The Dam Trolls

The Dam Trolls

Interviewed April 2006

If these folks look familiar it may be because they appeared on the Delaware Geocachers web site just two months ago. The Featured Geocache article for February described their Fourteen Minus Six cache. That is only one of several they have created. (Be sure to check out their YouDee series). They are also avid geocache seekers. In the picture shown here you can't miss the golden ammo can award. It was awarded to the Trolls at the Delaware Geocachers Winter Breakfast Event (held in February) to honor their 2000th cache find. As you'll read in the interview, this number has now been far surpassed. This month we are spotlighting the trolls for both of their accomplishments - finding a very large number of caches all over the country, and for creating some of the most interesting and challenging caches in Delaware. This interview gives you a chance to learn more about these busy and dedicated geocachers.

How many caches have you found so far?
2797

Which type of cache do you prefer seeking - traditional, multi, puzzle or virtual?
All caches are fun, but the traditional cache out in the woods are our favorite.  But a quick C&D is a fun break.
Night caching is very fun too

Which find was the most challenging?
Any cache from Lakemaster or Legend Pilot.  Both have very hard, but creative hides.  Little nasty series, and Not in a million years!

Which was the easiest?
We actually found a cache in Ohio in literally seconds, and this was before lightpole cache came around.   Any lightpole cache.

Which was your favorite?
Too hard to pick just one, we have favorites of most types of caches.

What's the most unusual thing you've found in a cache?
A deer skull.

Have you had any memorable experiences while seeking a cache?
Just lots of great views and seeing all the animals in the wild.

What advice would you give to a beginning geocacher?
Start slow, do the easy one's first.  Learn to use your equipment and use a hand bearing compass.

How many caches have you placed?
63

Have any of them proven to be more "popular" than what you expected?
Yes, Our caches around the University of Delaware get lots of visits.  Great location off the highway, and some of them are challenging.

Have any of them proven to be more difficult to find than you expected?
14-6 is our most difficult cache.  Very small and does take some intuition to figure out.  Especially for a 1 terrain cache.

Have any of them been muggled? If, so how did you handle this?
We have one cache that constantly goes missing.  Warrior Hideout.  Not sure if it's children or animals.

What's your best caching story?
Locking our keys in the car twice in one day.  Just had to be in the most remote place on the eastern shore  too.  Had to become McGiver and adapt to what is around you to break into our own car.  At least on the second time we did save the equipment we used the first time.  Did not take us long to get in then. And to top it off when we got home we decided to hide a key on our car.  When searching for a place to hide it we actually found a key we had hidden when we first bought the car 9 years earlier.  We both forgot all about it!!

What advice would you give to someone designing a cache placement?
In the ever increasing PC world, GET PERMISSION FIRST!  Better to ask then get in trouble later.  Most of the time if you do ask it is not a problem.  In fact most places will encourage you to help them out as we have done at the Tidewater Canal in Havre de Grace.

Beside geocaching, what other things do you like to do?
We spend a good deal of the summer on our boat fishing.  If not that, then camping.  Usually we find a way do do a few caches either way.

Which Delaware cache site would you'd like to see featured on the web page and why?
Invasion of the Ancient Mariners 

Thanks, Trolls, for sharing these answers with us. We wish you cintinued success in finding caches and thinking up callenges for the rest of us.