Featured Cacher

Featured Cacher Interview: Butcher of Butcherandswimmer

How long have you been geocaching? I joined in May 2003 but found my first cache July 21, 2003.

How did you end up getting into this wacky hobby? My sister-in-law and her husband and two kids (Team Wierdwonz) came to visit us from California. Team Wierdwonz had been caching in California and said it was great fun. They brought supplies to make our first cache (Christian Pond Cache) GCGGYW They also brought several travel bugs to get the cache started. Centris was FTF

How did you come up with your geocaching handle? I was a butcher at Byerlys and my wife liked swimming.

How did you find your first Geocache, and which one was it? I had a Garmin 12 for fishing and used it to find “Veterans Park” by Bob the Hiker now adopted by TECGeo Jim.

Who usually goes with you when you go caching? Originally it was my wife “swimmer” but too much bush wacking, poison ivy and wood ticks for her liking. So, I now go by myself or with Randy Roehl (maznroll), Patrick (Two of Hearts), my grandson Connor (Con10) and the WNC crew.

What town/areas have you most enjoyed caching in? Everywhere I go is fun.

What kind of geocaching rig do you use? A Dakota pickup, a bicycle, a walking stick and a Garmin 400t

What/how many states/countries have you geocached? The countries I have cached in are the United States and Canada. I have cached in 7 states…..Minnesota, South Dakota, North Dakota, Wisconsin, California, Hawaii and New York.

What was your first event ever attended? Breakfast Buddies at the Old Country Buffet in Richfield, MN

How many caches have you found? As of June 14, 2010, I have found 2,008.

Do you enjoy hiding or finding more as your part of the hobby? I think it is equal.

What is your favorite type of cache hide? Something I have built that is unique and is difficult to find.

What do you do when you're not geocaching? Think up new evil caches, fish, hunt, butcher deer and make sausage.

Personal Note from Butcher: When I first started, I never thought I would become so addicted to this hobby. When I saw cachers logging more than 1,000 finds I never thought I would be one of them. I have met many new friends and continue to make new ones. When swimmer and I first started caching, we launched and enjoyed tracking travel bugs. Our favorite is “Looney Linda”. We started her in Hawaii and she made it home to our cache “Urban Prairie Hideaway” after traveling over 19,000 miles and all the way to Japan and through several states. Another well traveled travel bug is “Ole the Snowman”. He is still traveling with the last log June 10, 2010.