Some of the more commonly used terms
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A.P.E. Cache |
A particularly obscure type of cache. There’s one in the USA and one in Brazil. |
|
Ammo Can |
Ammunition boxes or ammo cans
are containers originally designed for safe transport and storage of
ammunition. Ammo cans are popular containers for regular or large geocaches
and are regularly stolen. |
|
Archive |
Archiving permanently removes a
geocache listing from search results. A geocache owner can archive their own
listing. A geocache owner cannot unarchive it. As an alternative to
archiving, the geocache can be temporarily disabled if maintenance is going to
be performed or the container will be replaced in the near
future. |
|
Attributes |
Icons featured on a details page for geocaches that describe specific characteristics of a geocache. There are several classes of attributes, such as whether or not you need special equipment, possible hazards along the way, or unique conditions one should be aware of. Attributes can show whether or not a cache is wheelchair accessible, dog friendly, requires a flashlight, and more. Attributes are also a tool to help you filter the types of geocaches you would like to search for when building a Pocket Query. It's the sort of thing you take notice of once it’s too late |
|
Basic Member |
Someone who’s not paid up and consequently can’t see most of what’s on the geocaching map |
|
Bookmark List |
A Geocaching Premium Membership
feature that can be used to group geocache listings in whatever way you like.
You may want a Bookmark List of caches you intend to find this weekend or
perhaps an "all-time favourite" list to share with friends. You won’t,
but you could. |
|
BYOP |
"Bring Your Own
Pen/Pencil". An acronym often used by geocache owners to communicate to
other geocachers that you will need to bring your writing utensil in order to sign the cache logbook. If you don’t you’ll have to sign the log with blood or mud. I’ve
seen both used. |
|
Challenge Cache |
A type of geocache that requires seekers to find a particular amount of specific caches in order to be able to claim a find. Usually the requirements are nigh-on impossible. |
|
CITO |
"Cache In Trash Out"
is an ongoing environmental initiative supported by the worldwide geocaching
community or so it says at www.geocaching.com/cito.
It usually consists of walking round a pristine park in a fruitless search for
discarded crisp bags before going to the pub. |
|
C.O. |
Cache Owner. The one who hid the cache. They can delete your logs, so don’t piss them off. |
|
Coordinates |
A pair of numbers (latitude
and longitude) that pinpoint an exact position, or waypoint, on the
Earth. Latitudes are horizontal lines on the globe that run parallel to the
Equator. Latitudes never intersect, and one degree of latitude equals
approximately 69 miles (don’t say I never learn you nuffink).
Longitudes (also called
meridians) are vertical lines on the globe that converge at the North and
South Poles. They are widest apart from each other at the Equator. The Prime
Meridian runs through Greenwichat zero degrees
longitude. |
|
Creed, The |
Also known as the "Geocachers' Creed". Designed to help orient new players to the ethos of the geocaching community and to guide experienced players in questionable situations, so that everyone can enjoy geocaching. No – I’d never heard of it
either. |
|
Datum |
Datums are different
calculations for determining longitude and latitude for a given location. A
datum is chosen to give the best fit given the true shape of the Earth.
Currently, Geocaching.com uses the WGS84 datum for all caches. It’s a shame
that no one else does. |
|
D/T |
There’s a separate section on
that |
|
Dipping |
Logging a trackable into a geocache, and immediately logging it back into your
possession. This registers miles traveled
on a trackable. You can also achieve the same goal with a "Visit"
log. |
|
Disable |
What the reviewer does to your
cache listing when it’s missing. This status is meant to be temporary and
should be resolved within a reasonable amount of time (cough cough). |
|
DNF |
"Did Not Find". An
acronym used by geocachers to state that they did not find a cache when they
don’t have a spare in their pocket to use as a throwdown. |
|
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 notes along with cache coordinates. Visitors to EarthCaches can see how geological processes have shaped
our planet, how we manage its resources and how scientists gather evidence to
learn about the Earth. And then send the C.O. an email saying
“blah blah blah sandstone”. No? – that’s how it’s been working for me
(as a finder and a C.O.) for years.
|
|
Event Cache |
An Event Cache is a gathering of geocachers. Your first one can be a bit scary, but they can be good fun. |
|
Find Count |
The number of geocaches a
player has found. It’s a fun number and doesn’t really count for much… all
the time mine is higher. |
|
FTF |
"First to Find". An
acronym written by geocachers in physical cache logbooks or online when
logging cache finds to denote being the first to find a new geocache. It is
worth serious bragging rights |
|
GC Code |
A unique identifier associated
with every geocache listing. The GC Code starts with the letters
"GC" (dur!) and is followed by other alphanumeric
characters, such as GCK25B. |
|
Geocoin |
Geocoins work similarly to Travel Bugs®. They are coins with a unique code that can be attached to an item. The geocoin is then carried from cache to cache (or person to person) in the real world, and its progress can be followed on Geocaching.com. After a few months the serious cacher has spent over a hundred quid on these and doesn’t dare release any. |
|
GPS Maze |
The GPS Adventures Maze is a
traveling educational exhibit developed to teach people of all ages about
navigation, GPS technology and geocaching. A hands-on experience that … blah
blah blah… people just go because it’s another icon type. |
|
GPX (GPS eXchange Format) |
A common GPS data format used to describe waypoints, tracks, and routes that can be interchanged between GPS devices and software. Stick in GSAK and hope for the best |
|
Ground Zero |
The point where your GPS device shows that you have reached the geocache location. At ground zero, you are zero feet (or zero meters) away from your destination even though you can clearly see nothing. |
|
Groundspeak |
The company that owns and operates Geocaching.com. We have to be nice about them. |
|
GSAK |
A frankly wonderful bit of software which sticks all the info about the geocaches in a given area onto your GPS and save farting around with needing internet signal… and then uploads all your logs when you get home. Download it from here. Seriously. Do it now. |
|
LN |
"Left Nothing". A
common term used when a geocacher leaves nothing in the geocache and simply
signs the logbook. I like seeing that – there’s enough tat in my caches
already. |
|
Locationless Cache |
A legacy cache type considered the opposite of a Traditional Cache. Instead of finding a hidden container, geocachers locate a specific object and log its coordinates. There’s usually one of these to be had every year or so if you pay attention. |
|
Logbook |
A physical record of everyone
who has found a geocache. Ideal for comparing to the electronic record if you
are looking for a petty argument with someone you’ve never met. |
|
Pocket Query (PQ) |
A Geocaching Premium Membership
feature popular with people who like doing things the difficult way. Go on –
get GSAK now. |
|
Premium Member |
Geocaching.com members with a
paid Geocaching Premium Membership. Premium members have more features
available to them than Basic members but still need GSAK and Project GC to do
the hobby properly. |
|
Reviewer |
Community volunteers from all over the world who review geocaching listings for content and publish cache listings on Geocaching.com. They don’t get paid, they do get a load of stick.
|
|
ROT13 |
A simple letter substitution
cipher, or code, where each of the letters are rotated 13 characters up or
down in the alphabet. Hints for geocaches are encrypted using ROT13 Decryption
Key A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M ------------------------- N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z (letter
above equals below, and vice versa) |
|
Signal |
Signal the Frog is the official
mascot of Geocaching.com and is often seen walking around Mega events being harangued
to pose for a photo. |
|
SL |
Written on on-line logs to say that
you "Signed Log". Well, of course you did. That’s the rules. |
|
Spoiler |
A spoiler is information that
can give details away and ruin the experience of the find. Leaving them is a
good way of getting your log deleted. |
|
STF |
"Second To Find".
The second person to find a geocache after it has been placed. Who cares? |
|
TFTC |
"Thanks For The Cache". An acronym written by geocachers in logbooks or online when logging cache finds. It’s looked down on… |
|
TOTT |
"Tools of the Trade".
An acronym used for any of the tools that might be used to search
for/retrieve/find/log a geocache. Usually a small stick. |