The Membership Relations Committee is happy to showcase some ArkGeo Geocachers through the "Geocacher Profile". The committee thought Jimmy Hill aka Tha_Hill should be the next cacher to be in the spotlight.

What is your geocaching name?
Tha_Hill

How did you choose your handle?
My last name is Hill and I used to have a Razorback shirt that I wore a lot that said "The Hill" referencing the campus' nickname. So my friends started calling me "Tha Hill" and it stuck.

How long have you been geocaching?
I grabbed 3 back in 2009 under the name "Tha Hill" but took a long break and didn't get back to it until 2011

How did you find your first Geocache, and which one was it?
Under my current username it shows that it was Huck Fins (GC1Z2ZE), but I know it was Around Town - By The River (GCJKKD). When I decided to get back into caching, I couldn't remember my password or the email I used to set it up or anything else so I had to create another account. But I specifically remember this one because it was before cell phones had GPS and all I had was the GPS in my car that I couldn't take with me, so we drove to Riverside Park and grabbed a parking spot and just started looking. It took a while.

Who usually goes with you when you go caching?
My wife (MrsTha_Hill) and kids mostly, but I drag Bondebond into it on occasions.

How long will you work on puzzle caches before you give up?
I haven't given up on one yet. I'm just taking really long breaks between asking for hints. Haha. I generally will only work on one for a few days without figuring it out before taking an extended break from it. I enjoy puzzles, but I don't always have time to work on the harder ones.

What town/areas have you most enjoyed caching in?
I don't really have a favorite area or town, but I have a few caches high in my favorites list. I mainly like the ones that take me to places that would never go, ever, if not for a cache (Arkansas River Trail #27 EVIL (GC3TT52))

Do you do paperless caching?
Yes

What kind of geocaching rig do you use?
Mainly my iPhone, but I do have an Oregon 550t

Why would you recommend anyone else to take up geocaching?
It's addictive and it will take you places that you have probably never been or even knew existed and teach you things you didn't know.

Where are you originally from?
Searcy

In what states have you geocached?
Arkansas, Texas, Missouri, Tennessee, Oklahoma, Louisiana, and Florida

What was your first event ever attended?
ArkGeo Meet & Greet - Searcy on August 6 of 2014

How many caches have you found?
561

Which type of cache container do you prefer over the rest?

I enjoy finding ammo cans, but prefer the added difficulty of micros and nanos. I don't always find them, but it makes it more fun.

What was the most famous cache that you have found?
Going off favorite points only, it would be Cache Houdini (GC8E7)

Do you use disposable batteries or rechargeable batteries?
Mostly rechargeable but keep some disposables as back up.

Do you enjoy hiding or finding more as your part of the hobby?
Finding. I have a lot of ideas for hides, I'm just not good at following through with creating the container and finding the right spot

Do you have a personal goal in mind when you make a hide?
For puzzle caches, I hope that that everyone that finds it enjoyed the the whole process from solving the puzzle to retrieving the cache, to enjoying the scenery around or on the way to the cache.
For traditional caches, not really. The few I have hidden where mainly just to fill a gap in the map.

What is your favorite type of cache hide?
Mystery/puzzle

Out of all your hides, what are your personal favorites that you take pride in?
Head or Heart is the one I'm most proud of because of the time and effort put into it. Lung Cancer Sucks probably means the most to me because it is a cache I made in memory of my grandmother who passed away at the beginning of July of last year.

What do you think the proper hide to find ratio should be to keep the sport fresh?
A lot less lopsided than mine.

How did you end up getting into this wacky hobby?

A friend of mine that has probably found less than 10 caches introduced me to it. It didn't stick with me at the time, but I found some love for it a few years later.

What's your favorite geocache?
Probably either Pump Station (GC44JJ2) or Arkansas River Trail #27 EVIL (GC3TT52). River Trail #27 left it's mark with me. Literally. I still have the scar.

If money was no object, where would you like to go geocaching?
I'd like to log the one on the space station or even the one in Antarctica, but more realistically.....All over Europe

Do you like geocaching by yourself or in a group?

Group is more fun, even if it's only one other person.

How many First to Finds do you have?
I'm not sure. Probably around 10 or so.

Are you a First to Find person who is always set on go and if so, how
many miles out do you have your settings on to get notifications?

Not really. I have it set for anything within 30 miles of my house, but unless it's really close or near somewhere I'm already heading, I usually let someone else grab it.

Do you have any other hobbies besides geocaching?
I'm working on getting my pilots license, I'm on the board for Searcy Baseball, and I'm a die hard razorback football fan.