skip below the image for the full list.
Geocaching Terms you may not know list
| ALR | This stands for Additional Logging Requirement – Logging requires more than just signing the cache log – Geocache.com states: “All ALRs must be optional for finders of a geocache.” |
| Ammo Can | Ammunition boxes (also known as or ammo cans) are those big green metal boxes that were designed to transport ammunition safely. |
| Archive | To Archive a cache means to permanently remove it from the listings. It’s important to note that a geocache owner can archive their own listing but cannot unarchive it! The alternative is a temporary disable. |
| ATCF | Basically means As The Crow Flies |
| Attributes | The Icons that you find on caches on the geocaching website – Full details of each can be found here: https://www.geocaching.com/about/icons.aspx |
| Beach Tube | The sort of tube used to hold keys or money when swimming at the beach, Makes a good Nano. |
| Bison Tube | A small, metal container used for micro-caches. The name comes from the original manufacturers Bison Design. |
| Blinky | Often used as another term for a Nano. It stems from a form of magnetic torch, that works as a magnetic micro if the battery is removed. |
| Bookmark | A feature for Premium Members that allows you to save links to caches in your own bookmark lists (see below) the bookmark can be given (or leave as default of the cache title), and a notes can be added. |
| Bookmark List | A collection of Bookmarks. |
| Booty | The loot found in a cache. More often called Swag |
| BYOP | Basically means Bring Your Own Pen |
| C:Geo | A free android app for geocachers |
| CAAR | Another acronym this stands for Caches Along A Route. Another Premium Member feature that allows you to identify other caches along a particular route. |
| Cache and Dash or C&D | A cache placed conveniently for speed finding, often by roads or carparks., Also Park and Grab, P&G or PNG |
| Cache or Geocache | Short for Geocache. |
| Cacher or Geocacher | One who participates in geocaching |
| Camo | Short for Camouflage |
| Challenge Cache | A cache that requires you to fulfil a challenge or other Geocaching related activity before you may actually search for the cache. You may have to have a certain number of caches already etc. |
| Charter Member | Geocachers who bought a Geocaching Premium Membership the first year it was offered and every year since. |
| CITO | Basically means Cache In, Trash Out. The idea is to collect rubbish and clear up the area as you hunt for caches. |
| Clip Lock | A type of container, with clips to hold the lid on (usually plastic) |
| CO | Basically means Cache Owner |
| Collectable | A status assigned to any trackable item that people can keep it in their possession, and do not have to physically move it to another geocache. Conversely, non-collectible trackable items can be easily grabbed, dropped, discovered, etc. More about trackables here. |
| Constellation | The configuration of GPS satellites overhead at any specific time. Some constellation configurations are better than others for calculating your position. |
| Coordinates | A pair of numbers (latitude and longitude) that pinpoint an exact position, or waypoint, on the Earth. |
| Creed, The | The Geocachers creed, the voluntary creed all Geocachers follow – http://support.groundspeak.com/index.php?pg=kb.page&id=46 |
| D/T | Cache Difficulty and Terrain rating. The difficulty number is first, followed by the terrain rating. Each rating ranges from 1 to 5 in 0.5 steps. A 1/1 cache is the easiest 5/5 the hardest. |
| Dipping | Logging a trackable into a cache then removing it again. |
| Disable | Used to mark a cache temporarily unavailable |
| DNF | Another acronym this stands for Did Not Find – a sad act when you can’t locate the cache |
| Drunken Bee Dance | The bizarre movements of geocachers as they try and pinpoint the cache, like watching a bee dance in the hive- Also known as Bee Dance |
| Film Can or 35mm | 35mm film container, most common micro cache. |
| EarthCache | An EarthCache is a special place that people can visit to learn about a unique geoscience feature of our Earth. EarthCache pages include a set of educational |
| Event Cache | An Event Cache is a gathering of geocachers or geocaching organizations. The Event Cache page specifies a time for the event and provides coordinates to its |
| Fizzy Challenge | To find at least one cache of every difficulty/terrain combination (81 unique combinations). Fizzy Challenge caches may also require you to find each of different types of caches. EarthCache; Event Cache,; Letterbox Hybrid; CITO Event; Multi Cache; Traditional Cache; Unknown Cache; Virtual Cache; and Webcam Cache. |
| Flat Pack | Small plastic baggie wrapped with camo tape |
| FTF | Another acronym this stands for First to the Find – the first person to locate a new cache |
| GC Code | A unique identifier associated with every geocache listing. The GC Code starts with the letters “GC” and is followed by other alphanumeric characters, such as GCK25B. |
| GeoCoin | A Coin size token used as a trackable. |
| Geopile | Unnatural piles of sticks, stones etc. hiding places for Geocaches, they are NOT always on the ground! |
| GeoStripes | The arm and leg scratches you WILL get from brambles. You have to earn your stripes! |
| Geotrail | A series of caches spread out to encourage you to explore an area of interest. |
| GPS or GPSr | A GPS receiver. The “r” in GPSr just means receiver |
| Ground Zero or GZ | The spot on your GPS where the cache is located. |
| HAK | Basically means Hide A Key – a variation of MKH |
| HIPS | Another acronym this stands for Hidden In Plain Sight |
| Inventory | A list of your non-collectible trackables |
| Jasmer Challenge | A challenge to collect a cache placed in every month since the start of Geocaching (you will very probably have to travel for this one!) |
| LEO | Another acronym this stands for Law Enforcement Officer (The police) |
| Letterbox or Letterboxing | A Type of Cache |
| LN | Basically means Left Nothing |
| Log | A piece of paper left in the cache for noting your name on. Indicates you found the cache. It may also refer to the act of logging the find on the Geocache website or app. |
| LPC or Lamppost Cache | A common hiding place for micro caches, this exploits the fact that the shroud (or “skirt”) on lamp posts that cover the anchor bolts are usually not secured, and can be lifted up to provide a hiding place. The term LPC is sometimes intended to be a derogatory reference; since LPC hides are generally all the same and require little skill or imagination. |
| McToy | cheap plastic toys often left in caches, originally referred to the happy meal toys |
| MEFF | This stands for Most Esteemed First Finder |
| Member | Usually refers to a paying member of the Geocaching.com community |
| Micro | A small cache, ranging from 35mm film canisters to tiny magnetic post smaller than a thimble |
| Micro-spew | A derogatory term for a collection of micro caches, in obvious often uninteresting places. |
| MKH | Another acronym this stands for Magnetic Key Holders are the sort of box designed to hide keys for your car etc. |
| Muggle | A non-geocacher (taken from the Harry Potter series of books). |
| Muggled | A cache that has been discovered by non-geocachers and often destroyed or moved. |
| Multi-Cache | A Multi-Cache involves two or more locations. The final location will be a physical container. |
| Mystery or Puzzle Cache | A type of Cache. Coordinates listed on the cache page are often bogus, and the final coordinates must be solved through a series of steps or instructions. Also known as a Puzzle Cache. |
| Nano | A part of the Micro cache genre but tiny. |
| NIAH | Another acronym this one stands for Needle in a Haystack. A small cache in a place with multiple locations for hiding |
| Night Cache | A type of cache that can only be seen at night |
| PAF | Basically means Phone A Friend, what else would you do if you needed help? |
| PI | Another acronym this stands for Poison Ivy, take care!! |
| PO | Basically means Poison Oak, take care!! |
| Pocket Query or PQ | a Pocket Query is a custom geocache search that you can create and download on a daily or weekly basis. |
| Power Trail | A path with lots of caches placed close together, allows cachers to increase cache counts easily |
| Preform | plastic test-tube shaped container with screw-on lid. |
| P&G | This stands for Park and Go – usually a D/T 1/1 in a parking lot |
| QR Code | A type of barcode, sometimes seen on or near Geocaches (more often used for another game though) |
| Reviewer | A volunteer who checks caches before validating them on the official site. Caches must adhere to the guidelines found here: https://www.geocaching.com/about/guidelines.aspx |
| ROT13 | A common cipher used in puzzle caches and the likes |
| R.O.W. | Basically means Right Of Way |
| Signal | The official Frog mascot of Geocaching.com |
| Signature Item | Signature items left by cachers, from personal calling cards to unique items. i.e someone leaves playing cards near me. |
| SL | another acronym this is short for Signed Log |
| Spoiler | A log entry (online or in the app) giving away the location of the cache |
| STF | basically stands for Second To The Find |
| Swag | The items left behind in Geocaches for finders to swap |
| TFTC or T4TC | This stands for Thanks For The Cache |
| TFTH or T4TH | Basically means Thanks For The Hunt |
| TN | Another acronym this is for Took Nothing |
| TNLN | Similarly this stands for Took Nothing, Left Nothing |
| TNLNSL | In the same way Took Nothing, Left Nothing, Signed Log |
| TNX4GC | Another acronym (or short code) This stands for Thanks For The Geocache |
| TOTT or TOT | This stands for Tools Of The Trade |
| Trackable | A tag with a unique code that can be attached to an item. The trackable is then carried from cache to cache (or person to person) in the real world. And its progress can be followed on Geocaching.com. Also known as Travel Bugs, TBs, and GeoCoins. More about Travel Bugs and trackables. |
| Traditional Cache | This is a Physical cache that has a log as a minimum. |
| Travel Bug, Bug or TB | A Trackable item that is moved from Cache to Cache, each one has a unique code that allows you to follow it’s journey. |
| UPR | Basically means Unnatural Pile of Rocks |
| UPS | Basically means Unnatural Pile of Sticks |
| Virtual Cache | These refer to physical locations but there is no physical cache. Cachers show proof of a visit with a photo, or by answering a questions etc. |
| Watchlist | User maintained Lists set up to receive notifications on specific geocaches and/or trackables. Users receive a copy of each posted log via email. |
| Waypoint | A Reference point for a physical location. How you find caches |
| WebCam Cache | This is a type of cache, where you must get caught on a webcam |
| WheriGo Cache | A WheriGo cartridge is a set of locations that you must find or a set of instructions to accomplish, in order, to get to the final cache location |
| XNSL | eXchanged Nothing, Signed Log |
| YACIDKA or ACIDKA | Interestingly this one means Yet Another Cemetery I Didn’t Know About (I love these 2) |
| YAPIDKA or APIDKA | In similar fashion Yet Another Park I Didn’t Know About (I love these 2) |
Happy caching.
I hope you have found these 100 Plus Geocaching Terms useful. If you did please share them with anyone else you think might. And if you have any terms that you think we have missed, then please leave a comment below. I’d love to add more.
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3 Comments
Scott Riddle
HAK – Hide-A-Key (variation of MKH)
P&G – Park and Grab (usually a D/T 1/1 in a parking lot)
PO – Poison Oak (US West Coast plant)
flat pack – small plastic baggie wrapped with camo tape
Cache type misspelling: Wherigo (without the 2nd 'e')
Geocaching handle: Papa EGTH
AshleyBeolens
That's ace thank you Scott, I shall add them to the list. Flat packs must be a nightmare to find!
Lauren-The Helpful Hiker
Love it! I am determined to try geocaching properly sometime and have read quite a lot about it-but there are so many terms I didn't know!