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  1. #1

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    Default The history of geocaching

    In a Geocoins thread L8HNB has asked about the history of caching. Rather than hijack that thread I thought it better to start a new thread here.

    This page gives the basics: http://geocaching.gpsgames.org/history/

    But the question asked is wider than just about how it all began... I'm sure information about the first caches in the UK and Ireland, and how it all came into being and developed in its early days over here, would be of interest too...
    Last edited by Bill D (wwh); 16th October 2008 at 11:11 PM. Reason: To get things right, doh...!
    ​​Do not go gentle into that good night.
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  2. #2

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    Mmmm, I wondered about that, but it seemed too good an opportunity to miss! Thanks for starting a new thread, hope others will pick up the challenge.

    Enjoyed a brief scan through the link and especially the copies (?) of early emails on Kimbo's Geocache Page at the bottom. The game obviously didn't go too smoothly even then.

    So, what about the early UK scene? Some of you guys must remember who did what and where. IMO if a stab was made at listing a few points combined with the excellent "Earliest caches in the UK" bookmark listing that might provide the bare bones for further debate / discussion and hopefully build up a picture of the early days. I suppose pictures could be added to make the whole thing more interesting.

    Anyone else feel the same?

    H

    Link to Old Caches bookmark list by Walk Tall - https://www.geocaching.com/bookmarks...0-aeb4a41dda34
    Last edited by L8HNB; 16th October 2008 at 11:33 PM. Reason: link added to old caches

  3. #3

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    Quote Originally Posted by L8HNB View Post
    Mmmm, I wondered about that, but it seemed too good an opportunity to miss! Thanks for starting a new thread, hope others will pick up the challenge.
    No problem - I just felt it better to start a new thread.

    And sorry, I said in my OP that it was someone else who had asked that question... I've now edited my post to correct that.
    ​​Do not go gentle into that good night.
    Rage, rage against the dying of the light. (Dylan Thomas)​


  4. #4

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    Quote Originally Posted by L8HNB View Post
    Link to Old Caches bookmark (hope it works) - https://www.geocaching.com/bookmarks/...0-aeb4a41dda34
    Um, no, it's not working - perhaps you'd like to try it again, or give the user name of the cacher who owns that list.

    Edit: Ok, found it now: Old active caches UK and Ireland
    Last edited by Bill D (wwh); 16th October 2008 at 11:33 PM.
    ​​Do not go gentle into that good night.
    Rage, rage against the dying of the light. (Dylan Thomas)​


  5. #5

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    LOL - made a right cods of that, didn't I?

    Lack of me thinks......

  6. #6

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    We started on 1st September 2001, so I'll make a start on this topic.

    The original caches in each country are interesting: Scotland's First was the first in the UK and is still there / active, Europe's first is in Ireland and has been replaced, England's first was near Surbiton but archived and The First is Wales is still there.

    Micros were unknown in early caching (never mind nanos); real caches were ammo boxes in the woods, supplemented by virtuals, webcams and locationless (a forerunner of waymarking). You can still find virtuals and webcams and therefore get the icons for them; locationless were all archieved. A special cache type/icon was launched for Planet of the Apes marketing, with a small number of huge ammo boxes (13?) hidden around the world. Since these ammo boxes were huge they didn't last. Currently there are two left, one in Washington State, US, and one in the depths of the Brasilian jungle (I kid you not). https://www.geocaching.com/bookmarks...4-3a0f8600673d

    Travel Bugs were yet to be invented (never mind geocoins) and Gulliver Bear (from Tim and June) was the first traveller:
    http://www.geocaching-bears.co.uk/gulliver/gulliver.htm

    Tim and June also used to leave bears as signature items in the caches they visited and these became hotly contested find items. Some of these bears were auctioned on ebay in aid of the 2004 Tsunami.

    We were into the numbers in the early days. We were first to find 100 - it was a huge achievement at the time because of low cache density and long distances - along with Slytherin on the same date. We placed more virtuals than anyone else, a webcam cache and the first UK moving cache (one of only two, new ones were banned some time ago). We placed the first WiFi cache (802.11b) and I believe the first ever timed cache using SMS and server response (Race the clock).

    Caching felt very small and cosy in the early days and we agonised over whether it should be marketed and how to grow the numbers carefully. We debated cache density - what density was too high - again this seems ridiculous now given today's cache density.

    Then we became concerned about the implications of growth and cache density on permissions. GAGB was born.


    Caching since 2001
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  7. #7
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    Quote Originally Posted by The Wombles View Post
    Tim and June also used to leave bears as signature items in the caches they visited and these became hotly contested find items. .

    They still do! They're up to mark 7 now!!!!

  8. #8

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    Quote Originally Posted by The Wombles View Post
    We were first to find 100 - it was a huge achievement at the time because of low cache density and long distances - along with Slytherin on the same date.
    I've started to do a simple time line list based on the first caches (5 digit) from Walk Talls list and would like to include things like your first 100 UK finds etc - please let me know what cache it was at, if you can remember, and I'll include it.

    Hopefully, if I can get enough info to make it worthwhile I'll post it onto here for further additions. I'm really looking at 2001 and before to start with.

    If anyone else has a very early UK milestone, first 200, first UK owned geocoin released etc, please let me know and I'll try and build it in. Is there a list of mods/reviewers I could add?

    Thanks, H
    Last edited by L8HNB; 18th October 2008 at 02:34 PM. Reason: Thought of a bit more.....

  9. #9
    Team Sieni Guest

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    Quote Originally Posted by The Wombles View Post
    A special cache type/icon was launched for Planet of the Apes marketing, with a small number of huge ammo boxes (13?) hidden around the world. Since these ammo boxes were huge they didn't last.
    By the by, GCTK7X "Meridian Snake: The Project A.P.E. project" was created as an homage to the original Planet of the Apes cache GC12AD "Mission 10b: Meridian Snake". It's just a regular cache with a regular icon, but it's an ENORMOUS ammo box. And it's been around for a while.

  10. #10

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    Some more info here

    http://cacheopedia.com/wiki/History_of_Geocaching

    as linked by Bill

    http://geocaching.gpsgames.org/history/

    and here

    http://www.guysnamedkim.com/geocache...e_history.html

    I find the controversy over the nameless one interesting now given that profileration of caches was one reason he created a rumpus.

    Incidentally if you search usernames you will find he has a live account at GC these days despite the lifetime ban.
    "If you can't be a good example, then you'll just have to serve as a horrible warning."

  11. #11

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    Quote Originally Posted by Maple Leaf View Post
    You may find some useful Geocaching Stats and Records here
    Had a look at the stats, and the oldest....as in the earliest registered....not the "oldest",.....err...you know what I mean active cacher is "alang", but I know that "harold1066" is, err....older!! He registered in 2000.

    Profile for harold1066 https://www.geocaching.com/profile/?...5-6bd440a324f2

    Oh, and his id number is 323, mine is 21987!
    Last edited by studlyone; 9th November 2008 at 01:46 PM. Reason: Approved link

  12. #12

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    Yes, I'd found harold1066 buy he hadn't visited the site for a while when I looked last.

    Any UK'er earlier than 323?

    My list has stalled a bit due to outside pressures but I hope to be back to the search again soon.

    H

  13. #13

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    Quote Originally Posted by L8HNB View Post
    Yes, I'd found harold1066 buy he hadn't visited the site for a while when I looked last.

    Any UK'er earlier than 323?

    My list has stalled a bit due to outside pressures but I hope to be back to the search again soon.

    H
    Right, I've had a root about with the id numbers, and found the following:-

    "Chrisobyrne" joined 6/10/2000, last visited 3/6/2008 from Ireland.
    Link to profile:-
    https://www.geocaching.com/profile/Default.aspx?id=291

    The one member that stood out amongst all is "daveulmer", joined 7/10/2000, last visted 26/5/2008...is this the main man?? Is it him who placed the first stash ever??
    Link to profile:-
    https://www.geocaching.com/profile/Default.aspx?id=297

    Most of the first 300 odd id numbers are members wo are "not validated", and haven't visited the site for years.

    All interesting stuff......well it was for me!!

    Maybe I will trawl the numbers from 323 upwards when I get bored and nowt to do!!!




    Edited to add that I didn't realise the flippin font size changes when you copy and paste stuff!!
    Last edited by GAZ; 12th November 2008 at 06:55 PM.

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