SLAGA 2026 Travel Bug Race August Update
Geokid12
8/3/26 22:51
Here are the current standings in the 2026 SLAGA Travel Bug Race! How is your bug doing?
Picnic in the Park
TerriBikes
7/31/26 15:15
The SLAGA summer picnic this year was held on July 11th in the St. Vrain Shelter at Spanish Lake Park. As always, it was a bring your own lunch, drinks, lawn chair, and interesting bantar type event. Although there was morning rain, it didn't deter the 30 geocachers from gathering in this beautiful park, with its walking trails, ponds for fishing, and playgrounds for kids (of all ages apparently).
As always, there was great conversation and camaraderie, but park geocaching was the big hit at this picnic? The awesome event CO, brantole, placed an additional 9 new geocaches in the park to accompany her 2025 Cachemas cache there and an oldie (2003) by Island-Dave. Her multi cache immediately received 8 favorite points.
Some fun log comments include:
"The scattered rains left just in time for the picnic and to find all the new caches in this hidden gem of a park." (cootie_man)
"Oh this was so much fun, thank you for hosting Brantole! I had an awesome time hanging out with my geo peeps and finding all the new caches in the park." (Forest-Ghost)
"Thank you so much for organizing and for all the new caches my friend. A favourite point from me eh....oh wait ??????." (Iamgrateful)
"Nice venue, quiet park, and geo-friends.... who could ask for more? It was especially nice to stay a little later and visit with the hostess with the mostest." (GeoWench78)
What a great way to spend a rainy summer day! There were tons of smiles and smileys all around.
BINGO! We have a winner!
TerriBikes
7/31/26 13:34
Bill Schwend wins another Adventure Awaits Challenge. This "BINGO" based second quarter challenge took SWAseeker to nine different geocaches with terrain rating of 1.5 and at least one event. Here is a list of his winning caches:
D1/T1.5 GCBMJ2E NOT Sammy Hagar 3
D1.5/T1.5 GCBFRZT High Road
D2/T1.5 GCB73T4 Frond Hill
D2.5/T1.5 GCBH4EZ Reed the Sign
D3/T1.5 GCBM46Z Heavy Metal
D3.5/T3.5 GCAY0NT ROLLING FRUSTRATION
D4/T1.5 GC5J183 North Meets South Challenge
D4.5/T1.5 GCB97B5 Eagle Eye
D5/T1.5 GCBNXPA 10,000+/3 X Fizzy/200 X 5 Types - Challenge
EVENT: GCBKMAJ 2026 SLAGA Spring Picnic
Since his prior win in March 2025, Bill has found just over 9000 more geocaches, bringing his amazing total to 52,309! This effort includes a streak of finding a cache for 2159 consecutive days and counting.
If Bill's not out caching or travelling for work, he might be found surrounded by 400,000 ladies or more. He still actively keeps bees, and harvests and sells their delicious honey.
CONGRATULATIONS BILL ON ANOTHER CHALLENGE WIN!
Best of SLAGA 2026 - Half Way There
vorlon40
7/19/26 15:32
Best of SLAGA, Favorite Caches Placed in the first half of 2026
Of the 198 new caches published in the 100 mile radius SLAGA territory in the first half of 2025, these are the top caches, as determined by % of favorite points awarded. There have been about 2 times as many caches published in the first half of 2026 as there were by this time last year. Way to go, you cache hiders!
As you can see though, we are missing some types. Let's have a banner 2nd half of 2026 for SLAGA land cache hides!
By cache type
Traditional
A Bird's Eye View"
SlamminElla
Earth
See the Scree: Breaking Down a Bluff
DinkinFlicka392
Unknown
The Big Blue Switch
Forest-Ghost
Multi
Quite The Birdhouse Tree
6dancer
Virtual
Popeye the Sailor Man ???? - Virtual Reward 5.0
krmays92
Virtual
Ghost Town, Living History
makersmark615
Letterbox NONE
Wherigo NONE
By overall % of favorite points awarded
88 Traditional
A Bird's Eye View
SlamminElla
75 Traditional
Railroad Relic
mathmanbill
75 Traditional
Rockin ' Robin
2roadtrippers
75 Earth
See the Scree: Breaking Down a Bluff
DinkinFlicka39
71 Traditional
Micro Gallery Micro Cache
Seth!
67 Unknown
The Big Blue Switch
Forest-Ghost
65 Multi
Quite The Birdhouse Tree
6dancer
59 Unknown
Daily Dose of Happiness US # 37 - I Am Grateful
Iamgrateful
57 Unknown
Destiny's Dragon Riders: #3
Kimenm
50 Traditional
Destiny's Dragon Riders: #4
Kimenm
50 Traditional
MoCo BoCo Line
rntmo95
50 Unknown
Daily Dose of Happiness US # 53 - The Missing Link
Iamgrateful
50 Unknown
King's Quest - Weeping Willow's Heart
Unitzoid
Congrats and thanks to the Cache Owners and everyone else who continues to create and support quality caches in the St. Louis area! Hiders!
SLAGA Springs into Picnicking Season
TerriBikes
5/3/26 15:10
Spring has sprung and more than fifty geocachers took advantage of it! The SLAGA spring picnic was held on Saturday April 25, 2026 at Bolm-Schuhkraft park in beautiful Columbia, Illinois. The three lovely hosts were 3nina, 6dancer & NEgirl55 who planned a great day out. Three local reviewers graced us with their presence and support of SLAGA, and board members were also in attendance. Treasurer Vorlon40 collected fees and VP GeoKid12 sold merchandise and handed out a single 10K milestone award. VP Rouseabouts announced upcoming events and business, and Secretary TreasureIsle took mental notes for future meeting minutes.
As always, SLAGA members outdid themselves at the picnic with absolutely delicious salads, sides, and desserts to share. These accompanied the perfectly cooked brats, dogs and burgers by Turtleladi1020nhubbs! All in attendance enjoyed a feast and camaraderie under the large shelter in gorgeous 75°F.
A Trackable discovery/pickup board was on display at the picnic, and member HobbitTaz collected new racing trackables from cachers for the June to January travel bug race. If anyone still wants to join the race, contact him via GC.com message before May 15 to arrange a hand-off. (For more Race information, see the article posted March 31.)
To add more excitement to the spring picnic, the hosts provided yard games adjacent to the shelter, including: Ping-pong roll, Hillbilly golf, and a couple of cornhole/bean bag toss games.
NEgirl55 said, “We had two games with prizes. One was the ping pong roll in which HobbitTaz held the lead with 10 points until SWAseeker rolled his way to 15 points for the win. The other was Hillbilly golf which came down to a tie between hopeza and SWAseeker. In the championship round hopeza prevailed. Each of them won a $15 Schnucks gift card and a cache to be hidden in a place of their choosing.”
The spring SLAGA picnic was a ton of fun and a huge success thanks to the organizers, volunteers, board, and all the members in attendance. If you were unable to make this event, check the SLAGA calendar of events for future ones, including happy hours, CITO's, and other local events hosted by the many wonderful SLAGA members. Thanks to all that attended and Congratulations to TerriBikes+ on her 10K milestone and award chair!
Q1 2026 "Scrabble"Challenge Winner
TerriBikes
4/7/26 15:06
TerriBikes+ showed some 'PIZZAZZ' in the 2026 first quarter adventure awaits 'scrabble' challenge. Having four Zs at 10 points each with the event Z doubled, added up to a whopping 55 point score to win her a $25 gift card to Paneras and this first quarter highlight.
Terri commented: "I trekked, biked, and even hobbled in a foot boot, the last few weeks, for many miles and many smiles this first quarter to achieve my personal goal of gathering all 26 letters. I wanted the chance to make any high scoring word I could. But after hundreds of finds, with multiples of most letters, I realized I actually had four Zs! It was an obvious choice then to pick the word I did, and soon realized I only used four of the 26 letters! ?? It was luck really that I happened to already have planned trips to visit family and for other purposes where a Z cache awaited me. Many thanks to the SLAGA board for coming up with such a fun and unique quarterly challenge. I'm looking forward to the next."
Not only did Terri achieve the adventure awaits win this first quarter, but also ended up finding her 10,000th geocache in March as well!
Congratulations on this win, Terri, and keep caching your way to 25K as many more Adventures Await!
Let the 2026 Travel Bug Race Begin…
TerriBikes
3/31/26 18:37
The 2026 SLAGA Travel Bug Race Begins in May! Send your trackable into the wild and watch the adventure unfold.
TB Drop-off: SLAGA Spring Picnic – April 25, 2026 (GCBKMAJ)
Official Race Start: GeoWoodstock XXII – May 23, 2026 (GCB7GWH)
Race Finish Line: One week prior to the January 2027 SLAGA Potluck (TBD)
The starting line is back in sight as SLAGA kicks off a brand-new Travel Bug Race season. This annual favorite invites members to send their travel bugs and other trackables out into the world, watching as fellow geocachers help them journey from cache to cache.
How to Enter the Race
Race Core Categories
This year's race will use the same categories as last year.
In the event of a tie in any category, total miles shown on the TB’s page (minus any starting corrections) will be used as the tiebreaker.
Each participant may enter only one Travel Bug and may win only one category. If a participant places in multiple categories, the second-place TB becomes the category winner.
Racing Tips to Improve Your Chances
New to Travel Bugs?
A Travel Bug or trackable is a uniquely coded geocaching item owned by a player. Its tracking code allows its movement to be logged online each time it is picked up and placed in another cache, creating a shared adventure for everyone involved.
We encourage participants to prepare their trackables in advance and bring them to the designated SLAGA kickoff event for official entry. From there, the community takes over, moving the trackables along and adding stories to their travels.
Whether your travel bug crosses state lines or circles close to home, every log adds to the story. Throughout the season, updates and standings will be shared so everyone can follow the progress and cheer on their favorites.
So dust off those dog tags, prep your trackable, and get ready to race. Adventure, camaraderie, and plenty of logging await in this year’s SLAGA Travel Bug Race!
[Race Information provided by SLAGA member and Travel Bug manager, Mark Derr.]
A Cozy Gathering-2026 SLAGA Winter Potluck
TerriBikes
2/2/26 15:13
The 2026 Winter Potluck SLAGA picnic, hosted by L Frank and Denmother was held on Jan 31, 2026. It was a cozy gathering this winter in The Lemay Pavillion at Jefferson Barracks County Park. More than 60 members plus several muggles attended the potluck bringing and sharing a delicious spread of food including salads, soups, pastas, meats and sandwiches, veggies, chips, and a very nice array of scrumptious deserts. "There was enough food that attendees could visit the 'buffet' three times!," said CO L Frank.
Wonderful volunteers assisted the COs so the event ran smoothly and included several fun activities. Many thanks to the following members for jobs well done.
SETUP spiritwolf922, Treasure Isle, Rouseabouts
FOOD TABLE SWAseeker, nan-d1955
REGISTRATION/GEOBINGO How-D, Treasure Isle
50-50 TICKETS turtleladi1020
GEOCOINS/TRAVEL BUGS 6dancer
RAFFLE/TICKET SALES bluedaisy, Loonwoman
CLEANUP arabbit&ubuck
In addition to the picnic activities, there were various awards handed out. The 9-month long travel bug race culminated at this picnic with the announcement of winners. Here are all the winners from this year's potluck event:
5000 MILESTONE - Mathmanbill
50-50 WINNER - bazfum
GEO-BINGO WINNERS $10 Gift card:
Repmul, Team DLADL, Driver2, IBEW ret, and How-D
TRAVEL BUG RACE WINNERS $25 Gift card:
PHOTOS: 2roadtrippers
TOTAL GEOCACHERS: turleladi1020nhubbs
TOTAL LOGS: 6dancer
The raffle item winners were all pleased with their treasures too, but one in particular stood out. A 3-D printed puzzle box type geocache was made by SLAGA member Team State and won by spiritwolf922.
Everyone in attendance had a great time and left with smiles on their faces (and some in their geocaching stats), as well as full tummies! Congratulations to all the potluck and award winners! Have a cozy rest of the winter and hope to see many more SLAGA members at upcoming events.
December 2025 Champ
TerriBikes
1/23/26 0:27
Congratulations to Trailliart, Jesse McCarty, SLAGA's December 2025 Adventure Awaits Challenge Winner! He has participated in Adventure Awaits since August and won this past month, with these qualifying Cachemas caches and an event.
GCBEWXT Day 6 - 2025 Cachemas in STL
GCBEQKG Day 11 - 2025 Cachemas in STL
GCBDYTJ Day 9 - 2025 Cachemas in STL [FTF]
GCB1XZB 2025 Community Celebration Event-Last Chance
Amazingly, Jesse has only been geocaching for one year, even though he'd heard about it 15 years ago. In Jesse's short caching history, he's found nearly 750 caches, but is currently 'streak' caching with 333 consecutive days as of this article posting. He also only has 15 D/T spots left to complete a Fizzy grid, but already has six 5/5s. He also only has 18 upcoming days left to complete the 366 calendar day grid.
An achievement that amazes this geocaching journalist is that Jesse solved and completed 'The Architect' mega-multi just 6 months into caching! When asked about a favorite caching memory, Jesse stated that his, "most favorite moment geocaching was completing The Architect (GC4CQ9V). When I first learned of that cache, it was early on I my caching days and I didn't know where to begin. Eventually, I not only learned how to get started, but I did it entirely on my own in just under a month." Now that's impressive!
And what's even more impressive and makes Jesse a champ of another kind is a personal accomplishment he shared.
"I use to weigh north of 260 lbs, but got down to about 157 lbs by late October 2024. Following that, I wanted to take part in physical activities, such as walking a number of miles per day to stay fit. In the first half of January 2025, I remembered about geocaching and figured that might be an interesting way to stay active. I don't regret any bit of that decision at all."
Jesse has been an outdoorsy person since a child. He says he "likes to explore the woods and go on long hikes. Forest-Ghost caches have made it especially fun for me to go in the woods, because I didn't know you could find so many unusual things such as abandoned structures and decades old cars."
Geocaching certainly seems like the perfect fit for Jesse. Extending congratulations again to him on his December win, but also for his caching prowess and personal achievements and success!
2025 ENDINGS and 2026 BEGINNINGS!
TerriBikes
1/18/26 22:47
The 2025 holiday season was an active one for our SLAGA community. The first weekend in December kicked off the season with the spirit of giving at the 2025 Community Christmas Celebration Event (GCATM25) hosted by nan-d1955/Nan. This memorable and very fun event included, not only great food and conversation, but also the generosity of the 42 members in attendance, through food, toiletry and toy donations. These were collected for the local food pantry and Birthday Club of ‘Circle of Concern’ in Valley Park. Over 250 pounds of food and nearly 70 toys were donated. This yearly event is always a great way to start the season.
CO Nan said that spending time with her fellow geocachers at this family time of year warms her heart. “I get so much joy out of being with my friends at this event that I stop and wonder how many others there feel the same joy. If even one, that makes me happy."
Next came Santa Cachemas (GeoKid12) and his many elves hiding caches all around SLAGAland for 12 straight days, while geocachers practically dropped everything in their personal lives to try for a coveted First-to-Find honor and ornament. This past season the caches were all letterbox hybrid type with cute stamps that ended up being the clues for the bonus day. Having participated every day of 2025 Cachemas, this writer can attest to the great quality and variety of caches in this whole series! While the excitement of the hunt has always been a Cachemas high, the gathering of geofriends throughout and the tailgate festivities sure add to the joy of the Cachemas season!
GeoKid12/Robert/Santa always does an amazing job organizing the series and hiding some caches himself. The other hider elves definitely put effort into their choice of locations and caches too this year. Then there's toy-maker elf, LFrank, who provided all the FTF ornaments. Over the years, this 2-week long Cachemas experience has turned into a holiday social favorite for many who not only get outdoors and earn a smiley, but really enjoy holiday time with friends too.
There were other fun events held in the month of December, including happy hours and game nights and Christmas Day lunch. But the Holiday season and 2025 came to an end and the new year began with the official SLAGA New Year's Day Hike on January 1st!
The 2026 hike, hosted by Treasure Isle/Susan, took place at 1 pm in the beautiful Laumeier Sculpture Park, which happens to be celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. "Laumeier is a place where art and nature come together to spark curiosity, creativity, and connection." More than 50 SLAGA members gathered on the back patio of the office building to enjoy a warm beverage and holiday chats during the 30-minute meet-n-greet portion of the event. Then all cachers were invited to hike with the larger group or break off themselves to enjoy the many areas of the park. There were several old and new geocaches that could be found, so many hikers departed not only with smiles but smilies too. CO Susan hosted a terrific event and thanked all who attended as stated in her Attended Log. "Thanks to everyone who made this a successful start to the new year. Special thanks to cootie_man who provided drinks, cookies, and cups, etc. Also special thanks to Geokid12 for the huge variety of cookies and to Strider for placing a cache in the last available spot in Laumeier. Here's to another amazing year of geocaching!"
SLAGA's 2025 was magnificent with new members joining, new geocaches hidden, numerous events and CITOS conducted, as well as activities like Cachemas and the year-long Adventure Awaits Challenges! On that topic, the December challenge winner will be announced and honored in their own article soon.
But this is a great opportunity to announce the 2025 GRAND PRIZE WINNER, drawn from all participants from each month. Drum Roll please...
As 2026 begins, you can already see new changes, like our SLAGA board's new Adventure Awaits Challenge plans that are in play for this year. As for geocacher 'resolutions' ideas, consider planning new caching adventures, setting some caching goals, exploring interesting new places, or committing to attending more SLAGA events or volunteering at one. And there's no better time or place to start that last idea, than at the upcoming SLAGA Winter Potluck and Cabin Fever-2026 Event (GCBEWXB), hosted by L Frank and Denmother on January 31, 2026.
Cheers to a great 2025 and
to an adventurous, happy
and healthy 2026!
Best of SLAGA 2025
vorlon40
1/6/26 7:00
Best of SLAGA, Favorite Caches Placed in 2025
Of the ~287 new caches published in the 100 mile radius SLAGA territory in 2025, these are the top caches, as determined by % of favorite points awarded.
By cache type
Earthcache
?? Missouri’s Rosy Heart: The Granite Shut-In EC
LosVagabundos
GCBE76P
Traditional
Strange Things in the Woods-Toadstool in the Woods
SlamminElla
GCBCF95
Letterbox
Day 4 - 2025 Cachemas in STL
HiddenCrazy
GCBEZK4
Unknown
Afowl of Perche Creek - Snipe (Bonus)
Unitzoid
GCBCK3W
Multicache
Buddy's Projection
Strider
GCBCKEY
Virtual
Historic Daniel Boone Home
vorlon40
GCAJJ8J
Lab Bonus
Tombstone Tourist Adventure Lab Bonus Cache
Denmother and L Frank
GCB7GNW
By overall % of favorite points awarded
80 Traditional
Strange Things in the Woods-Toadstool in the Woods
SlamminElla
GCBCF95
71 Traditional
The Saber in the Stump
ice_mermaid & HiddenCrazy
GCB7XXG
69 Traditional
What Do You See?
HiddenCrazy
GCB13BJ
67 Traditional
LesMar's Little Library on Lansdowne
LEchterWhite CardsFan4
GCB7972
67 Traditional
Time To Branch Out
ClumsyJudo
GCBAZXH
67 Traditional
Strange Things in the Woods - A Rock in the Woods
SlamminElla
GCBCEKP
67 Traditional
MKT Memories
Delbadore
GCBCK9X
67 Traditional
Paint it, Cache
kawiaj
GCBEN77
65 Traditional
Stumped in Tower Grove Park
ToeFur9er
GCB6QHA
63 Traditional
My First Find (Now Archived)
stevendede
GCB7GAR
Congrats and thanks to the Cache Owners and everyone else who continues to create and support quality caches in the St. Louis area!
Smiling Again at a November Win
TerriBikes
12/13/25 16:51
Repeat Adventure Awaits Winner MrsSpongy (Carolyn) is smiling again with her November 2025 win! Carolyn has been a loyal challenge cacher since the beginning of SLAGA's Adventure Awaits initiative. She first won in May 2024 and some of her caching history was noted in that May article. But since then, Carolyn has continued to accomplish more personal goals in her caching career, one being her continued monthly caching to participate in Adventure Awaits. For the month of November, Carolyn chose the following caches to fulfill the challenge of finding four geocaches each with a different size, plus one event.
Cache 1: Small-GCBEM7D Here's Barb
Cache 2: Regular-GCAMBWO Walker's Rest
Cache 3: Micro GCBDYQQ Stay in Love
Cache 4: Other-GCB9HXJ Found It!
Event: GCBEK4H SW STL Happy Hour
Carolyn still says, "Geocaching is my therapy, and my geocaching 'family' remains a big support as I continue playing this fun game." Since her past win, Carolyn has found caches in 5 new states, bringing her total to 35 USA states (including DC). Speaking of totals, Carolyn is at an amazing 18,281 geocache finds since she started in 2009. One of her current goals is to achieve her fifth Fizzy grid filler. She only needs two more D/Ts to complete that goal.
Carolyn's fondest geocaching memories are made while out with friends. "I really enjoy getting smileys with my friends, especially at events, either locally or travelling out of town to big events. This past spring I went with different girlfriends to both the MOGA in Abilene, KS and GeoWoodstock in Morgantown, VA!"
CONGRATULATIONS CAROLYN ON YOUR NOVEMBER 2025 ADVENTURE AWAITS WIN AND $10 GIFT CARD PRIZE!
A Charter Member Wins October!
TerriBikes
11/10/25 14:05
One of geocaching's charter members. and a SLAGA forefather, has joined the winners circle for SLAGA Adventure Awaits Challenge. Jim Greene, aka Strider, has participated many of the months and enjoys the variety of challenge criteria, but has finally won for the month of October 2025. His qualifying caches to find four geocaches each with a different Cache Owner (CO) and one event, are as follows:
GC2DA4M Fourth Spiral CO / Flic
GCBC70N Fish in a Barrel CO / JoeBum
GC3XDCW Just Jonesburg...again / CO Quailman2
GC53XXN The Great Westbound Treasure Hunt / CO ottieolsen (Dustin & Heather)
GCAYRTR Geocoinfest 2025 - Castle Rock, CO / CO A_Novel_Cache_ Cmte
Most of Jim's qualifying caches were from his recent trip with Sarah (Crowesfeat30) to Colorado for the Geocoinfest Event, which he chose as his event cache. Some caches were from the different states he and Sarah visited on the trip. He commented that, "It was a great 10-day vacation, and we got a lot of caches and Adventure Labs in 30 new Colorado counties and several in Nebraska. We now have 53/64 Colorado counties with only the NW corner left."
As for his geocaching history, Jim jumped on the game board in February 2001, less than a year after The "Original Stash Geocache" was placed. He found his first cache GC147 "Under the Boardwalk" in Missouri not too far from his current residence by chance, and he wasn't even the first to find but was the sixteenth. He didn't hit the ground running at the start of his caching career, with only two finds his first year, but if you look at his stats now, you'll see a diverse caching history throughout his 19,352 finds and 785 FTFs to date. Jim's completed every caching grid multiple times, has cached in 49 United States plus DC and in a few countries as well. Looks like a trip to Hawaii is next for Jim. His contribution to this game is awesome with 363 hides so far, as the 'bear' is awakened often at Queeny Park so his hide count is always increasing. Jim has also served SLAGA well, not only as a local hider, mentor, and events volunteer, but also served on the board as Treasurer from 2007 to 2009 and as Vice President from 2009 to 2011.
Jim said, "When I started this game, I borrowed a GPS from some friends and got a few caches before they took it away from me. It was an old Magellan and only went to two decimal places, so I got hung up on Super Bowl Stash from that problem. After I got my own GPS I really got into it. I cached with my two dogs, Charlie and Sophie who thought it was great fun. After a while I met Sarah (Crowesfeat30), and we started caching together and have been together for 20 years now. I've made so many great friends along the way and have visited some fantastic places. I sure didn't expect when I started this that it would become such a part of my life."
Celebrating in FALLing Leaves and Rain
TerriBikes
10/21/25 17:02
As the Autumn leaves fell to the ground, so did the raindrops on the cool October 18th SLAGA Fall Picnic day. However, COs StormRider22 and jray131 along with more than 50 SLAGA members braved the dampness to join together at this Community Celebration Event to enjoy each others' company, some good conversation and caching stories, and delicious food. Turtleladi1020nhubbs, the SLAGA grill masters for the picnic, had their work cut out for them trying to get the charcoal lit in the downpour at the beginning of the picnic, but thankfully the pop-up canopies and a reprieve from heavy rain made it possible for the brats, burgers, and dogs to be grilled to perfection. The other members rounded out the menu with shared salads, dishes, and more than enough desserts.
With the new board now in place, it was time to acknowledge those SLAGA premium members that have achieved significant milestones to date. At this picnic, every milestone from 100 finds to 25,000 finds had at least one member who received their commemorative coin.
100 Finds
theWifeof & Jramsay
500 Finds
GISToddT and DriverMom
1000 Finds
SugrSkulz
5000 Finds
3nina
10,000 Finds
BlueBeadMan & Aunt Dot
25,000Finds
GeoWench
Congratulations to the awesome cachers and their well-earned milestones awards! Whether it takes months or many years to reach any particular milestone, they are all grand achievements in this wonderful game of geocaching. For fun at this picnic, any attendee who had achieved 10,000 finds and earned their chair were invited to bring it for a group photo op. And wow did it turn out to be a fun memorable picture.
And mentioning this great game of geocaching, the cool rainy weather during the Fall Picnic didn't deter some picnic-going cachers from enjoying a walk along wet slippery trails in this nice park to earn a smiley or a few. Thanks to everyone for attending, especially on the cold wet picnic day, but geocachers (above all SLAGA cachers) are resilient, fun, and interesting folks who don't let a little rain spoil their chance to get together for an event and a smiley ?? !
Congratulations September ‘25 Winner
TerriBikes
10/14/25 13:41
Congratulations to SLAGA's September Adventure Awaits Challenge Winner Eunice Glover, aka Loonwoman! Eunice has participated in the monthly challenge for the past five months and qualified for her September win with these four mystery caches and one event cache:
Cache 1: GCB91DZ Music for Your Ears
Cache 2: GCB3FF2 Welcome to Neon Park
Cache 3: GCB7GNW Tombstone Tourist ALab Bonus
Cache 4: GCB80TB One in the Hole… at Black Forest County Park
Event: GCBC4ZZ SW StL Happy Hour Nearly Octoberfest Edition
Eunice actually started finding geocaches nearly 20 years ago when her friend and then coworker Blue Daisy told her there was a fun outdoor game she should try. And indeed she enjoyed looking for caches, but did not like sitting at the computer and logging them. After the two friends' work shifts changed, Eunice no longer had time off with her friend and only cached during their MOGA trips. Then fast forward to 2024, and Eunice retired and decided she wanted to get more exercise as well as spend time with friends, so she finally joined SLAGA and jump started her renewed geocaching hobby.
These days, Eunice gets out regularly with her caching friends Blue Daisy, Geo Conformity and Major134, and since she's joined SLAGA and is now logging her caches, her find count is rising rapidly. Eunice has found over 2400 geocache in 21 US states in every container size, and is expanding her geocache type finds now.
When interviewed, Eunice shared a scary caching memory of, "being on an edge of a drop-off and holding a sapling while grabbing a cache when (she) first started and was more fearless." She also shared a couple police encounters including one when she and her friend were, "at an event down at Cliff Cave Park and the Pacific Railroad police stopped us, Blue Daisy and I, and issued us a warning for being on railroad property."
Eunice enjoys going to MOGAs and GeoWoodstock, as well as geo-road trips with friends. She says she, "likes to discover new places, meet new folks, and see how people hide their caches that are different than those seen around here. It also allows (her) to pick up Earthcaches as well as more virtuals."
Eunice is a certainly a true geocacher now, going out caching weekly and finally logging her finds 20 years after being introduced to the game. She is an active member and wonderful addition to the SLAGA community and now the September Challenge winner too!
SLAGA On The Air!
TerriBikes
10/14/25 13:31
On September 25, 2025, SLAGA representatives John Layman and Nan Dabler were interviewed live on 'St. Louis on the Air' public radio station 90.7 KWMU. SLAGA member, Sara Christy had mentioned geocaching to a friend of hers who interns at the station, and he thought a piece on geocaching would be perfect for the show. He was right! John and Nan made SLAGA proud by describing the organization, explaining the game of geocaching, offering personal insight and experiences, and promoting CITOs as a way to "keep the game board clean." The infamous D5/T5 Mystery cache 'The Architect' (GC4CQ9V), by Forest-Ghost and Curlycue 109, was highlighted during the interview also.
The 20 min interview is definitely worth a listen, so use the link below and enjoy. Thanks to Sara for making this possible and to John and Nan for representing SLAGA so well.
Silver Anniversary for FTF
TerriBikes
9/20/25 13:06
In geo-language, cachers know that FTF stands for First-To-Find, however in SLAGA-land it is also known for Food Truck Friday events hosted by Robert Klemme, aka Geokid12. This past Friday was the Silver Anniversary, or 25th FTF event, held at 9 Mile Garden in Affton, MO
The 9 Mile Garden is "Affton's only outdoor event center and Missouri's first Food Truck Garden" (credit '9milegarden.com' website). It's a fun place for family and friends to gather and enjoy local food and drink, and sometimes live music or performances. Outdoor movies and other community events are also held there and notices posted on the Garden's Facebook page of upcoming events. Basically this was an ideal spot for a fun gathering and a geo-event, as Robert discovered a few years ago.
In April 2021, Geokid12 hosted the SLAGA Spring Picnic and chose the 9 Mile Garden as the location. There were 47 attendees at that picnic. And while this was a bit different venue then the typical park shelters where the picnics were usually held, it turned out to be wise decision. It wasn't an official FTF event, but it was the precurser to those fun events. With Robert living just a couple miles from the Garden, and enjoying the atmosphere and food truck availabilities, as well as opportunities to meet up with geocachers, this venue was an easy choice for launching his now infamous events. In April 2022 the very first FTF: Food Truck Friday (GC9QC4N) event was held, but being a cold damp day, the 13 attendees met inside the Garden's 'Canteen' center instead of outside, which is a plus for this outdoor venue.
It only took a couple of months for the word to spread of this unique event and venue. Robert reported that, "the highest attended FTF event was #3 (GC9TZ05), which was held on June 17th 2022, with 34 in attendance."
He added that, "Another notable FTF event was the one that wasn’t even held at 9 Mile Garden, FTF #8 on March 31st 2023, the first one of that year. It was moved to St Louis Bread Co at Grasso Plaza due to weather that was so bad that they actually closed 9 Mile Garden. Usually even if there is rain the Canteen is still open, but this was above and beyond. The 9 attendees who braved the weather were treated to a rainbow at the end of the event." While there are, on the average, 14 to 15 attendees at Robert's FTF events, the smallest group was 5 cachers who showed up on a cool day in April 2024 for FTF XVII.
FTF V: Food Truck Friday 5 FTF XXV: Silver Anniversary
As the months went by, Robert continued to host FTF events as the weather permitted, and this past Friday's event was the 25th, FTF XXV: Silver Anniversary (GCBC5J9). It also happened to be Oktoberfest celebration at the 9 Mile Garden, so FTF attendees not only enjoyed live music and food truck items, but there was beer tasting and craft tables to purchase unique items, like the Halloween earrings this reporter purchased. Twelve cachers attended this very lively event. This is a consistently enjoyable geocaching event and venue, and one worth attending at a future FTF. Because when asked if he would continue to host his FTF events, Robert said, "As long as the few faithful continue to show up, I'll continue hosting them. This is a fun location and being an Affton resident, it's great that I can help support by patronizing this local establishment, which is quickly becoming an Affton icon."
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Some Group Photos From FTF Events
SLAGA's Triple A Winner!
TerriBikes
9/9/25 13:17
August in SLAGA-Land brought us sunshine and heat with days as long as 14 hours, temperatures over 90*F for 11 days, and 0% precipitation recorded. But it also brought us our August Adventure Awaits Winner, Denise Muskopf, better known as 6dancer.
Denise has been caching exactly 16 years to the day that she was notified of her August challenge win! She started geocaching when her sister, Deborah, returned home from a Colorado visit and the two of them went on a picnic in Valmeyer, IL. Deborah had been caching for about 5 years by then, and as they were picnicking, she told Denise that there was a geocache under their table! Denise was amazed! The following day she found a cemetery cache and after that was hooked. She has since found 6850 geocaches to date, has cached as far north as Alaska and as far south as Argentina. She has cached across the Pacific ocean west in Hawaii and across the Atlantic ocean east in Germany. She's missing only one day to fill her calendar grid, so everyone wish her a Merry Christmas on December 25th with a reminder to go out and grab a cache that day! (HoHoHo)
But back to the summer heat and her August accomplishment. Denise endured the heat to complete her task of finding five different geocaching types with one event in the mix. These are her qualifying geocaches.
Cache 1: GC6QGW4 Wherigo - aLieNs
Cache 2: GC4MT9J Multi - Red Corvette
Cache 3: GCB9W73 Event - The Gateway to Finland
Cache 4: GCB7972 Traditional - LesMar's Little Library on Lansdowne
Cache 5: GCBATRM Mystery - DDH US # 35 - 100 Field Puzzles Challenge
When interviewed about why she chose to participate in this month's SLAGA's Adventure Awaits challenge, Denise said, "I chose to participate in this one because they were my recent finds, so the challenge was easy since I had the ones I needed to qualify. I'd previously sent in qualifying caches for maybe eight months."
A worst geocaching experience that Denise shared in the interview, was when she " got lost in the woods trying to find Misi-ziibi (GC8KRWQ) a D3/T4 in Cliff Cave Park. [She] was lost wandering for a good hour and finally prayed for help. About 5 minutes later, a young man stepped in the path. [She] asked if he knew the way out and he said sure. He was an Angel." That was brave (or maybe a little risky) of Denise to attempt a T4 with needed TOTT solo. Happily she made it out of the woods, but sadly she never got that smiley. Another geo-fear she shared is that she is a bit scared about going down steep hills, because falling is always on her mind.
Nevertheless, geocaching is Denise's favorite hobby! She goes out with her friends 3Nina and NEgirl every week. Her favorite geocache is one she owns and is in her yard, GC89GP7 "GNOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS." She also enjoys reading and playing games.
CONGRATULATIONS 6DANCER ON YOUR AUGUST CHALLENGE WIN!