Capturing The Elusive FTF
I had only been geocaching for about a month but I had seen the abbreviation around and knew what it meant. FTF. First To Find. What was the big deal? Was it really something special or just something I didn’t get. I was about to find out.
My email rang and I saw that a new cache had been hid – GC1921G – Rebecca’s back. I checked out the location and was immediately reminded of the area. The story of Rebecca’s Grave is indeed one that many folks from Moncton have heard. I remember when I was younger going out there and being told that if you walked from the grave out into the field, you’d never return. Many stories of her being buried under all that cement have been overheard many times in Moncton. So when I saw that Funky’s cache was right there, I thought I’d head out and try and get this elusive FTF that I kept reading about.
Turns out, it was pretty easy. Found the cache within minutes, opened it up and there were no names. A certain thrill of excitement came to me as I signed my name on the log and returned it to it’s hiding spot. I went on my way and never thought much more of it.
On Saturday night, I shared my 51st FTF with several other cachers while out in Pointe Du Chene. It got me to thinking about how the FTF has become both a symbol of pride and detriment to many. Depending on the person you speak to, an FTF could be a very big deal and something they are very proud of, or it can bring up tales of FTF wars and disputes about who really found something first and how that argument has left a bad taste in their mouth. Who knew that something a simple as three letters could cause so much fuss. What’s the big deal?
The big deal, as perceived by many, is that an FTF is a sort of pseudo-prize that one gets when you are the very first to find a cache. Prior to that point, no one else has ever found that container and thusly it makes your accomplishment that much more important. For some containers, it’s not a big deal as it’s just an easy cache. But for others, when you are the FTF on a container that many have struggled with, it’s even more of an honour because now you have been able to do something others could not. This can raise your pride level a bit to the point of arrogance, depending on the individual.
But where does the controversy come from? Let’s start with the most obvious. Who was the actual first person to find a cache.
By my definition, an FTF is for a person who is the first person to actually find the geocache container, after it has been hidden. Anyone who was there when the cache was hidden did not “find it” as they were there. Although they can sign the log and log it online, they did not find it first as they were already there when the container was placed. Those individuals shouldn’t claim an FTF. An FTF should be claimed (or can be claimed) by the first person who actually goes out and finds the cache, and signs the log. An FTF is not for someone who first logs the cache online. That is many times referred to as an FTL.
Many folks get their arms up in the air when a person logs an FTF when they were there when the cache was hidden. The might also claim an FTF on a cache if they “think” they were the first person to find it when in fact they weren’t. Many folks also think it’s bad form to claim an FTF on a cache that has not been published yet. Some people will get coords to a cache before it gets published and then go find it and log it and claim an FTF. Some folks say that’s in bad taste.
Then you also have situations where cache owners say people can’t claim FTFs on their caches because they want to give the FTFs to other people. Although I can understand the idea behind this, an FTF is whoever found the cache first. No way to really control that. But regardless, some people do and sometimes it works out fine. Other times, it turns into a real mess.
Lastly, you have people who hide a series of caches and then a single person goes out and finds them all and claims the FTF for all of them. Some folks get their pits in a roar because they feel someone is “stealing” all the FTFs from other people and it’s not fair. That person should have left some of the caches for others to find first. A variation of this is the FTF Hound who is generally regarded as someone who does anything and everything they can to snag an FTF because they don’t want others getting them, or they have a real desire to be the best FTF’er out there. This also somehow “deprives” others of the chance to get an FTF. I know of geocachers who have refused to speak to other geocachers because they felt an FTF was “stolen” from them.
In writing this article, and re-reading the items above, I find myself shaking my head and thinking “Really?”. Geocaching is primarily a hobby done by adults and it’s pretty sad to see some of the behavior we exhibit because of a three letter abbreviation.
I have gone for FTFs on occasion and I do track them but it’s not the end of the world for me. If people want to go for them and they get really excited about the challenge of obtaining them, good for them. Just try and remember to not take it so seriously. An FTF is not a gold medal. It’s not even really something that’s officially recognized by geocaching.com. It’s just something else that helps make this hobby interesting.
How do you play the FTF game, if you play it at all?
FIRST!!
I might have said FTF on a few while I was fairly new but I haven’t claimed one in years even if I was first, I have no idea how many I have found. Some people will state “almost FTF” or “no FTF” or “cacherX beat me to the FTF” in their log but when they check their finds in GSAK using the FTF search, these will show up as being theirs, skewing the true number.
If it was a real stat it would be on the statistics page and the reason it isn’t is there is no way to prove who was there first. I have also seen people delay logging their find online to let others think it was still available and then they would be disappointed when they get there and see the name on the log book, silly games people play.
Being a FTF hound means you have more time to cache than others or have notifications set up on your phone so you can get out and find them quickly. I remember hearing a FTF hound complain that the people with smart phones have an unfair advantage….lol
I have seen cache owners try to control the FTF claims on a series (what a mess and joke that became), that doesn’t work and why would someone care who found them first, it doesn’t matter people.
I enjoy getting FTFs and sometimes go grab them when I get a chance or see them come in BUT I do have a young family (boys aged 4 and 6 so its not always easy to just jump at the chance and go grab them. Its not the end of the world for me not to get them.
I think that getting FTFs in areas that are not in your home city is even more fun ! I recently got an FTF on a new cache (GC3RFH0) down near Murray Corner while was on vacation. Seeing the area isn’t that well populated nor are there many cachers, I am not surprised that no one had found it after being published for 6 days.
First to find. I have not had one in quite a while. My first was just a little over 2 months after I started caching. A Rev Slippery cache “1st power line crossing” – GC25R8F. It was exciting at the time.
A little over a week later I got 21 doing Zor’s ” Story Teller Series “. A few more here and there. 27 I think on Jim52’s puzzle series. A bunch with another cacher doing The Cookers ” Where the Bisons Roam ” series and Zor’s ” Lost ” series. Then a few more here and there.
I didn’t know about a co-FTF so I let my son Snake9 claim a few. All in total well over a hundred FTF’s. So what does it mean ? Not much now. But the first few were exciting. Racing out to beat everyone to the punch, a few times in some bad weather.
I think for me it wasn’t as much about the FTF as the challenge. The hunt to get there first more so than the log, although I did mention FTF in the log.
After getting so many it doesn’t matter about a FTF for me anymore. I decided to let other cachers, hopefully new cachers get them. I know how it felt to get there first. But I’ve been there and done that so it really doesn’t appeal to me anymore.
But for a new cacher I know how it feels, even if there are no stats for it as Rev likes to say. ( Or is he just sour that everyone else beats him to it. Hee hee, snicker snicker )
FTF for me is just if i get it yipee. If not whatever.
when the new cache notifications come in, sometimes it’s just the right time to get up and out for some air. sometimes its in the evening while i am ‘hobby working’ or sometimes late at nite when the insomnia kicks in, sometimes it’s while i am out driving around anyhow.
either way when i do go chasing them, it’s a personal race to see how fast i can get to the specific spot in town, i’m not really trying to beat anyone else for ‘FTF’.
that being said, there is still bit of a kick to logging a cache that was only published a few minutes before i’ve signed it. 😉
F.T.F. … what is this??? Back in November of 2011 I met with Perks19 and we found a cache together GC37D9E … I had never encountered this before and had him explain to me the process … as I stated in my log ‘it’s off the bucket list’ …. fast track to a couple of weeks ago and I’m first on the scene GC3VB9H … IT DOESN’T MATTER … I just love the idea of seeing a notification and getting there to meet fellow cachers … is this NOT what it’s all about???
This is one of my favourite FTF stories, having to do with a cache I placed, GC3A8AX The Corner.
**Congrats to Marocma and Snoik on the FTF!! Very impressive. I placed the cache at 9:45PM, enabled the listing at 10:25PM, had the listing published at 10:53PM, and it was found at 11:46PM! A little over 2 hours start to finish.**
I placed the cache while on a Christmas trip to my Mom’s. The full story goes that I decided to go down to the basement and grab the cache and a few tools (9:45PM); I walked to the hiding spot and back (10:05PM); I then wrote the log and submitted it (10:25PM); I checked my email a bit later, and found both an enabled email from a reviewer (10:53PM, quickest enabling yet), and a found log by Marocma and Snoik (11:46PM). All totaled, from actually thinking of placing the cache, to gathering gear, to placing it (walking there and back), to writing the listing, to submitting, to enabling, to finding, was only 2 hours and one minute. For those of you unaware, Pennfield, NB, is not exactly the hub of activity by any means. They could have waited until the morning and likely still would have had the FTF.
I enjoy an FTF but depends on the mood when I see one published. I enjoy the next cacher coming around the corner to say, “Hey what took you so long!!” But really it is all put into context. I published one in Woodstock a couple weeks back and a cacher from Washington St got the FTF on their way from home to NFLD and back.
My fav story was one got published with the Pirates Key in it as an FTF prize. I lived close so I ran out and when I got to GZ there was nothing but a parking lot, I read the hint and it said in an evergreen. Well the closest one was quite aways away so I went over and low and behold there it was with no names. Since it was a public area I took it back to the car to sign and looked up and there was someone at GZ looking bewildered. Figuring they would follow the clue I watched for a min and put the cache back, but they were still going in circles. I drove over and the cacher was walking away so I yelled out the window, “Are you looking for the Cache?” It was Sportsman01, he said something is screwy as theres nothing here but parking lot so I told him it was 280ft away in the tree. He says “so you got FTF?” I said “Yep” He turns, starts walking back the way he came from and sent me a congratulatory “*ucker!!” It was classic and smiled for a while over that one. The CO fixed the coords immediately but still entertaining when I think about it.
The most self rewarding are those FTF’s when others couldn’t get them and DNF’s are logged.
FTF meant something to me, but more like when I was a teenager. As for the first to find a geocache, I claimed one or two in my 1500ish find, and I have to admit it was cool. It just happened, not that I went for it, I was just the first. I got a little rush one time going I believe in the Cape Tormentine area, with good ol’ Slipper. He told me no one had found that one, so I rushed to find it before him. I did and was like: In your face slipper!, only to find out somebody got it first. So I guess for me it depends on the situation. I don’t go for it, but if it’s to get it before Rev, I might get a kick from it. That is all.
In all honesty, I would rather find a cache full of dust and spider webs, that hasn’t been found in eons than a brand new one just put outthere. I remember finding a cache with Didi on the Kingston Peninsula that was Day for Day one year buried before we found it. We realised that on-site, reading the logs (as yes, geocaching to us is (or at least was) about taking your time, relaxing and admiring the surroundings AND reading the logs!). (too many brackets here)
So I guess I cannot care less about this quest for FTF, but I am not against it. You get your thing by going for a FTF, GO FOR IT. What I think is lame though is people trying to police FTF on their series. I mean come on, if someone gets all FTF on your 150ish series, well guess what, HE/SHE is! The second to find is the second to find. As for people who claim FTF while they were there with the one who hid the cache, I will just say one thing: Get a life!
I have been out for a bit, but I will be back.
Nemo.
Recently, I had someone lie to me in an effort to dissuade me from going for a cache just so that they could get FTF. FTFs aren’t that important to me. I have a few (I will detail a story about them later). I was disappointed that the person felt justified in lying to me simply to beat me to a cache. If they are that desperate to get their name first on a log, good for them, but that isn’t me. Caching to me is about the adventure. I like this person and enjoy caching with them, so it’s a good thing I’m unwilling to hold grudges against people.
Thumbs down on this post? Really?
Bahahaha! Hilarious! Thumbs down to my thumbs down comment. Likely the same people too. It is just too easy sometimes.
We dont care about FTF so we dont chase FTF, we dont count FTF, we dont report FTF and we dont brag about FTF.
The last FTf we got was only about 60 minutes from our place in Havelock. We didnt care about getting the FTF but it was not far from the Casino, where we were going for lunch, so it was easy to get to the cache early and get a FTF.
If interested, here is our log for that FTF
***************
Found it
03/Sep/2012
FTF at 12 noon exactly.
Bookmark list provided for this FTF.
We dont go chasing FTF but we were heading to the Casino for Seniors Day so we thought we would go a bit further for this FTF. We didnt win at the casino but we won the FTF race for this cache, not that we care about FTF.
TFTC and the FTF
FTF’s are a rarity when you live in rural NB. When someone publishes a cache within 20 km of our place it is something of a novelty.
Last winter I was bedridden for weeks and unable to drive for a couple of months due to some major surgery. To be driven to an event was such a big deal to me. It was such a thrill to get out of the house and socialize with cacher friends. Once I was on my feet and able to get out and do some minor walking I would get so excited when 2 different caches with very easy terrain ratings were published close to home at differet times. To say that I was bored out of my mind is an understatement being housebound. When these caches were published I would drive Snoik crazy until he would drive me to get the caches. One came out during a tropical storm. It was torrential rains and high winds. We got to GZ and after looking for much longer than we should have we discovered that the cache had been bulldozed into the ground by workers adding guide wires to a cell tower. We found pieces of the cache container and some pretty beat up swag. As crazy as it sounds going out in that weather (after being inside for so long) was fun!!
The second cache published while I was recovering was forestfauna’s corner cache. I was still recovering from surgery, but was trying to get more active as I was returning to work in about 2 weeks. When the cache was published so close to home we decided to go for the cache (not really expecting to be FTF) and to get one or two others that were in the area that we had not found. It was a cold night, but we had so much fun. What made it even more memorable was when we learned how little time from placement to us finding it had gone by.
I don’t keep track of FTF’s , STF’s, etc. If I happen to get one I will log an FTF so the CO knows about it. I always hope that if we set off for a newly published cache that we will meet up with fellow cachers and go for the find together….that rarely seems to happen.
I enjoy placing a cache and waiting to see who the FTF is. I particularly like when they log an interesting story to go with it.
I like FTFs, I don’t deny. Just an added dimension to caching. A personal challenge if you will.
I don’t race to beat anyone in particular, and I do get a bit of a thrill to sign the log first. I remember being totally stoked when I found my first GC2DX03 , but that thrill has dulled over time and over the 70 odd FTFs.
I do hope that a certain local cacher takes another months-long US vacation 🙂
FTFs, harmless fun, but not to be taken too seriously.
I have yet to have a FTF. I am looking forward to greeting one. I currently have117 finds and 2 hides.