June 2020 GoLI Member Spotlight
The Caching Dead NY
1. What does your cacher name mean?
My Favorite TV show at the time was The Walking Dead. Favorite Hobby, Geocaching put the two together and you get The Caching Dead. But that was in use by a couple out of Texas. So I added NY to the end!
2. When did you start caching and how did you find out about it?
I started this rodeo on 06/3/2014 Originally, I used FptFreak. Which was my CB radio handle back in the late 80's. In full, The Freeport Freak. Yes I was from Freeport. I changed it shortly after to The Caching Dead NY. I was no longer living in Freeport or Nassau County for that matter, so it no longer made sense to me.
3. Describe your first find:
My first find was just outside of the location where I work. It was inside a little town park. Since it was in such close proximity I walked over on my break. After a couple minutes, I found a little black hide a key on a black fence. It was in a corner slightly covered by growth and vines. I signed the log and high tailed it back to work. The cache, MAM's Micro #60 - Plainview. It has long since been archived. Thank you mmacgown! I was baited by a micro into a life long hobby!
4. How many finds do you have?
My stats aren't very impressive compared to many of our locals. As of 6/16/2020:
Traditional Geocache- 2287
Multi-cache - 30
Virtual Cache - 18
Letterbox Hybrid -10
Event Cache - 63 total
Cache In-Trash Out Event - 5
Mega-Event Cache - Big Fat 0
Giga-Event Cache - Another goose egg 0
Mystery Cache - 218
Webcam Cache - 1
EarthCache - 5
Wherigo Cache - 2
NGS Benchmarks - 55
Lab Cache - 41
a. Favorite find type?
Mystery Caches! Mostly Field Puzzles / Gadget caches I love different!
b. Pick one favorite find?
To tough to choose one! I enjoy most caches. Especially creative caches. If time is spent fabricating a container I will like it! From Meg the Pirates Bugs & Animal Caches to Iggy317s Creepy Caches to MoDaRiMa Industries Caches to Mushnikas elaborate builds and Wsak's Sight Unseen!
5. How many caches have you hidden?
*22- By The Caching Dead NY
*10 - Adopted by The Caching Dead NY
*36- various hides and adoptions under The_Kilted_Kacher
**Not enough, more to come..
a. Hide count by type:
Traditional Geocaches 25
Multi-cache 1
Virtuals 1
Letterbox Hybrids 1
Event Cache 24
Mystery Cache 8
b. Favorite hide type?
Mystery Caches I like to surprise.
c. Pick one favorite cache that you’ve hidden?
I can't choose one! I will go by cache type. This is like trying to choose which of your children is your favorite! Lol.
1) Traditional:
*T.C.D.N.Y. - Protecta Cache-ecta!!! GC5ECGD
The first cache I placed and it still has interesting logs coming in.
2) Mystery:
*T.C.D.N.Y.- The Davis Meeting House Est. 1750's GC5VB92
My first Low Tech Gadget Cache. This one is in it's second coming. The first listing was as a traditional which I didn't want it listed as. Admin disagreed with me and I had no choice. Then due to a certain log, exposing a clue I left near GZ, it was archived by Admin. I removed the clue and wrote a new Mystery page as an Offset cache and it published.
3) Letterbox:
*T.C.D.N.Y. - Dead Letterbox & TB Hotel GC6NDY6
My only attempt at a TB Hotel, Letterbox, Field Puzzle, Low Tech cache combination. Cache! This one has some history behind its existence. From its original installation location, Angry Heads of Security, Police involvement, talks with management, vandalism, Awards, TB Hotels of America 5 Bug rating, a Disgruntled Cacher and more!
6. Stats review:
a. How many state and country souvenirs? 1 country 3 States
Total: I stink!
b. Jasmer Challenge?
211/242 Months
c. Fizzy Challenge?
49 Found of 81 D/T Combinations
d. Calendar Days:
366 Found Dates, out of 366
e. Streak?
223 days, from 2015-06-29 to 2016-02-06
f. Slump?
19 days, from 09-19 to 10-07-2018 very sick
g. FTFs?
235 total Ranked #18 in NYS
*At least one a month for 63 consecutive months. Ranked #7 in NYS
(*5 Long Islanders are in the top 20 for all of NY)
h. Best Day:
46 caches
i. Best Month:
107, in April 2015
7. Do you trade SWAG?
Yes! Personal Pathtags and Skulls! Lots of skulls!
8. Like to move trackables?
All depends on the day and the caches I find them in.
8a. How many do you own?
About 33 active in my possession. About 5 in the wild, 3 of those are MIA and a bunch more in my collection that are not activated.
9. Cache with GPS or Phone?
Phone only so far
10. Do you have any geocaching goals?
Place more caches and Attend more event. Off of Long Island when and if the opportunity presents its self. When we are allowed. If ever!
11. Do you cache with anyone?
Mostly Me, Myself and I. But I have partnered up on occasion.
12. Tell a memorable caching story:
I have a few. Nothing grand. There was the time I was stalked by a Raccoon. That's in FTF magazine. The group that I put together for Sight Unseen 20+ people. Big group! When I first met Bigedyben for the first time. I beat him out of a FTF coming from Long Beach to GZ in Huntington. Where was Ben coming from a town or 2 over? Hmm? Lol.
13. Bucket list cache?
Well I don't really have one! Hard to believe. But since I don't get to travel much, I prefer not to get my hopes up. I take it day by day. Opportunities do happen once in a blue moon!