Looking back on March 20, 2011 · Ten-year retrospective
There are certain numbers in geocaching that just seem important.
Your first find. Your hundredth. Your thousandth.
Of course, it's not really about the numbers.
At least that's what we geocachers like to tell ourselves.
But when that odometer finally rolls over to four digits, it's hard not to feel like you've accomplished something.
On March 20, 2011, I reached my 1,000th geocache find.
And thanks to five local geocachers who had a little surprise planned, that milestone turned into something much more memorable than simply watching the number on my profile change.
From One Lamp Post to One Thousand Finds
Less than two years earlier, on May 25, 2009, I'd found my first geocache.
It was a lamp-post cache.
Not exactly an epic wilderness expedition.
But apparently, it was enough to get me hooked.
What began as an interesting way to explore unfamiliar places quickly became a regular part of our family outings, weekends, and road trips.
Along the way, I'd discovered forest preserves, historical landmarks, scenic trails, and plenty of places I probably would never have visited otherwise.
I'd also discovered something equally important: the local geocaching community.
By early 2011, I had met other geocachers, attended events, and begun recognizing familiar usernames in logbooks.
And somewhere along the way, that find count had crept toward 1,000.
Little did I know some of my caching friends had something planned for the occasion.
A Surprise in Plainfield
Five local geocachers had gotten together to create a special cache in my honor.
mjholley, KINGEVO, djpd1023, alleslapp, and BRBTLawson.
The cache was appropriately named SPIERSON82'S 1000TH (GC2Q318) and hidden right here in Plainfield, Illinois.
They hadn't simply selected an existing cache and told me to make it my thousandth.
They had gone to the trouble of creating an entirely new hide to commemorate the occasion.
And not just any hide.
A sparkling silver ammunition can.
Now that's my kind of milestone.
Their cache description reflected on the adventures we'd already shared: walking trails, searching under bridges, climbing trees, sorting through rock piles, and even an underground adventure in Northbrook.
Apparently, we'd already gotten ourselves into a few interesting situations.
But the message behind the listing was what really mattered.
The cache wasn't just a congratulations for reaching 1,000 finds.
It was a celebration of the friendships and experiences that had gotten me there.
The Silver Ammo Can Tradition
For those unfamiliar with geocaching, an ammo can is a sturdy metal container originally designed to hold ammunition.
They're durable, weather-resistant, and excellent containers for traditional geocaches.
They're also my favorite kind of hide.
There's something satisfying about finding a proper ammo can rather than another tiny magnetic container tucked behind a sign.
But in the Chicagoland geocaching community, ammo cans also developed a special significance.
The cache listing credits Special Ed and Fallen Faery with starting the local commemorative-cache tradition that my friends were continuing.
My friends continued that tradition by placing a silver ammo can for my 1,000th find.
And this one wasn't subtle about whose milestone it celebrated. Right there on the silver ammo can were the words “SPIERSON82'S 1000TH.” No mistaking who was supposed to find this one.
After all, what better way to celebrate someone finding a thousand hidden containers than by hiding another one in their honor?
FTF at 10:22!
On March 20, 2011, we headed out for the milestone find.
LEGOexplorer’s log adds a detail that keeps me humble: he spotted Dad’s thousandth cache after I walked past it. So much for the experienced geocacher leading the way.
My original log records that I made the find at 10:22 a.m., earning the First to Find honor on my very own commemorative cache.
That's a pretty satisfying way to reach 1,000.
And, as luck would have it, we managed to complete the adventure before the rain arrived.
There was also a small detail in my log that I'd nearly forgotten.
Apparently, I decided an unnecessary creek crossing would improve the experience.
Nobody else seemed interested in joining me.
I suppose that was a reasonable decision on their part.
But then again, why take the easy route when you can turn a milestone into a little extra adventure?
Some things never change.
Five Friends and a Thousand Memories
In my original log, I thanked mjholley, KINGEVO, djpd1023, alleslapp, and BRBTLawson for placing the cache and joining me on the journey.
I also thanked my family for helping me find so many of those first thousand caches.
Because although my geocaching profile had one username attached to it, many of those adventures had been shared experiences.
The miles traveled, the places discovered, the searches that ended in success, and the occasional less-than-successful outings were all part of getting there.
But the memories belonged to everyone who'd shared the adventures.
And on that particular Sunday morning in Plainfield, a few friends made sure the occasion would be remembered.
A Thousand Finds Was Just the Beginning
The following weekend, we headed to MOGA ’11 (GC2EWFJ) for our first Mega-Event. Around the milestone gathering, somebody had mentioned MOGA to me. I had barely been aware that Mega-Events existed, but it sounded interesting enough to try.
More Than a Number
Ten years later, that first thousand might seem like a relatively small number compared with everything that followed.
But I wouldn't trade the experience.
Because there are milestones you remember for the achievement itself, and others you remember because of the people who helped make them special.
This was both.
I still appreciate the thought and effort that went into creating that commemorative cache.
A thousand finds took nearly two years. Making that milestone unforgettable took five good geocaching friends and one very thoughtful surprise.
Field Notes
- Adventure: March 20, 2011; Plainfield, Illinois
- Milestone cache: SPIERSON82’S 1000TH (GC2Q318)
- Milestone: my 1,000th find; FTF at 10:22 a.m., before the rain
- Organizers: mjholley, KINGEVO, djpd1023, alleslapp and BRBTLawson
- Original photographs: March 20, 2011; Steven Pierson trip archive
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