Challenge cache

What is it?

A challenge cache is a cache that requires the player to fulfill a geocaching goal before they are allowed to log the cache as found. Challenge caches have to be mystery caches and have the challenge attribute, they also must have the word Challenge in the cache name. Per the guidelines every challenge cache published after April 21, 2015 has to have a challenge checker.

More information about challenge caches can be found in the challenge cache guidelines.

Challenge caches at Project-GC

By default, all geocaches with the Challenge-attribute will be considered as challenge caches. However, an attribute could be placed on a non-challenge cache by accident or with malicious intent to "improve" the statistics. A cache owner could also forget to add said attribute to a challenge cache. The reviewer should review for incorrect use of the challenge attribute but they might miss this during review or the cache owner might add or remove the attribute after the cache is published.

To solve this problem Project-GC uses a list of Challenge exceptions to make sure that the statistics regarding Challenge caches is as correct as possible. Project-GC also has a system for disabling the challenge checker if the cache lacks the Challenge-attribute.

Related tools

Challenge checkers are the main Project-GC tool related to challenge caches.

The Map of challenge caches is a tool where users with a paid membership can show challenge caches on a map with different filtering options.

Related statistics

Top Found Challenges is a top list of the number of challenge caches users has found.

The Achiever in BadgeGen is awarded based on number of challenge caches found.

See also

Challenge exceptions for caches that are incorrectly showing as challenges at Project-GC.