A 2017 Challenge to All ArkGeo Members

[OldRiverRunner]

Chuck Walla tells me that there were only 915 Arkansas caches published on Geocaching.com in 2016. Of course, this tally includes a large number of events, not physical caches or Earthcaches. And this total number of caches placed in a year is down from 2015, when 980 AR caches were placed, and 2014, when 1572 AR caches were placed. And those numbers are down from the preceding years.

To turn this around and keep this game fresh and going strong, my challenge to all members of ArkGeo for 2017 is to place at least one new physical cache (not an event or Earthcache) each month, within Arkansas, and have it published on Geocaching.com.

According to the Board minutes, 70 members voted in the last election. I cannot find on the website any data on how many members ArkGeo officially has, but if all the members who voted in the last election met this challenge, then there would be 840 new geocaches in Arkansas by this time next year! Well on the way to exceeding the tally recorded for 2016. And if many of the non-voting members joined in and met the challenge, we would do even better.


So, do you accept my challenge?


If so, commit yourself here, publicly, and hold yourself accountable for meeting it. And post updates here throughout the year to let us all know how you are doing in meeting the challenge.

[knkincabot]

I really like this challenge, it is a great idea! I will accept it and say at least 1/2 of my new
caches will be gadget caches!

I have already challenged myself to archive some of my old PNG caches that have run their course too.

[Savoy]

I love this idea too... count me in!
- Savoy

[rklmbl]

We're going to give it our best shot.

[Clark~Griswold]

Challenge Accepted - although they may come in clusters rather than one a month.
Anyone else in? Hopefully someone in Conway!

[Razorback01]

I think this challenge is a great idea and will boost interest in caching. I know I'm guilty of having several caches ready to go in the garage but they need to be out on the trail. Will start getting things ready in the next few days. Thanks ORR.

[Cloak.n.Dagger]

Challenge Accepted my friend, I have already listed that in my own page, from last years goal and continues to be my goal this year. I am also removing some of my old PnG's and Dedicated myself to only hiding unique hides. Basic traditional be part of the past for me. I feel now that this is starting my 3rd year into geocaching, I should leave the PnG's to the new people, and focus more on Quality and not so much Quantity.

[Coon&Bud]

Yes accepted! I will start running over deer....oh yeah that met with a negative response on the FB page. How about a new series called I ran over a Squirrel near here? I have worked on a Wherigo and never finished it and also an Earthcache ( now this one somebody also had the same idea and I bowed out). I will try to hide some caches seriously. Already got an event and 1 hide for the year! Coon&Bud

[Cloak.n.Dagger]

My First Geocache of the year, a new letterbox! GC6ZKGN (https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC6ZKGN_bird-watching)

[bUTCH46]

This challenge has got me interested and so I will get busy preparing some new caches in Van Buren County. Smiff

[Savoy]

My First Geocache of the year, a new letterbox! GC6ZKGN (https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC6ZKGN_bird-watching)

nice!

My January offering: https://coord.info/GC6ZHE7

[OldRiverRunner]

I've placed my first for the year -- A Bridge No More (GC6ZKC3 (https://coord.info/GC6ZKC3))

I've also started a bookmark list (https://www.geocaching.com/bookmarks/view.aspx?guid=04101340-30d4-4a61-8a24-0da44db49308) to track all those placed for those challenge, at least by those who have formally accepted this challenge by posting a note to this thread.

If you've placed a cache in response to this challenge and it's not on the list, let me know and I will add it. Also, be sure to formally accept the challenge by declaring your acceptance of the challenge publicly in this thread.

Note that I am including only physical caches on this bookmark list, as that was my challenge.

[Clark~Griswold]

I had three published today and have three more set to go on February 1st.

[OldRiverRunner]

I had three published today and have three more set to go on February 1st.

Thanks Rich! The 3 new ones have been added to the BML. I will look for the others on Wednesday and add them once they come out.

[OldRiverRunner]

I have a new hide -- GC6ZX9X (https://coord.info/GC6ZX9X), The Call of The Ouachitas.

[rklmbl]

We were able to meet ORR's challenge to place one cache per month for January (13 active caches). We have always appreciated geocachers who placed caches to give back to the game, so we thank you if you have placed a cache for this challenge to enhance geocaching in Arkansas. Thanks, Old River Runner, for bringing the reduction in new caches placed to Arkansas cachers' attention. It's always amusing and amazing when cachers who have not placed one cache are able to give suggestions and/or criticism regarding caches that others have taken the time and expense to place, but they do not even use the magic words "Thank you" in their logs. One last thought, as Shannon L. Alder said: "Often those that criticise others reveal what he himself lacks."

[OldRiverRunner]

The bookmark list (https://www.geocaching.com/bookmarks/view.aspx?guid=04101340-30d4-4a61-8a24-0da44db49308) has been updated with rklmbl's newest hides plus one that Cloak.n.Dagger had published this morning. Great job!

And again, if I have missed anyone's cache and it is not on the list, please let me know and I will add it. With one condition -- you have to have formally accept the challenge by declaring your acceptance of the challenge publicly in this thread! :)

[Cloak.n.Dagger]

My caches placed for the this challenge

January Caches GC6ZKGN (https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC6ZKGN_bird-watching) and GC6ZX2J (https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC6ZX2J_a-relaxing-stroll)

[OldRiverRunner]

My caches placed for the this challenge

January Caches GC6ZKGN (https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC6ZKGN_bird-watching) and GC6ZX2J (https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC6ZX2J_a-relaxing-stroll)

I had already added those, but thanks for the reminder and also a good way to let others know what has been placed.

The bookmark list has just be updated with 14 new ones placed by bUTCH46. Thanks Eugene!

[OldRiverRunner]

Bookmark list updated again to add some new hides placed by rklmbl!

[OldRiverRunner]

Bookmark list updated again -- even MORE hides by rklmbl! Way to go! :D

[idratherbehiking]

I've been kind of dormant for a while now but have recently been getting going aygain. It's been a long time since I hid a cache and I have tons of containers and ready to go caches. So count me in. Not sure if I'll get one a month but I will commit to at least 15 new caches by the end of the year. Thanks for starting this challenge ORR.

[OldRiverRunner]

I've been kind of dormant for a while now but have recently been getting going aygain. It's been a long time since I hid a cache and I have tons of containers and ready to go caches. So count me in. Not sure if I'll get one a month but I will commit to at least 15 new caches by the end of the year. Thanks for starting this challenge ORR.
Hey, welcome to the challenge! The intent is to get more new caches out there to be found, with each person committing to placing at least 12 caches during the year. I figured one a month was a good pace to do this and not put too much pressure on anyone to get new caches placed. But if someone wants to put out 2 in one month, 6 in another, skip some months, then put out some more until they have put out 12 (or more), I'm OK with that. So if someone thinks it's too late to join the challenge, it's not! Heck, if someone has 12 new caches published on Dec. 31 this year, and they've committed on this website to the challenge, then they will have met it!

By the way, congrats to rklmbl and bUTCH46 who have already completed the challenge by placing at least 12 new caches out. Please excuse me if my count is incorrect, but I believe that so far this year, rklmbl have placed 22 new caches and bUTCH46 has placed 14 new caches. Way to go! :D :D :D

[bUTCH46]

In keeping with my promise on 1/26, I have decided to concentrate on putting new caches in the Damascus area where the March ArkGeo Meet and Greet: Damascus (6-8 PM on March 11th) is scheduled to be held. The following is a "status report" on that effort to make everyone's sojourn to Damascus worthwhile:

The sleepy little burg of Damascus has had to make do with about a dozen or so caches along Hwy 65 and a half mile off of 65 on side roads. Well, in order to help cachers who want to spend some time before the event grabbing a few caches in the area, I have already had 19 new caches published in the 10 miles between Twin Groves south of Damascus and Bee Branch to the north and have about another 17 ready to submit . . . I am spreading them out and submitting small batches each day.

I expect that by the day of the Meet and Greet that the number of caches in that area will be somewhere between 50 to 60 caches in order to give everyone a worthwhile trip. Come early, spend all day caching, then gather at 6:00 PM for the Meet and Greet.

See you there!!

[bUTCH46]

P.S.

None of these caches are off in the woods or in the middle of a bunch of briars and virtually all of them are easy caches.

Smiff

[OldRiverRunner]

Eugene,

I think I have all of you new caches to date included on my bookmark list (https://www.geocaching.com/bookmarks/view.aspx?guid=04101340-30d4-4a61-8a24-0da44db49308) for this challenge. Check it out and let me know if I have missed any. It's been hard lately keeping up with you! Thanks for stepping up to my challenge!

Old River Runner

[bUTCH46]

ORR,

Golly, your bookmark list has a bunch of other caches (at least 35 of them) besides mine on it, and since you have published 40 of my new caches in the last 2 1/2 weeks, it will take me a while to cross check your list against the list in my profile.

By the way, I have about 20 more hides that I haven't submitted yet. . . they will dribble in as I get the time to submit them.

EuGene
aka bUTCH46

[Cloak.n.Dagger]

My February Letter Box fresh with a FTF up for grabs GC70WX6 (https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC70WX6_thats-one-long-number?guid=e6c4be66-dc38-4149-97d4-2d98daa403d2)

[OldRiverRunner]

The bookmark list (https://www.geocaching.com/bookmarks/view.aspx?guid=04101340-30d4-4a61-8a24-0da44db49308) has been updated again!

[Savoy]

Just a few more days to get in the Feb cache hide... paints drying on my new container (don't won't to give it away, but its a bit of a challenge to get into).
Hope to have it posted tomorrow - just got to narrow down a good location out here for it.

- Savy

[Savoy]

Janurary Is Not For Everyone
February (Is) For Everyone: https://coord.info/GC718GE

In truth, this wasn't my original plan... but that means my march cache is almost ready :)
After some field testing I decided to redo it... I'm about a week out from releasing it.

Its going to be called March Is AMazing

Take care out there! February saw a lot of cool caches get place - great work everyone!

- Savoy

[OldRiverRunner]

I've updated the bookmark list again, and hopefully have captured everyone's new caches. At least the caches of those who have stated in this thread that they have accepted my challenge, OR who have stated in their cache description that their cache was placed in response to my challenge. There are a few of those!

I've also contributed to the new caches with 3 new ones of my own, with more to follow. Check out my new series: Arkansas Titan II Missile Silo (TMS) Series (https://www.geocaching.com/bookmarks/view.aspx?guid=b2158346-4bb7-42b4-88cf-b2ca68a77d82)

[Sanders_Sooners]

Please add my name to the challenge, Already have 11 caches published so far this year:
GC6Z5ED
GC6Z8AV
GC6Z8HJ
GC6YYR2
GC6ZPFM
GC6ZRCW
GC708WG
GC6ZPED
GC6ZR6F
GC6ZR4Y
GC6ZRA0

I'm fairly certain I can get one more published by the end of the year.

[Cloak.n.Dagger]

So happy to see you as a member my friend! You have been a Key Part of making NWA what it is in Geocaching! I look forward to all the positive things you will no doubt bring to Arkgeo!

[OldRiverRunner]

Welcome to the challenge! Thanks for accepting it. I think I've added all your caches to the bookmark list (https://www.geocaching.com/bookmarks/view.aspx?guid=04101340-30d4-4a61-8a24-0da44db49308). Check it out and let me know if I missed any.

[Cloak.n.Dagger]

I've also contributed to the new caches with 3 new ones of my own, with more to follow. Check out my new series: Arkansas Titan II Missile Silo (TMS) Series (https://www.geocaching.com/bookmarks/view.aspx?guid=b2158346-4bb7-42b4-88cf-b2ca68a77d82)

This sir, is freaking cool!!

[arkfiremedic]

Check out my new series: Arkansas Titan II Missile Silo (TMS) Series (https://www.geocaching.com/bookmarks/view.aspx?guid=b2158346-4bb7-42b4-88cf-b2ca68a77d82)

Like the previous commenter I think this is an awesome idea! I've always been kinda a self-proclaimed Arkansas history buff but just two weeks ago I came across a movie on Amazon, "American Experiences: Command and Control" 2017 and was produced by PBS and appeared non-fiction. I had never heard of the incident near Damascus, Arkansas, but I'm using the excuse I was only 5 when it happened ;)

I thought Damascus was only good for a police speed trap on the way to Branson on Hwy 65 but apparently in 1980 near Damascus the movie and associated book tells the story of a technician who dropped a wrench and struck the Titan II Missile in the silo complex. Due to quick thinking and extreme bravery only one airman died in the mishap. By all accounts had safety mechanisms failed that would have been 10s of thousands. Ironically only 50 miles away at the time, the Governor at the time, Bill Clinton, was at the DNC in Little Rock and many articles state that it would be well in the blast and fallout area should the safety features in the missile not worked flawlessly and he would have never made President and would, "have been dead in minutes." Sadly obviously many of my Geocaching friends would have lived in that same area and suffered the same fate.

Obviously due due to medical issues in my family I don't cache much and sure don't put out the caches I used to. I would, however, love to complete this series when you get it finished ORR as I find the entire event and cache series most interestingl

Great job to all those able to accept ORR's challenge. He has done countless hours of VOLUNTEER work for our great state and if you don't think he doesn't do a great job , just go to another state where the reviewer doesn't stay on top of things like CHUCK WALLA and seemingly every cache has 8-10 DNFs to go along with them and obviously they are not there. Thank you again ORR.

[OldRiverRunner]

... just two weeks ago I came across a movie on Amazon, "American Experiences: Command and Control" 2017 and was produced by PBS and appeared non-fiction.

I had been contemplating hiding a cache near the Damascus (actually, Southside) silo site for some time. But, interestingly enough, I had run across this same documentary while browsing Netflix just a few weeks ago myself (maybe it had just been released on DVD?) and rented it from them. The documentary inspired me to do some research on this site and others, and to start putting together this series of caches. The Southside site cache is TMS 374-7 (https://coord.info/GC71BX3) and the accident is summarized in the cache description.

[arkfiremedic]

The documentary inspired me to do some research on this site and others, and to start putting together this series of caches. The Southside site cache is TMS 374-7 (https://coord.info/GC71BX3) and the accident is summarized in the cache description.

i enjoyed reading your description and looking at the photo. Unreal how much it costs to build that and multiply that by as many different ones as we had! Thanks ORR! Every November I have to go with Mrs. AFM to take her to a week long nurse practitioner conference and I usually check out all the Veterans Day events as they do a fabulous week of events to honor all our country's veterans. Now I'm really looking forward to it to get this new series of caches. Will be lots of fun! Thanks for a great idea of a series! I absolutely love it! Happy Cachin'! AFM

[Sanders_Sooners]

#12 for the year is GC71RWJ Old Rogers Cemetery
Bakers Dozen will be GC6ZRAP, DEAD DROP (hope there aren't any issues getting it published)

[backcountrytrack]

Challenge accepted! We have eight almost ready to go for the "Spring Fever at the Bull Shoals-White River State Park" event. Submitting them for publication very soon.

[OldRiverRunner]

Welcome to the challenge backcountrytrack!

The bookmark list (https://www.geocaching.com/bookmarks/view.aspx?guid=04101340-30d4-4a61-8a24-0da44db49308) has been updated with Sanders_Sooners new caches, plus some new ones from bUTCH46. Plus, my new one -- TMS 374-5 (https://coord.info/GC71HZQ).

We've had 140 caches placed so far in response to this challenge!

WAY TO GO!

[Savoy]

My March cache has been placed! I'm trying to place one each month... starting off with the Month name.
January Is Not For Everyone https://coord.info/GC6ZHE7
February (Is) For Everyone: https://coord.info/GC718GE
March is for aMazing: https://coord.info/GC71Y72

[backcountrytrack]

GC71WPD "Forrest & Nina Wood Access" published today. More coming...

[OldRiverRunner]

GC71WPD "Forrest & Nina Wood Access" published today.

Added to the bookmark list!

[Clark~Griswold]

My March caches have been submitted for review :D

[backcountrytrack]

Trail Marker Tree GC7245W.

[OldRiverRunner]

Trail Marker Tree GC7245W.


My March caches have been submitted for review :D

Caches added to bookmark list (https://www.geocaching.com/bookmarks/view.aspx?guid=04101340-30d4-4a61-8a24-0da44db49308).

[backcountrytrack]

More for the challenge, six caches pending review:
GC71WTN Wood You Find This Cache?
GC71WRF Oakridge Mountain Bike Trailhead
GC71WRY Mrs. bct's Stash for Kids
GC71WT3 Great Spot for a Picnic
GC71WPW Below the Dam
GC71WTA Another Good Picnic Spot

[OldRiverRunner]

More for the challenge, six caches pending review:
GC71WTN Wood You Find This Cache?
GC71WRF Oakridge Mountain Bike Trailhead
GC71WRY Mrs. bct's Stash for Kids
GC71WT3 Great Spot for a Picnic
GC71WPW Below the Dam
GC71WTA Another Good Picnic Spot

I think I've got 'em all on the bookmark list, including one or two new ones from bUTCH46. Let me know if I missed any.

[Sanders_Sooners]

Submitted a new cemetery cache for the challenge: GC72WHW

[OldRiverRunner]

Submitted a new cemetery cache for the challenge: GC72WHW

This doesn't show up as a valid GC code. But I have added another new one you had published on April 1.

I have updated the Bookmark List (https://www.geocaching.com/bookmarks/view.aspx?code=BM3KW4K) of caches placed in response to this challenge. If I have missed any, let me know and I will add them. The ones on the list were placed by cache owners who either publicly committed in this thread to place caches in response to the challenge OR stated in their cache descriptions (at least in one) that the cache was placed in response to the challenge. It's not too late to sign up for the challenge!

As of today (April 4), here is a summary of where things stand in the challenge: 175 caches have been placed in response to this challenge! The following is a breakdown by cache owners.



Geocacher
# Placed To Date


bUTCH46
100


rklmbl
22


Sanders_Sooners
14


Old River Runner
8


backcountrytrack
8


Clark~Griswold
8


granville_m
5


Cloak.n.Dagger
3


Savoy
3


ronwhite & mona
3


coon&bud
1




Note that the goal of the challenge is to place at least one physical cache per month. So, to be on track to meet the challenge, one should have placed at least 3 physical caches by now. But meeting the challenge is flexible. For example, if one has placed 2 caches this year so far, places none this month, and places 3 in May, then one will still be on track. And if one has placed 12 or more caches so far, one has already met the challenge.

And we have 3 so far who have done that!

Congratulations to



bUTCH46

rklmbl, and

Sanders_Sooners



for meeting the 2017 challenge and making geocaching better for all of Arkansas!

[Savoy]

My entry for April... just in time!
(I'm doing this month by month to spread the love)

April is for Bees.
https://coord.info/GC74VE2

[OldRiverRunner]

My entry for April... just in time!
(I'm doing this month by month to spread the love)

April is for Bees.
https://coord.info/GC74VE2

Added to the bookmark list (https://www.geocaching.com/bookmarks/view.aspx?code=BM3KW4K), as were several others added in the last few days by those who have accepted the challenge. 197 physical caches have now been placed in response to the challenge!

[Savoy]

Just in time for May...
May is Buzzy
https://coord.info/GC76HWD

[OldRiverRunner]

The bookmark list (https://www.geocaching.com/bookmarks/view.aspx?guid=04101340-30d4-4a61-8a24-0da44db49308) for this challenge has been updated and I think it includes all the caches placed so far this year in response to the challenge. If I have missed any, let me know and I will add them.

Also, my Arkansas Titan II Missile Silo (TMS) series (https://www.geocaching.com/bookmarks/view.aspx?guid=b2158346-4bb7-42b4-88cf-b2ca68a77d82) is now complete. This series consists of 18 geocaches, placed near each of the Titan II missile launch complexes which were located in Arkansas during the Cold War, as well as a bonus cache (GC74PJR (https://coord.info/GC74PJR)) for completing the series. Explore a bit of Arkansas history! Happy hunting!

[Savoy]

...
Also, my Arkansas Titan II Missile Silo (TMS) series (https://www.geocaching.com/bookmarks/view.aspx?guid=b2158346-4bb7-42b4-88cf-b2ca68a77d82) is now complete. This series consists of 18 geocaches, placed near each of the Titan II missile launch complexes which were located in Arkansas during the Cold War, as well as a bonus cache (GC74PJR (https://coord.info/GC74PJR)) for completing the series. ..

Awesome... thank you for all the work on this!!

- Savoy/Les

[OldRiverRunner]

Here's some updated stats on this challenge, as of today (June 13):





Geocacher
# Placed to Date
Met Challenge
(at least 12 caches placed)

On Track to Meet Challenge
(at least 5 caches placed)


bUTCH46
117
X




Sanders_Sooners
26
X




rklmbl
22
X




Old River Runner
21
X




Clark~Griswold
15
X




Ssiler
12
X




flowten
10

X



backcountrytrack
8

X



granville_m
6

X



ronwhite & mona
5

X



Savoy
5

X



Cloak.n.Dagger
3




butch724
1




coon&bud
1









So far, 252 physical caches have been placed in Arkansas this year, in response to this challenge! Way to go!!! :D

[OldRiverRunner]

A little more information:

506 physical caches have been published in Arkansas this year, so far. So the 252 caches placed in response to this challenge account for about 1/2 of those placed.

Again, WAY TO GO!

Additionally, there have been 44 events, 5 CITOs, and 2 Earthcaches published this year in Arkansas, which are not credited for this challenge.

[Cloak.n.Dagger]

Now that life has started to settle down I am can get back into the race...expect to see some new caches from me this month!

[knkincabot]

Here's some updated stats on this challenge, as of today (June 13):





Geocacher
# Placed to Date
Met Challenge
(at least 12 caches placed)

On Track to Meet Challenge
(at least 5 caches placed)


bUTCH46
117
X



Sanders_Sooners
26
X



rklmbl
22
X



Old River Runner
21
X



Clark~Griswold
15
X



Ssiler
12
X



flowten
10

X


backcountrytrack
8

X


granville_m
6

X


ronwhite & mona
5

X


Savoy
5

X


Cloak.n.Dagger
3




butch724
1




coon&bud
1









So far, 252 physical caches have been placed in Arkansas this year, in response to this challenge! Way to go!!! :D


Here are my latest:
GC78412 - I.C. - Brain Game
GC77FB9 - Motorcycles Only
GC77F7F - I.C. - Communications

Thanks,
Kent

[Sanders_Sooners]

Very surprised I am so high on the list. I have 3 or 4 more caches I want to hide, just running out of good places to put them. No way I will catch bUTCH46.

[OldRiverRunner]

We're 2/3rds of the way through the year now. Here's the updated stats for this challenge, as of today (Sept. 1):





Geocacher
# Placed to Date
Met Challenge
(at least 12 caches placed)

On Track to Meet Challenge
(at least 8 caches placed)


bUTCH46
167
X



Sanders_Sooners
45
X



rklmbl
28
X



Old River Runner
26
X



Clark~Griswold
15
X



Ssiler
12
X



flowten
12
X



ronwhite & mona

8

X


backcountrytrack
8

X


Joankv

7





granville_m

6




Savoy
5




KNKINCABOT
4




Cloak.n.Dagger
3




tuttik

2





butch724

1




coon&bud
1









So far, 350 physical caches have been placed in Arkansas this year, in response to this challenge! Way to go!!! :grin:

Here's the link to the updated bookmark list for these caches: https://www.geocaching.com/bookmarks/view.aspx?code=BM3KW4K

[OldRiverRunner]

A little more information:

722 physical caches have been published in Arkansas this year, so far. So the 350 caches placed in response to this challenge account for nearly 1/2 of those placed.

Again, WAY TO GO!

We need only 193 more physical caches published this year and we will match the total of all caches published in Arkansas last year.

Talking about all caches published so far this year in the state, there have been 56 events, 7 CITOs, 2 Earthcaches, and 1 Virtual published, which are not credited toward this challenge. This brings the total of caches published in Arkansas so far this year to 788.

Let's strive for a goal of at least 915 physical caches and more than 1000 caches of all types for this year!

[Nukeworker]

When this challenge was presented to the ArkGeo Members on January 1, 2017, we immediately decided to work on it, but didn't officially sign-up. Now that we have placed 9 new traditional caches and 3 puzzle caches, since the beginning of the year, we are publically accepting the challenge and completing it at the same time. Sadly, some of our favorite types of caches were excluded: earthcaches and events. In addition to the previously mentioned 12 new hides, RBG did have an earthcache published in Arkansas earlier this year to count as our 13th hide this year. As an ArkGeo Board Member she has also planned, hosted, attended, and/or helped other board members to host 6 events (including 2 CITO's) since Jan 1st. Events are such a great way to share fellowship with ArkGeo Members, visiting cachers, and new cachers. The CITO's provided community service as a Thank You to the communities that support our hobby.

We are thrilled that so many cachers have accepted this challenge to help enhance our game. Thank you to all who have ever hidden a cache that has added to our fun during our 10 years of caching. Geocaching has brought amazing experiences to our lives. We appreciate all the cache owners developing, placing, and maintaining hides. Thanks Old River Runner, for bringing the numbers to our attention and challenging us to hide more containers.

RBG

[plsellers]

I have placed 16 but not on the above list.

[OldRiverRunner]

Good news!

We have surpassed the number of caches published in 2016 in Arkansas (915), with 959 published to date this year! And we still have 25 days left in the year! Of those 959, 868 were physical caches (not events/CITOs, virtuals, or EarthCaches), and of those, 425 (48.9%) were placed by those ArkGeo members who accepted the challenge I made last January.

Here's the stats as of today (12/06/17):



Cache Owner

# Caches Placed by 12/06/17
Met Chalenge (at least 12 placed)
On Track to Meet Challenge (at least 11 placed)


bUTCH46
167
x



Sanders_Sooners
57
x



Old River Runner
32
x



rklmbl
28
x



Clark~Griswold
20
x



plsellers
16
x




Ssiler
15
x



granville_m
14
x



Nukeworker & Racquetball Girl
12
x



flowten
12
x



KoonandBud
11

x


ronwhite & mona
11

x


Tuttik and Joankv
9




backcountrytrack
8




Savoy
5




KNKINCABOT
4




Cloak.n.Dagger
3




butch724
1




Total =
425





Of the physical caches placed this year, 790 were traditionals; 58 were mystery / puzzles; 8 were multis; 6 were Wherigos; and 6 were letterbox-hybrids.

Of the non-physical caches placed this year, 77 were events; 9 were CITOs; 3 were EarthCaches; and 2 were virtuals.

To those who have met my challenge, THANK YOU! To those who accepted my challenge but have not yet met it for the year, you have 25 more days, so GO FOR IT! And to those who did not accept my challenge but placed physical caches anyway, thanks for your contribution to helping increase the number of new caches we can find in our state.