Caching Name: G’dayCutter
Real Name: Pat Hackett
1. How did you become involved in geocaching?
I was walking my dogs in White Clay State Park and came across a mother and son poring over some paper. Thinking they might be lost I asked if I could help. They told me that during the summer when school is out they do Letterboxing. I asked what that was and they gave me the website. I became intrigued that there were things hidden in the woods for people to find. My son then said “If you like that, then you would probably like geocaching.” Never were words so fateful. I laugh when I remember I did all my caching for one year with just the auto Garmin which was bulky and often ran the batteries down before I reached the cache area.
2. How did you choose your caching name?
G’Day was a black and white border collie and Cutter was a Pembroke Welsh Corgi. They came with me on almost all my early caching trips. They are both gone now but I am happy to have an awesome pathtag depicting their faces thanks to my husband who designed it for my last birthday.
3. What type of cache do you prefer seeking – traditional, multi, and puzzle, virtual?
I prefer traditional but learn so much from virtual and earth caches that I will include them in a run if there are any nearby. .
4. Which caches were the most challenging, either physically/mentally?
I keep plugging away at puzzle caches and will ask the CO for help whenever I get stuck. They are my nemesis since now more and more of my unfound caches are puzzle. My map is becoming filled with those :( blue question marks.
Since I am on the short side, physically, caches that are hidden high up present challenges for me as well.
5. What are your current geocaching goals?
I remember when I first started caching, I ran into MikeOtt on a trail and he asked
that exact same question. At that time, I had no goals except to find a cache every
now and then while out on a walk with the dogs. I am not much into numbers but every now and then a challenge comes up and I try to find a way to do that, like the Centum challenge.
6. Where have you always wanted to go caching but haven’t?
I would love to get a cache in all fifty states. This will be hard since my husband is not a cacher ( but is supportive.) Whenever we travel I try to get at least one cache if it is a new state or even country. This past spring I was thrilled to get a large number of caches in the UK.
7. What is your most memorable caching experience?
Well I will never forget finding my very first cache, Dam Trolls Could Have Lived Here, GLIZDZTY. I was with my husband, sister and three dogs on that walk, and actually my sister found the cache but we had a lot of fun. That was November 2008. I have always been inspired by other cachers who do very creative things with their caches. I will not name names because I may leave someone out but high on my list of creative hides are the caches of the “Gadget Trail” in West Virginia.
8. What do you like about geocaching?
I love finding those little parks nobody knows about. Caching has taken me to breathtaking views, serene ponds, stunning overlooks, and even clever hides in very urban places. What is love most is finding a way to put out a cache of my own that no one has ever done before. I like finding things left as trash and then turning it into a cache. I like to put out caches that will make people smile.
Most of my caching friends know that if there is a geotrail with a coin at the end, off I go.
9. Do you have some favorite caches in the area?
If you have ever done it, who could ever forget “Your Key to Cache”- GC3DYYT. Each cache of the “Hobbit” and “LOTR” series was also clever and different.
10. Do you have any other hobbies or interests?
I have two new dogs now that are in training to become agility dogs. My last two were agility champions so I have great hopes for my new pups. In addition, I love to study native plants and wildlife. I am always stopping to admire a rare plant I may find in the woods. Most people do not realize we have native orchids in the woods here. I have spent many years planting rare and native plants in my own yard and now have a certified “Backyard Wildlife Habitat” awarded to me by the National Wildlife Federation.
