Geocaching trackables add another level of fun to the game! Regardless of the season, trackables are always a good idea. Trackables are geocaching game pieces owned by geocachers. Each trackable is etched with a unique tracking code and given a goal by its owner. The goal may be to travel to another country or to visit as many beaches as possible, the sky’s the limit, (literally)!

You can retrieve them, discover them, and even collect them! Trackables are placed in caches to be picked up by other geocachers, who help move them to their goals, but trackables are also popular at Events. If you find a trackable in a geocache, make it your mission to move the trackable along its way!

If you’re new to trackables or need a refresher, here is a guide to key trackable terms so that you know what to do the next time you come across a trackable in a cache. Please note that we understand the “next time” may be a while given the current state of the world. As always, please follow the guidelines from your regional health officials!

Trackable Glossary:

Retrieve or Grab

When you pick up a trackable to move it to another geocache, you need to log its movement on Geocaching.com or in the app. The two logging options that you have are “Retrieve it from [cache name]” and “Grab it.” If you took the trackable from the cache in which it is listed, choose to retrieve it. If you took the item from elsewhere, choose to grab it.

Discovered

This is a logging option for trackables that indicates you have seen the trackable, but have not moved it. At geocaching events, geocachers often “discover” the trackables in others’ collections.

Missing

If a trackable has been missing for some time, the trackable owner or the owner of the cache in which the trackable is listed can mark the item “missing.” This will remove it from the cache inventory and place the trackable in an “unknown location” so that others will know it is no longer in the cache.

Collectible

Trackable owners can choose to set their trackables as “Collectible” or “Not Collectible.” “Collectible” may mean that the owner has decided to keep it in their personal collection or, if you find it in a cache, that they are okay with you keeping the item and placing it in your own collection. “Not collectible” indicates that the item should continue to travel. The trackable’s page will state the owner’s preference. If the page indicates that the owner has not set their collectible preference, you should assume that the item is not collectible.

Right now though, the best option for many of us is to stay home. Try to use this time to log trackables you’ve been holding on to, or prepare new ones for a future journey!

What are your best tips for trackables?

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