Note that if you ever see an acronym that you don't know, just type geocaching followed by the acronym into Google. For example - geocaching TFTC
- Benchmark - A survey marker, often a small metal disk embedded in a sidewalk, that has had its location measured with incredible accuracy.
- Bison Tube - A small metal tube, usually with a key ring attached, often sold as pill containers. These are a very common type of container for Geocaches.
- CO - Cache Owner - The person who maintains a particular cache. Most of the time, this is the person who created the cache in the first place, but occasionally another cacher may adopt a cache when the original owner can no longer maintain it.
- Difficulty Rating - Caches are rated by their owners on a scale of 1 to 5, with 1 being something easy to find and 5 being something that only an experienced cacher with appropriate gear and tools should even bother to attempt. Coming up with a proper rating for your cache can involve a bit of educated guessing, but there are tools available online to help.
- DNF - Did not find - This means that you didn't find the cache. You have the option to log DNFs on the Geocaching web site, though many people choose not to. I log the DNFs when I think I did everything right and still can't find the cache. If I think I'm just not clever enough to find it, I don't log it. I'm not embarrassed or anything, I just want to ruminate on it for a while.
- FTF - First to Find - The first person to find a particular cache gets recognized at the FTF. Larger caches often have some sort of small prize for the person who gets FTF. Legend says that the first person who gets 5000 FTFs wins the Geocaching game. Seriously. (not serious)
- Geocoin - see Trackable
- Geopile - A little pile of rocks, sticks, or other debris used to hide a geocache that would otherwise be exposed to view. Once you get the hang of spotting geopiles, caching becomes quite a bit easier.
- Geosense - The knack for knowing where a cache is located in a given area. This skill develops with experience.
- GPS - Global Positioning System - Technically, the device that you use to find your position on the Earth is a GPS Receiver, but it's much easier to just call it a GPS. Most modern cell phones have built-in GPS features.
- GPX - The most common file format used by GPS receivers. You can download or create GPX files on your computer and copy them to your GPS, allowing you to have a current list of Geocaches on you at all times.
- GZ - Ground Zero - The location of the cache. GPS generally gets you within 30 feet of GZ.
- LPC - Lamp Post Cache - A small container of some sort hidden underneath the skirt of a lamp post. These tend to get a lot of hate from experienced cachers, though I don't mind them one bit.
- Muggle - A non-cacher. Taken from the Harry Potter series of books, this is actually a clever term in regards to caching, as there is a whole world of hides lurking in plain sight that people are not aware of. I refuse to use the term, as I like to keep my nerdy pursuits individually wrapped, metaphorically speaking.
- Multi Cache - A cache that requires visiting more than one spot to pick up the cache. Usually there is some sort of puzzle aspect to this type of hide as well. e.g. Go to Location X, read a number off of a nearby sign, and add that to XYZ to get the coordinates for Location Y. Et cetera, et cetera,
- Nano - A very tiny magnetic container, not much larger than a pencil eraser, containing a small cache log.
- PQ - Pocket Query - A tool on the Geocaching web site that allows you to create customized GPX files (see above) that you can then copy to your GPS. Pocket Queries also let you filter caches on the Geocaching map, allowing you to focus your cache hunting more effectively.
- Souvenir - A badge on your Geocaching profile web page. You obtain badges for each state that you have cached in, as well as for special days and events. e.g. I picked up the Second Annual International Geocaching Day souvenir, as well as the 12-12-12 souvenir simply for caching on particular dates.
- Terrain Rating - Caches are rated by their owners on a scale of 1 to 5, with 1 being something right off of a path, and 5 requiring climbing gear, scuba gear, or a helicopter to reach. Coming up with a proper rating for your cache can involve a bit of educated guessing, but there are tools available online to help.
- Trackable - A small tag, coin, or trinket with a tracking code on it. You are supposed to pick this item up, and then drop it off in a different cache. If you visit the Geocaching web site and log the code, you can see everywhere that the trackable has been logged visiting, though some trackables are not logged via the Geocaching website. I have found several trackables that have traveled over 10,000 miles. The most successful trackable that I own has traveled 60 miles. The second most successful trackable that I own has traveled exactly one mile. Yippee.
- Traditional Cache - The "standard" Geocache. A container hidden somewhere with a logbook or log sheet to sign. Larger containers also have room for trinkets to trade.
- TB - Travel Bug - A type of Trackable.
- Virtual Cache - A type of cache where there is no log to sign or items to trade. You simply visit the designated area and log that you were there. Many virtual caches require you to take a picture of the site and either post it or email it to the cache owner to prove that you were there. Virtual caches are no longer available as an option when you create a cache, as they have been moved to a different website.
