By: Emily Accipiter Stewart (eaccipi)

Have you ever worked to find a challenge cache? They’re puzzle caches with a twist —one that takes place long before you even sign the physical logbook. They’re designed for geocachers who enjoy working toward goals, tracking statistics, and completing achievements over time.

Examples include:

• Finding a cache in every county of your state
• Completing a streak of 30 consecutive days of geocaching
• Finding caches of every size or difficulty/terrain rating
• Filling your “Jasmer grid” (finding caches placed in every month since geocaching began.

These challenges don’t usually require special skills—just persistence, planning, and some creative caching!

How They Work
Challenge caches follow the same basic steps as any other physical cache: the owner hides a container, submits a listing, and provides coordinates. But there’s one key difference: you may sign the log at any time, but you can only log the find online once you’ve met the challenge requirement. Most challenge caches include:

• A clear description of the challenge
• Verification criteria (how you or the owner can check your qualifications)
• A physical container at the posted coordinates
• Geocaching platforms typically require challenge caches to follow specific guidelines to keep them fair, attainable, and safe.

Why People Love Them
Challenge caches appeal to both casual finders and hardcore collectors. They encourage:

• Exploration: You may visit counties, parks, or towns you’d never have considered.
• Skill Building: They push you to try new cache types or tougher terrain.
• Long-Term Engagement: Many challenges require weeks, months, or even years to complete.
• Friendly Competition: Geocachers often compare stats and swap stories about their toughest challenges.

Types of Challenges
While challenge creativity is endless, they typically fall into these categories:

1. Geographic challenges
   Complete finds within specific regions or along routes.
2. Statistical or grid challenges
   Fill out difficulty/terrain (D/T) grids, streaks, or calendar days.
3. Diversity challenges
   Find a variety of cache types, containers, or attributes.
4. Milestone-based challenges
   Reach certain find counts or complete themed collections (e.g., 100 mystery caches).

Etiquette and Rules
A few important points for challenge seekers:

• Read the listing carefully. Requirements differ widely.
• Don’t fake qualifications. Honesty keeps the community healthy.
• Ask questions if unsure. Cache owners are usually happy to clarify.
• Celebrate responsibly. Many challenges mark big milestones—have fun!

A Fun Way to Level Up Your Adventures
Challenge caches add depth and personal goals to geocaching. Whether you enjoy long-term achievements, love tracking stats, or just want something new to motivate your next outing, challenges offer a unique way to experience the hobby.

Here’s a list of all of the challenge caches in Alaska!
How many have you found or qualify for?

• GC599C6 – Fairbanks Busy Day
• GC17H9E – South Central Alaska DeLorme Challenge
• GCYPMN – The Alaska Borough and Census Area Challenge
• GCBE3YG – 2024 Mini Jasmer Challenge
• GCBE3Y4 – 2023 Mini Jasmer Challenge
• GCBE3XF – 2021 Mini Jasmer Challenge
• GCBE3X1 – 2018 Mini Jasmer Challenge
• GCBE3XN – 2022 Mini Jasmer Challenge
• GCBE3WM – 2011 Mini Jasmer Challenge
• GCBE3WC – 2010 Mini Jasmer Challenge
• GCBE3V0 – 2009 Mini Jasmer Challenge
• GCBE3TJ – 2008 Mini Jasmer Challenge
• GCBDQJ0 – Aurora Challenge Trail: Beginners Challenge
• GCBDJHB – Aurora Challenge Trail: Handicaching
• GCBDJHP – Aurora Challenge Trail: Reaching New Heights
• GCBDQDP – Aurora Challenge Trail: 49th State Caching
• GCBDQDP – Aurora Challenge Trail: January Sourdough
• GCBDQFY – Aurora Challenge Trail: My Favourite Month
• GCBDQDW – Aurora Challenge Trail: February Sourdough
• GCBDQDY – Aurora Challenge Trail: March Sourdough
• GCBDQG4 – Aurora Challenge Trail: Stair Stepper
• GCBDQE1 – Aurora Challenge Trail: April Sourdough
• GCBDMTY – Aurora Challenge Trail: Outside
• GCBDN1M – Aurora Challenge Trail: Steak Savers
• GCBDQEV – Aurora Challenge Trail: May Sourdough
• GCBDMV1 – Aurora Challenge Trail: Richardson Highway
• GC1E39H – Zany Kilo Green Box Challenge Cache
• GC9KJ41 – 2013 Mini Jasmer Challenge
• GC9KJ2V – 2014 Mini Jasmer Challenge
• GC5FR77 – The West Coast Traveller Challenge Cache
• GC9KAF4 – 2012 Mini Jasmer Challenge
• GC470RK – Find a Cache for a year by PLACED DATE Challenge
• GC5G3J3 – TRANSCONTINENTAL TRAVELER CHALLENGE CACHE
• GC30EQK – Alaska Challenge #5: One Busy Day
• GC30FAC – Alaska Challenge #6: Cavyguy’s 10%
• GC30EPT – Alaska Challenge #2: Blazingpathways
• GC4XH6G – Happy Holidaze – A Challenge Cache
• GC30EQ2 – Alaska Challenge #4: Leave NO day Uncached
• GC30FB7 – Alaska Challenge #9: Another Busy Day
• GC4KNXR – Alaska Challenge #11—100 STARS
• GC9KB8N – 2020 Mini Jasmer Challenge
• GC30FAM – Alaska Challenge #7: Streaker’s Challenge
• GC17H9E – South Central Alaska DeLorme Challenge
• GC5BRXR – Alaska’s Lonely Cache Challenge
• GC3XFKZ – Diagonal – Fizzy Challenge Bingo
• GC30EPV – Alaska Challenge #3: A Cache a Year
• GC3XDXR – Vertical – Fizzy Challenge Bingo
• GC9K9JD – 2015 Mini Jasmer Challenge
• GC9K9JH – 2007 Mini Jasmer Challenge
• GC21QXG – Alaska’s Geology: An Earthcache Challenge
• GC57NAV – Cover All – Fizzy Challenge Bingo
• GC9K8QX – 2016 Mini Jasmer Challenge
• GC9K7Q9 – 2019 Jasmer Challenge
• GC9K8QK – 2017 Jasmer Challenge
• GC3XFKG – Horizontal – Fizzy Challenge Bingo
• GC56N6K – Alaska Challenge #14: 500 Favorites
• GC3YJ7J – Alaska Challenge Cache – Comfort Zone
• GC4MK8W – Alaska Challenge #13 —Social Butterfly
• GC599C6 – Fairbanks Busy Day

By Emily Accipiter Steward (eaccipi)

As I sit down to write this final President’s Corner, I find myself reflecting on the last six years with a mixture of gratitude, pride, and even a touch of disbelief at how quickly the time has passed. Serving on the GeocacheAlaska! board — and especially serving as President — has been one of the most rewarding adventures I’ve taken on, both within and beyond the geocaching world. I joined the board after attending some amazing GCAK! Events and meeting fellow cachers. I immediately thought “How can I make a positive impact on this amazing community? How can I help? How can I join!?” I’ve seen new geocachers discover their first ammo can with the same excitement many of us remember from our own early days. I’ve seen long-time members step up to mentor others, host events, design hides, clear trails, advocate for access, and make sure the game we love continues to thrive across our incredible state.

Over the past several years we’ve weathered challenges like COVID caching (remember always bringing your hand sanitiser?) and finding ways to continue to connect. We launched projects like the KMTA GeoTrail, and saw containers hidden across Alaska in places only Alaskans would attempt.

As I transition off the board and hand the presidency back to NorthWes, I am filled with confidence that GeocacheAlaska! is in excellent hands. Our incoming officers bring energy, experience, and fresh ideas that will guide us into the years ahead. I’m excited to support them as a member, a volunteer, and — always — a cacher who loves this quirky, adventurous community. Thank you to everyone who has supported me: fellow board members, committee volunteers, event hosts, cache creators, cache finders, and the many friends I’ve made along the way. You
have all enriched this experience more than I can express. Leading this organization has been an honor, but being part of this community has been the true reward.

Here’s to new hides, new trails, new stories, and all the adventures still waiting out there!

Upcoming Events:

November 5  – GCBEBQX School Year Coffee Series: Wednesday Before Work (Eagle River)

November 8 –  GCBDTP5  School Year Coffee Series: Lekker November (Palmer)

November 9 – GCBDN41  The Most Northern USA GIFF Event!!! (Fairbanks)

November 15 – GCBE6V6  The 2025 Geocaching International Film Festival! (Anchorage)

November 19 – GCBEBQV School Year Coffee Series: Wednesday after Work (Eagle River)

November 20 – GCBE3Z4 Let’s Talk Geocaching – GeocacheAlaska! EduVent  (Anchorage)

November 21 – GCBB6CX  Team_Conway Visits Anchorage  (Anchorage)

November 26 – GCBEBR1  School Year Coffee Series: Jittery Pre-Turkey (Eagle River)

December 3 – GCBEBR2  School Year Coffee Series: Wednesday at the Dawg  (Eagle River)

December 13 – GCBDZ4F   School Year Coffee Series: Chugiak, again! (Chugiak)

Upcoming Souvenirs:

Cache In Trash Out® (CITO) 2025 – Season  September 1 – November 30 
      (attend a CITO event to qualify)

Geocaching Intentional Film Festival (GIFF) – November 6-16

      (attend a GIFF event to qualify- details about upcoming GIFF events in Alaska will be announced soon!)

December Solstice – December 19-22

Farewell 2025 – December 24-31

Celebrating 25 Years – no time limit

      (find all 5 treasures in “Celebrating 25 Years” Treasures collection to qualify)

For a full list of upcoming souvenirs, visit: 2025 Confirmed Souvenirs on the Geocaching Blog

By: Greatland Reviewer

Here is an update on Geocaching HQ’s (aka. Groundspeak) and my efforts to clean up the playing field so players have a more positive experience in the field:

Owner Attention Requested (formally known as “Needs Maintenance”): I posted Reviewer Notes on 31 caches with the “Owner Attention Requested” attribute showing for which I had not previously posted a note. There are a total of 476 caches (6.2% of total caches) with “Owner Attention Requested.” This is the only action I will take on these caches UNLESS there is a growing string of DNFs or other issues that appear. Cache Owners can clear the “Owner Attention Requested” attribute from their cache page by writing an “Owner Maintenance” log to the page. Re-enabling a cache page does not automatically clear the “Owner Attention Requested” attribute.

There are currently 261 temporarily disabled cache pages (3.6% of total caches) in Alaska, which is up 75 since July 26. Autumn has begun in Alaska with termination dust on the Chugach front range, so now is a good time to perform cache maintenance before the playing field gets a coating of white camouflage.

Geocaching HQ has not yet gone to automating disabling and archiving caches. Those steps are still left to the local Reviewer due to variability in local conditions and other factors. One of the other factors I find most challenging is how to manage the high difficulty caches. High difficulty caches by their very nature grow strings of DNFs and sometimes go years between finds. However, high difficulty caches can and do go missing, so sometimes cachers are looking for phantom caches that are not in the field. I have recently had conversations with cachers at events who say they enjoy the feeling of satisfaction finding a high difficulty cache, but that they tend to avoid high difficulty caches if the cache has not been found or there is not an Owner Maintenance log confirming the presence of the cache logged during the past year. So, Cache Owners of high difficulty caches are encouraged to annually check on the well-being of their caches to have cachers keep trying and avoid a “Temporary Disable” from the Reviewer that is meant to be a wellness check nudge. I am open to feedback from Cache Owners and Cache Seekers on alternative ways to handle this.

The process of archiving a cache takes at least sixty days and most times, longer. First, the local Reviewer posts a “Temporary Disable” log, which disables the cache page to signal players the cache has issues. Thirty or more days later, the Reviewer will post a “Reviewer Note” encouraging Cache Owner of the disabled cache page to take action within thirty days to avoid archival of the cache page. “Action” does not necessarily entail re-enabling the cache. A “Write Note” log explaining extenuating circumstances (construction, flood, injury, etc.) with an anticipated timeline is all that is required to head off cache archival.

Sometimes, real life gets in the way and a cache gets archived. Archival is not necessarily permanent. If a Cache Owner wants to keep the cache, s/he can e-mail or message the Reviewer via the Reviewer’s profile and request un-archival. If another cacher has not already submitted a new cache that creates a proximity problem and the original cache meets the current Guidelines, the archived cache will be un-archived in a disabled state, giving the Cache Owner some time to perform cache maintenance and enable the cache page.

Cache Owners are encouraged to check their Dashboard to quickly view which of their cache pages have the “Owner Attention Needed” attribute set, which cache pages are “Temporarily Disabled,” which cache pages have recently had a “Reviewer Note” posted to them during the past thirty days, and which cache pages have a low “Health Score” as calculated by the Groundspeak algorithm. The Cache Owner of a cache page that has a Low Health Score will receive an e-mail from Groundspeak HQ, typically before the local Reviewer posts a Reviewer Note or Temporarily Disables the cache page.

By Louise Kempker (freeweez)

On Saturday, October 11 th , geocachers eager to help clean up Mother Earth gathered at the Campbell Creek = Trailhead for a successful CITO. 

Hosted by Freeweez, with major assistance from Mr Freeweez and their 4-wheeler, many bags of trash were collected! Also included were a very wet and spongy, round and very large cushion—that had been floating in Campbell Creek, but snagged by a downed tree! It was soggily rolled to the trailhead! Bicycle ports, charred grocery carts and large propane tanks were also recovered. Yes—it was the remnants of a recently abated homeless camp.

Mountains of Thanks to the cachers who came from Talkeetna and the Valley andAnchorage to help with this effort! All were rewarded with the fall CITO souvenir!OneSpirit, RB127126, FTLAK and TheLastFrontier and Grayson, Disoriented49, AKKalina, Buffalo and CapSheldon, Hockeychicks, Cytoplasm7447, BirkenstockReport, Glenn.fish and any others who showed up to assist with this effort! Mountains of Thanks!!

Looking for personalized GeocacheAlaska! merch? Always wanted a trackable shirt to wear to events?

Our storefront on Printify can now do individually personalized orders! Shirts and other gear can now be monogrammed with a name, geocaching handle, or even a trackable code! 

Tees, hoodies, hats, and other goodies can be printed-to-order with our logo and shipped straight to you.  Shirts are available in several styles and colors, and in a full range of sizes. More items will be added soon!

from the Geocaching Official Blog

Watch for upcoming GIFF events to be held in Alaska. Details will be announced soon!
Revisit the fun! Reruns of past GIFF years can be viewed on YouTube or on the official GIFF website. 

By: Emily Accipiter Stewart (eaccipi)

Over the weekend, I got to participate in my kid’s Cub Scout Campout. 27 kids aged 5- 10 all gathered for a weekend with their parents to sleep in a tent, shoot archery, try their hand at fishing (5 fish were caught!), and work on their knife skills for their Woodchip badge. All incredibly exciting things for a young kid. But they also got to find a geocache!

I’ve been involved in Pack 409 since it’s inception almost 3 years ago, and have brought my love of geocaching to the Pack – looking for an idea for a den meeting? Let’s go find the geocache in the park behind the school! Need to talk about practical use of technology? This is a GPS and how we use it to find designated coordinates. Good manners about give and take? Let’s talk about SWAG and how you can only take an item if you leave an item.  As we were planning the campout, we asked each Cub Scout to let us know three things they hoped we would do at the campout, and my geocaching heart was filled with joy at how many kids asked to have a geocache hidden.

That’s not the only programming with the youths of today – BirkenstockReport recently started a geocaching club at the high school they teach at – helping bring our game to a new cohort of players. Even at events I’m attending, I’m meeting young players who are in high school or freshly out who are excited to discover and join in a game many of us have been playing for a while. It’s exciting, and the enthusiasm they’re bringing makes me excited to go find caches too.

As Geocaching celebrates 25 years of finding things in the woods, it’s imperative that we continue to share our passions of the game with the younger folks today. Whenever I’m on a hike with kids, I casually mention there are geocaches on the trail. JagerBar’s friends who have hiked with me before eagerly start asking if we brought “the swag bag” along, and new hikers are introduced to the game. Here are some of my suggestions for sharing the game with new/young players:

• Casually ask if they want to find treasure on the trails. This always piques the interest of young kids.
• Let the kids hold your phone. While nerve-wracking, I always trust the kids in our Pack to hold my phone and follow the compass line. They get to practice seeing distance, looking for trails instead of going in a straight line, and the excitement of discovering it together.
• Keep a SWAG bag for them in your car. Mine is filled with unopened happy meal toys, cool items from tradeshows, and small items from the party section at  Walmart. Let the kids pick an item to hold at the beginning of the hike so they can decide if they want to trade it or keep it when caches are found.
• Focus on large geocaches. When I know I’ll be with kids, I only look for caches big enough to have trades – I remove micros and Other from my search parameters. While it’s fun for adults to find well-hidden and tricky caches, kids don’t seem to get the same enjoyment.
• Share it with the parents. I’ve got a little sheet that I’ll give the kids after a geocaching day that has a picture of the Geocaching app icon, the website, and a quick “this is what geocaching is” synopsis. When I see the parents (if they weren’t on the hike), I let them know their kid enjoyed the activity and it may be a great family bonding experience.

Thank you for sharing your geocaching passion with the future geocachers of tomorrow!

Emily Accipiter Stewart
eaccipi
President, GeocacheAlaska!

Upcoming Events:

September 30 – GCBCKBJ  School Year Coffee Series: Jittery in September (Eagle River)

September 30 – GCBBENQ Join Us For World Postcard Day & Earn A Souvenir Event Cache (Juneau)

October 4 – GCATKJ7  World Postcard Day & Stammtisch – Community Celebration Event (Achorage)

October 11 – GCBCBXK  Campbell Creek CITO – Cache In Trash Out® Event (Anchorage)

October 11 – GCBCVVW School Year Coffee Series: Chugiak October (Chugiak)

October 12 – GCBDB1T Meet & Greet from Anchorage Event Cache (Fairbanks)

October 13 – GCBDDC7  School Year Coffee Series: Indigenous Peoples’ Day (Anchorage)

November 21 – GCBB6CX  Team_Conway Visits Anchorage  (Anchorage)

Upcoming Souvenirs:

Cache In Trash Out® (CITO) 2025 – Season  September 1 – November 30 
      (attend a CITO event to qualify)

World Postcard Day – October 1
       (attend an event between September 28 and October 4 to qualify)

International Earthcache Day – October 10-12
      (log an Earthcache to qualify)

Adventure Day – October 17-19
      (log any 5 Adventure Lab locations to qualify)

Geocaching Intentional Film Festival (GIFF) – November 6-16

      (attend a GIFF event to qualify- details about upcoming GIFF events in Alaska will be announced soon!)

Celebrating 25 Years: no time limit

      (find all 5 treasures in “Celebrating 25 Years” Treasures collection to qualify)

For a full list of upcoming souvenirs, visit: 2025 Confirmed Souvenirs on the Geocaching Blog

Upcoming Events:

September 2 – GCBB29V  Did Juneau we’ve been here before? (Juneau)

September 7 – GCAW0EF Everybody Loves Trackables: Community Celebration Event (Eagle River)

September 7 – GCBAZGK The Buttermilk Invitational 6 (Super Soaker Series) (Wasilla)

September 16 – GCBBY7F Brits on tour from Cyprus (Sitka) 

September 18 – GCBAF4K  Meet and Greet – Anchorage AK (Anchorage)

September 25 – GCBC0N3 Celebrating 25 on the 25th: Events for Introverts (Eagle River)

November 21 – GCBB6CX  Team_Conway Visits Anchorage  (Anchorage)

Upcoming Souvenirs:

Celebrating 25 Years: no time limit

      (find all 5 treasures in “Celebrating 25 Years” Treasures collection to qualify)

Cache In Trash Out® (CITO) 2025 – Season  September 1 – November 30 
      (attend a CITO event to qualify)

September Equinox: September 19-22
      (find any geocache or attend an event to qualify)

World Postcard Day – October 1
       (attend an event to quality)

International Earthcache Day – October 10-12
      (log an Earthcache to qualify)

Adventure Day – October 17-19
      (log any 5 Adventure Lab locations to qualify)

Geocaching Intentional Film Festival (GIFF) – November 6-16

      (attend a GIFF event to qualify- details about upcoming GIFF events in Alaska will be announced soon!)

For a full list of upcoming souvenirs, visit: 2025 Confirmed Souvenirs on the Geocaching Blog