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Letterbox Hybrids
Board: Geocaching and Other Stashing Games
Nov 2, 2017 9:20am
Thread (disabled) Board
I've heard of letterbox hybrid boxes through social media so I created a geocaching account. I've searched but can't find anything on the website about the hybrids. Is there a way to exclusively see the hybrid caches? I've found some geocaches, but definitely enjoy stamping more so would prefer to stick to finding stamps.
Re: Letterbox Hybrids
Board: Geocaching and Other Stashing Games
Reply to: #953369 by Mountain Acres
Nov 2, 2017 10:17am
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Hi Mountain Acres,

I recently had a letterbox hybrid cache approved on the geocaching website (The Womble Homesite in Apex, NC).

Here is a link from the Help Center on the geocaching website:

https://www.geocaching.com/help/index.php?pg=kb.chapter&id=127&pgid=822

I believe there is a way to filter your searches to find/list letterbox hybrids only. Be warned though that from reading the Geocaching.com forum discussions on letterbox hybrids, that some of the letterbox hybrids have had the stamps accidentally taken as SWAG. So please read the logs and see if everything is intact before venturing out to look for them. Also different areas will have more letterbox hybrids than others.

AQ email or PM on the Geocache website if you have any questions or need help. Good luck.

Take care,

Outdoorsoccer
Re: Letterbox Hybrids
Board: Geocaching and Other Stashing Games
Reply to: #953369 by Mountain Acres
Nov 2, 2017 6:49pm
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I have one. It's quite popular with geocachers and Letterboxers alike.

One of the tenents of geocaching is that you must be able to use a GPS unit to find the hide. The keep letterboxers from just going to the coordinates to find the box I used offset coordinates. Take a look:
https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC6MH0N_red-queen-gambit-letterbox-hybrid?guid=4e1e9ddc-a675-4d85-9c0c-b95f694e865b

I'll also be available for help if you need it.
Re: Letterbox Hybrids
Board: Geocaching and Other Stashing Games
Reply to: #953369 by Mountain Acres
Nov 2, 2017 7:42pm
Thread (disabled) Board
I've found some geocaches, but definitely enjoy stamping more so would prefer to stick to finding stamps.

Don't get your hopes up. Most of the letterbox hybrids that I've founds are just a traditional cache (a container at the posted coordinates) with a small dollar-store stamp. Occasionally the stamp fits the cache theme, but usually it's just some random stamp.

I own two LBH caches. Both have hand-carved stamps. And both give the seeker the option of following clues (straightforward clues, the kind common to letterboxing - find this, proceed to that, count 20 paces - easy stuff) OR multiple waypoint projections (to meet the GPS use requirements). based on the comments, I am surprised how many cachers choose the more onerous waypoint projects over following the straightforward clues. And how very few ever say anything about the stamps (and because the stamp is inside a separate container inside the geocache, I suspect most geocachers don't even bother to look at it).

77 finds, only 4 of those logs say anything about the stamp / stamping
https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC5TBE9_hamilton-scourge-archaeological-treasure-hunt?guid=6d469d38-6113-4aed-a637-f6e8d608459d

29 finds, and only one mentions the stamp
https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC6EAME_hunting-for-the-cache-in-hunter-estates-park?guid=5722e503-2b7f-4c67-903b-7fb37ceb5a5f

As far as filtering your search for just letterbox hybrids, I believe you will need to pay for a premium membership first.
Re: Letterbox Hybrids
Board: Geocaching and Other Stashing Games
Reply to: #953385 by Bon Echo
Nov 2, 2017 8:12pm
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As far as filtering your search for just letterbox hybrids, I believe you will need to pay for a premium membership first.

I think that this is true, but I have a premium membership so I can't check. When you bring up a map of geocaches in the area I think that everyone can see the icons indicating the type of cache. The letterboxes have an icon like an envelope.

Most of the letterbox hybrids that I've founds are just a traditional cache (a container at the posted coordinates) with a small dollar-store stamp.

This is what I've found out too. There is only one other geocacher in this area who uses hand-carved stamps because his mother is a letterboxer and carves them. All of the letterbox hybrids (except one) that I've planted are also listed here and have hand-carved stamps.

You could start planting letterbox hybrids in your area using hand-carved stamps. Perhaps you could recruit some geocachers to letterboxing.
Re: Letterbox Hybrids
Board: Geocaching and Other Stashing Games
Reply to: #953386 by Oberon_Kenobi
Nov 9, 2017 10:31am
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Maybe it's something I won't worry about then. I know of a geocacher in NY that has some incredible hand carved stamps that she has as geocaches. If I ever go up there I'll look in to it more to find them.
Re: Letterbox Hybrids
Board: Geocaching and Other Stashing Games
Reply to: #953575 by Mountain Acres
Nov 10, 2017 3:54am
Thread (disabled) Board
I think it depends on what kind of experience you are looking for when going out to look for LBHs. If you are just looking for a hand-carved stamps you could always read the LBH description and see if a hand-carved stamp was initially included then read the logs to see if the stamp is still there. If so then venture out to look for it. If you are headed out to explore an area where there happens to be a LBH, I would give it a shot regardless of the type of stamp inside. You might find a new and interesting place where the LBH is planted. I just recently found there is an NC LBH challenge (need to find 42 LBHs to qualify) nearby my area. One day I may try and complete the challenge and so I'll look for the LBHs with and without hand-carved stamps. It is one of the less onerous challenges I have come across in my short geocaching experiences.

Keep us posted on how your search goes. Good Luck.

Outdoorsoccer