The Jasmer & Fizzy Grid Challenges

        

There are two geocaching achievements that I feel many avid geocachers strive to complete - the Jasmer Challenge and the Fizzy Challenge.

_________________________________________________________________________

The Jasmer Challenge is a geocaching achievement that requires finding at least one geocache hidden in every calendar month since the game began in May 2000.

Core Requirements -

The Grid: To complete the challenge, the geocacher must fill a "Jasmer Grid"—a table where rows are years and columns are months.

Continuous Pursuit: Because geocaching is ongoing, the challenge is "infinite." To maintain a completed status, you must find a new cache hidden in the current month every single month.

Jasmer Challenge Grid Example

The Origin: The challenge is named after geocacher jasmerb, who created the first official Jasmer Challenge cache (GC1GBC1) in California in 2008.

Why It Is Difficult -

The challenge becomes progressively harder due to the rarity of early caches: 

The "Oldies": Caches from the year 2000 are extremely rare. There are fewer than 120 caches from that entire year still active worldwide.

August 2000 Bottleneck: This is famously the hardest month to fill. Only four active caches from August 2000 remain in the world: three in the USA (Utah, Georgia, Michigan) and one in Sweden.

GC3B - Potter's Pond (Utah)
GC36 - Geocache 612 (Michagan)
GC21 - Lake Lanier (Georgia)
GC4D - Match Stash (Stockholm, Sweden)

Geocaching.com Blog Article

My Jamser Challenge -

As I am one who likes to accept and complete a challenge, I also like to move on from it once completed. Therefore, I have decided that to complete the Jasmer Challenge, I will complete the grid as presented on the original Mystery Cache listing page, which covers June 2000 - December 2008, for a total of 104 months.

In addition to completing the (06/2000-12/2008) Jasmer Grid, I have also emplaced a final requirement of completing the challenge by finding The Jasmer Challenge geocache in Mountain View, CA (between San Francisco and San Jose).

Location of GC1GBC1 - The Jasmer Challenge

My Current Challenge Status:

2000 - Jun, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec
2001 - Jan, May
2002 -
2003 - 
2004 - Feb
2005 -
2006 - Jan
2007 -
2008 -

GC1GBC1 The Jasmer Challenge - unfound

_________________________________________________________________________

The Fizzy Challenge, also known as the 81 Grid or Well-Rounded Cacher challenge, is another popular geocaching milestone that requires finding at least one geocache for every possible Difficulty and Terrain (D/T) combination, as well as finding at least one of each type of the following geocaches - EarthCache, Event Cache, Letterbox Hybrid, CITO Event, Multi Cache, Traditional Cache, Unknown Cache, Virtual Cache, and Webcam Cache (APE and MEGA caches were excluded because they are "few and far between" and Locationless Caches have been phased out).

Key Components -

The Grid: Every geocache is rated on a 1–5 scale for both Difficulty (how hard it is to find/solve) and Terrain (how physically challenging it is to reach). Using 0.5 increments, there are 81 total combinations (e.g., 1/1, 1.5/3, 5/5).

The Goal: To "fill the grid," a geocacher must log a find for at least one geocache in each of the 81 unique D/T slots.

The Origin: The challenge was named in honor of geocacher FizzyMagic, who created a statistics program that first generated the D/T matrix. The first actual challenge cache, Well Rounded Cacher (The Fizzy Challenge) (GC11E8N) was placed in California by the user Kealia.

Tracking Progress: Geocachers typically track their grid progress using the official Statistics tab on Geocaching.com (for Premium members) or third-party tools like Project-GC, which provides automated "challenge checkers" to verify qualifications. 

Fizzy Grid Example

Location of GC11E8N Well Rounded Cacher (The Fizzy Challenge)

My Fizzy Grid Challenge -

This challenge is a bit more straight-forward, as it is very possible to find all 81 D/T combinations and all 9 geocache types.

Like the Jasmer Challenge, in addition to completing the D/T Grid and geocache type finds, I have also emplaced a final requirement of completing the challenge by finding the Well Rounded Cacher (The Fizzy Challenge) geocache in Boulder Creek, CA (between San Jose and Santa Cruz).

Geocaching.com Blog Article

My Current Challenge Status:

61 of 81 - Missing (D/T):
1/4.5, 1/5
1.5/4
2/5
2.5/4, 2.5/4.5, 2.5/5
3/4.5, 3/5
3.5/4.5, 3.5/5
4/3, 4/3.5, 4/5
4.5/3.5, 4.5/4.5
5/1.5, 5/3, 5/3.5, 5/4

Type - CITO Event

NOTE: This geocache is a Premium Member only cache, and as of 21 Aug 2020 has been disabled due to the container having been located in the heart of the CZU Lightning Complex Fire. Currently, Geocaching HQ has asked volunteer reviews to check in peridoically for updates and the last entry from the Cache Owner stated that the area still hadn't been opened to non-residents of the area (March 2025), so the geocaching community waits for the geocache to be enabled again.

Earthcaching

EarthCaches are a program of the Geological Society of America (GSA) in partnership with Geocaching.com, and other partners around the world.

Intended to provide geocachers an educational lesson and experience in geology, Earthcaches are a great alternative to finding physical containers, especially in areas where they are not allowed, such as National Parks.

On May 15, 2026 I achieved the level of Platinum EarthCache Master!!

EarthCache Master Awards provide recognition for visiting and developing EarthCaches. There are four EarthCache Master Award levels:

________________________________________________________________

Bronze EarthCache Master

Visit and log three (3) or more EarthCaches in two (2) or more states/provinces/ countries.

Visited & Logged

1. GC1Q5ZW Bubblicious - Pennsylvania 07/22/08
2. GC1G3TF The Continental Divide - Montana 11/23/08
3. GC14ZQY Yellowstone Talus Slope - Wyoming 07/16/09

States/Provinces/Countries

1. Pennsylvania
2. Montana
3. Wyoming

________________________________________________________________

          Silver EarthCache Master

               

Visit and log six (6) or more EarthCaches in three (3) or more states/ provinces/ countries and have developed one (1) or more EarthCaches.

Visited & Logged:

1. GC14G6A Yellowstone Caldera at Madison Junction - Wyoming 07/16/09
2. GC14ZQZ Mammoth Hot Springs - Wyoming 07/16/09
3. GC1H7AW Big Springs - Idaho 07/16/09
4. GC1H93P Rouring Mountain of Yellowstone - Wyoming 07/16/09
5. GC1D9RQ Way Up On the Great Divide - Idaho - Idaho 07/16/09
6. GC1JY47 Rainbow's End: Grand Prismatic Spring - Wyoming 07/16/09
7. GC1E2ZT The 1959 Earthquake - Montana 07/16/09
8. GC10HZW Old Faithful Geyser at Yellowstone National Park - Wyoming 07/16/09

States/Provinces/Countries:

1. Wyoming
2. Idaho
3. Montana

Developed:

1. GC1C6E2 Ringing Rocks - Montana 05/14/08 

________________________________________________________________

Gold EarthCache Master

Visit and log twelve (12) or more EarthCaches in four (4) or more states/ provinces/ countries and have developed two (2) or more EarthCaches.

Visited & Logged:

1. GC1YF6T Saint Anthony Falls - Minnesota 11/05/09
2. GCQV4P South Mountain Metamorphic Core Complex - Arizona 02/15/10
3. GC24TT3 Hey Look a Wall - Montana 05/10/10
4. GC18FEW Castle Mountain Fault - Houston, Alaska - Alaska 05/18/10
5. GC1FY8P Gros Ventre Landslide - Wyoming 05/25/10
6. GC1D3B9 Grand Teton - Wyoming 05/25/10
7. GC2BQCV Elkhorn Mountain Volcanoes - Montana 08/07/10
8. GC23PM1 The Land Before Time - Colorado 08/18/10
9. GC23F6P Red Rocks Unconformity Earthcache - Colorado 08/18/10
10. GC34DDD Souvenirs of the Ice Ages - Montana 05/07/11
11. GC1BGAJ Glacial Lake Missoula: Hellgate Canyon - Montana 05/07/11
12. GC2CTGR Tower Rock State Park Earthcache - Montana 06/18/11

States/Provinces/Countries:

1. Minnesota
2. Arizona
3. Montana
4. Alaska
5. Wyoming
6. Colorado

Developed:

1. GC1JPJH Helena Has Its Faults - Montana 12/06/08 (adopted by urd1_eeyore)
2. GC24TAQ Phoenix Zoo - Arizona Trail: A Geology Lesson - Arizona 03/01/10

________________________________________________________________

Platinum EarthCache Master

Visit and log twenty (20) or more EarthCaches in five (5) or more states/ provinces/ countries and have developed three (3) or more EarthCaches.

Visited & Logged:

1. GC2X6XE Adel Mountain Volcanics - Montana 06/18/11
2. GC2ZP1Z Dorothy's Popcorn - Bentonite EarthCache - Alberta, Canada 07/15/11
3. GC1H9ZG Star Coal Mine Earthcache - Alberta, Canada 07/15/11
4. GC2ZP21 Rosedale Burnt Shale EarthCache - Alberta, Canada 07/17/11
5. GC2ZP1X Atlas Coal Mine EarthCache - Alberta, Canada -7/17/11
6. GC2BN03 Dinosaur Ridge - Ripple Marks - Colorado 09/20/11
7. GC2BKPA Dino Egg or Alien Artifact? - Colorado 09/20/11
8. GCMQGG Dinosaur Ridge EarthCache - Colorado 09/20/11
9. GC2BZ3D Jefferson River Canyon - Montana 10/18/11
10. GC1GJ7E Garden of the Gods - Sentinel Rock - Colorado 10/20/12
11. GC1GJ7K Garden of the Gods - The Three Graces - Colorado 10/20/12
12. GC2176K 7-Minute Spring (of Manitou Springs) - Colorado 10/20/12
13. GCND0E Garden of the Gods Earthcache - Colorado 10/20/12
14. GC2QQH4 The Love Struck Camels - Colorado 10/20/12
15. GC2QQGY The Amazing Balanced Rock - Colorado 10/20/12
16. GC3P9RH Pikes Peak Granite - Colorado 10/21/12
17. GC1PPXP Lyons Sandstone Tafoni - Colorado 10/22/12
18. GC1PQTH More Fins Than a School of Fish! - Colorado 10/23/12
19. GC1PPXV Soil Formation in Red Rock Canyon Open Space - Colorado 10/23/12
20. GC1FG53 The Palisades of Cimarron Canyon Earthcache - New Mexico 10/25/12
21. GC331A3 Excelsior Geyser Crater - Wyoming 05/31/15

States/Provinces/Countries:

1. Montana
2. Alberta
3. Colorado
4. New Mexico
5. Wyoming

Developed:

1. GC2R3NE Dakota Ridge Flatirons - Colorado 02/27/12
2. GCAWJ75 Crystal Park - Montana 08/14/2024
3. GCBQ1GM Tizer Dolmen - Montana 05/15/2026

Why I Almost Walked Away from Geocaching

We’ve all been there—that moment when a hobby you love starts to loose the excitement it once held for you, when you feel it become more like a chore than a passion. For me, that "breaking point" happened between 2012 and 2017 while I was temporarily living in Colorado. I came dangerously close to hanging up my GPS for good. After doing some research and looking back at the situation, I can see now that it wasn't just one factor; it was a perfect storm of quality decay, extreme saturation, and SmartPhone apps that nearly served as the "nail-in-the-coffin" to my geocaching days.

1. The Quality Crisis: When Caches Become Trash

The most immediate red flag was the steep decline in cache quality. In and around the Denver Metro area, I watched the standard of hides go from mediocre to poor to practically non-existent.

Instead of durable, weather-tight canisters, I was frequently encountering:

• Ziploc bags tucked under rocks.
• Glass jars (a safety hazard).
• Reused peanut butter containers (some still featuring food residue).
• Thin plastic food clamshells that deteriorated in even the most modest of weather.

The result? Finding a container usually meant uncovering a soggy, unsignable logsheet mixed with mud and bugs. It felt less like a treasure hunt and more like digging through a stranger’s recycled trash in a strip mall parking lot.

2. The Density Dilemma: Saturation Over Spirit

Denver covers approximately 8,405 square miles, and during this period, it felt like every single inch was being exploited. Maps were cluttered with icons, but the locations lacked any inspiration. Caches were being squeezed into every possible space that the 528-foot minimum requirement would allow—including private land, cemeteries, and areas that featured prominent "No Tresspassing" signs.

To me, one of the basic tenents of geocaching is to take people to interesting locations. What I was experiencing instead was a community seemingly obsessed with filling the map, often with complete disregard for the spirit of the game.

Case Study: The 1,005-Cache GeoArt "Disaster"

On May 1, 2014, the Geocaching Colorado (GCCO) group launched what they claimed was "the largest GeoArt in this beautiul state!" Though the cache listing page stated that these 1,005 geocaches, which covered a 60x60-mile area, "is not a "power trail," I would have to disagree.

The ColoradoGeoArt consists of 1,005 caches and is just over 60x60 miles!!!

This "not a power-trail" GeoArt was a collective effort of the GCCO Board, at least 14 members, and unsaid number of volunteers who helped place the geocaches. Unforetunately, from the time these caches were placed, the "Cache Owners," ColoradoGeoArt, didn't even intend to maintain them themselves.

Text from every cache page listing of the series: 

"Sections will be "adopted" for geocachers to help maintain this great endeavor. The caches will remain under the same account, but credit will be added to individual cache pages for those who are helping maintain them."

The Reviewers who allowed this geoart to be placed were AlpineReviewer and HighCountryAdmin.

On 18 May 2015, ColoradoGeoArt Temporarily Disabled all of the geocaches in this GeoArt and posted the following:

"Regrettably the Geocaching Colorado Board has decided it is time to archive the Colorado GeoArt. When it first published, we were able to work with locals to appease their concerns. We explained that the icons on the map were not where the caches were and all physical placements were on public roads. This was good enough for most of them. When that explanation didn’t satisfy others, we moved the finals elsewhere further from their lands. After we did all this; all was well. People were doing the GeoArt and having fun and good experiences. Those times have passed…

This year there have been too many negative instances that are progressively getting worse. We have to have safety be the number one concern and cannot, in good conscience, send people out there when death threats are being made. Even though the containers are on public roads, and death threats are illegal, it is not worth the risk.

We thank all those who put in so many hours to make this artwork, and those who have put in so much work in finding these caches. We have enjoyed your stories and photos. We appreciate the help of all those who assisted with maintenance. Between rains, winds, critters, and angry muggles; it has been a hefty task.

We realize there are cachers who have solved the puzzles, and not made it out to the art yet. We also understand there are those who have made travel arrangements already. We are truly sorry, but your safety is our number one priority. We know how frustrating this decision is for everyone involved. If you are already coming out, we have some great recommendations for alternative caching goals (that will be fun and no risk to you): South Park Geotour, Across the Divide Geotour, and the Denver Public Library Series (there is a cache in all 26 libraries in Denver). There are also many great caches spread throughout the area. Find us on Geocaching Colorado’s Facebook page for more suggestions if you’d like.

CoinsAndPins also has Colorado GeoArt Geocoins, go there to grab your piece of history before they are gone. We are more than happy to help you find alternatives on your trip to Colorado. While it lasted, it was great for the local economy via food, lodging and fuel. Many of the locals realized this and welcomed it. Thanks for playing, and sorry the voices of the few ruin it for the many.

~ Colorado GeoArt Team"

While there isn't any more information on the cache page listing (I assume there was more on the GCCO FaceBook page), there was a discussion on the Geocaching.com Forums. It is clear by the discussion that many people had differing opinions about this giant GeoArt.

After a year, with an average of only about 125 finds each, the 1,005 geocaches which conprised this GeoArt were archived with the following text:

"This is a sad log, but it must be done...

We would like the geocaching community to know that we did not take this decision lightly. This was based on experiences throughout the entire life of the artwork, private emails with the locals, and cache logs: both good and bad. We understand that many folks had solved the puzzles, made plans, bought plane tickets, made reservations, etc. in order to find this giant GeoArt. However, we have to take the geocaching experience and the safety of the finders into consideration - and we feel that the experiences posted in the logs and the threats made by locals via email and onsite were not only unacceptable, but are also a poor example of what Geocaching in Colorado has to offer.

We have several teams going out over the next few weeks to pick up all of the caches so we leave this area clean. They will be allowed to log the artwork as they do so, but we wanted to get the archivals done to prevent any more attempts on it. Their cars will be labeled as clean-up crews for safety.

ALL trackables found in this process will be picked up and moved, no TB left behind :)

Again, Colorado has some great caching opportunities. If you missed the art, we still have two geotours, the largest library series (that we know of), and other smaller artworks throughout the state. Find us on Facebook for more suggestions, you will not be disappointed :) Thanks to GSAK for making archiving over 1,000 caches just a few clicks.

We look forward to continue doing great things in the State of Colorado and thank you all for playing! I will check on the ColoradoGeoArt account for messages for a little bit, then radio silence."

Over the next few weeks volunteer geocachers went out and collected as many of the geocaches as possible, putting to end this massive GeoArt.

This isn't to say that I don't appreciate GeoArt. I think there is a place for it, and within reason, but 1,005 geocaches isn't GeoArt it is a mass-saturation.

Here is the link to the first geocache in this "series," GC5280D GCCO GeoArt #0001.

Who, or What is to Blame?

Why did this happen? Were geocachers in Colorado really as bad as they appeared to be? In a way, yes, in my opinion they were. But looking at the greater situation that was affecting the entire geocaching community I now understand that what really caused this period of "garbage caching" was the "mobile shift." In an effort to expand their business, and the game, Geocaching HQ created its own monster.

Between 2013 and 2017 the change in the way people accessed the geocaching.com website changed forever how users would geocache.

In the early days of geocaching (2000-2010), the average cost of purcashing a GPSr was around $250 USD. This was a major investment for the average outdoor enthusist whose primary use was for only geocaching. In 2008, Geocaching HQ released the $9.99 "Classic" geocaching app for cell phones because having a smart phone was becoming much more common. But at the time, this was the most expensive app available to download; the majority of apps costing users $.99 or $1.99. While making the geocaching database more accessible, this pricetag acted as another barrier to entry that kept the game fairly specialized. 

In 2013, however, the "Geocaching Intro" app was released for free. This immediately lowered the barrier to entry and opened the gateway to geocaching to basically every smartphone owner, leading to a surge in casual registrations. With the restrictions of this new "Intro" app, new users were only able to find a handful of low Difficutly/Terrain geocaches in the immediate area of thier location. This "instant success" led many very inexperienced users, I believe, to go out and hide thier own geocaches. The numbers support this theory.

It took nearly a decade (May 1, 2000 to March 8, 2010) for the first 1 million geocaches to be hidden worldwide.

Between February 26, 2013 (when the "Geocaching Intro" app was released) and April 2017 (when this app stopped being supported due to the "Official Geocaching" app being released), only four years later, 2 million additional geocaches were placed, bringing the total worldwide count of active geocaches to 3 million.

In comparison, the current number of active worldwide geocaches (May 2026) is approximately 3.6 million, which is an increase of only 600,000 over nearly a decade. (And this includes the second surge of geocaching during the 2020-2021 pandemic!)

The 10.2% growth spurt between 2013 and 2017 was obviously the most aggressive in the game’s history. By removing the inital entry "paywall," the activity gained millions of users, but it lost the quality control that came with a more dedicated, veteran player base.

But it wasn't just about the number of geocaches being placed, it was the number of users registering with geocaching.com user accounts.

Estimates from 2013 suggest that Geocaching.com hosted rougly 800,000 active accounts (defined as having logged at least one cache that year). By the time the apps were consolidated in 2016-2017, the platform was supporting "million of geocache enthusiats" through the new mobile interface.

By 2018, total registered accounts reached 3.1 million, showing that while "active" users remain in low millions, the overall registery grew significantly during the smartphone boom of the mid-2010's.

My personal stats speak loudly to how I felt about what was happening to geocaching.

Between 2007 and 2012 I had found 995 geocaches.

In 2013 I found 63 geocaches, followed by a general decline in numbers for the next several years: 37, 49, 43, 22, 0, and 2 by 2019. 

Ironically, in 2020 and 2021, when the world was reeling from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, I found 0 geocaches. While that's a different blog post, it's worth looking at because this short era also had a significant impact on the number of geocache user accounts, but not geocaches.

The Pandemic of 2020-2021

The 2020 pandemic acted as a powerful "re-ignition" switch for Geocaching. After a short period of slow decline in the late 2010s, (post 2017) the unique requirements of social distancing turned the game into a premier outdoor activity for a world cooped up indoors.

According to Geocaching HQ, 2020 and 2021 were the two best years for user growth in the entire history of the game. As indoor entertainment became inaccessible, millions of new players turned to geocaching as a safe, socially distanced way to get outside.

Contrary to expectations that lockdowns would stop play, overall activity actually saw a significant lift:

• Reversing the Decline: In the US, geocaching statistics in 2020 reversed a 5-year downward trend, showing a slight year-over-year increase in activity despite the global crisis.
• New Player Surge: By 2021, over 2 million geocachers logged at least one find, a notable jump from pre-pandemic levels.
• The "Intro" Successor: The modern mobile app became the primary tool for this new wave, with families using it as a "pandemic preoccupation" to explore local nature and parks safely.

The pandemic fundamentally changed how people played the game and how Geocaching HQ marketed it:

• Local Exploration: Travel restrictions forced players to focus on their immediate neighborhoods and local rural areas rather than "power trails" or international cache hunting.
• Safety Concerns: At the start of lockdowns (March/April 2020), trackable activity—items meant to move from hand to hand—saw a sharp decline as players worried about surface transmission.
• Digital Evolution: To keep the community engaged when physical contact was limited, Geocaching HQ pushed Adventure Labs (virtual, non-container-based hunts), which saw explosive growth and now account for over 83,000 active adventures as of 2024.

Looking at the data provided by Geocaching.com, from 2020 to 2026, the pandemic provided a sustained "tail" for the game:

• Registry Milestones: Total registered accounts climbed toward 41 million, fueled by the 2020-2021 surge.
• Post-Pandemic Stability: While the frantic growth of 2021 has leveled off, active user numbers have remained stable at higher-than-pre-2020 levels, but remain steady at around 1.8 million active players consistently logging finds annually through 2024.

Returning to the Game

Ironically, it wasn't until 2022, and several years after returning to Montana that I logged my next geocache find, with my numbers increasing steadily each year since to where I am now finding about the same number of geocaches annually as I did pre-2013 (average of ~150).

I truly hope that the teenage years of geocaching - when it was awkward, transitional, explosive, out-of-control, and know-it-all, was truly just a "phase." It is apparent that had the cache-plosion of the mid-20-teens not occured, the game would have most likely continued to see a moderate growth of both players and geocaches, which is normal, but to be honest I will aways miss the days when the number of new geocaches appearing in my state numbered only in the dozens per month, and the quality of those were high.

I miss the days when it was possible to still find an active Geocoin or Travel Bug in a geocache and be thrilled to see you were able to move it along to its goal, or to wait until the weekend to go after a First-to-Find because a geocache published during the middle of the week was necessarily unable to be found due to work and other life committments. 

In the end, of course, I am glad I stuck with geocaching because of my love for the activity. It has taken me to places around the world, and in my own hometown, that I would have never been to had it not been for tracking down a container with a logsheet. And in some ways I am glad to have experienced the awful years between 2013 and 2017 just so I can look back and appreciate what geocaching was, and is again. But, wow, that was not pleasant, and like I said at the beginning, it was almost enough to get me to stop geocaching forever.