Krazy Trollz

Krazy Trollz

Interviewed June 2006

This happy lady is known to geocachers as the Krazy Trollz. Others know her as Sonya. Why is she so happy? It could be because she is the first female geocacher to be a featured geocacher but it's actually because she has just found her 200th cache. Those who visit the Delaware Geocacher's forum (on this web site) know that she can is a frequent contributor to the various discussions going on in there. If you haven't read any of her entries, you should. And, be sure to check out her "signature". As you will learn in the interview that follows, the Krazy Trollz has gone far beyond 200 finds. She's also had some interesting adventures which she shares with us now:

How did you become involved with geocaching - and how long have you been doing it?
I found out a friend of mine geocached, and wanted to try it. I went to an Orienteering outing with her and then we went caching afterwards. She handed me her GPS and told me to ‘find it’. Well… I did… and was hooked right from the very beginning!!!! I’ve been caching since April 05—well I signed up then… and it took me about 2-3 weeks to get a GPS. I got a slow start, but once I started learning how to use the gadget, I am out a lot!

How many caches have you found so far?
519

Which type of cache do you prefer seeking - traditional, multi, puzzle or virtual?
I like the traditional caches the best, I like finding the ammo boxes and containers, but also like hunting down most things!

Which find was the most challenging?
One Step Forward, Two Steps Back GCTCQK

This had to be one of the toughest climbs and it was all because we took the wrong way in! We wound up doing the cache twice in the same day. I was just impressed I made it where we went!

Which was the easiest?
The Under Cover Series was pretty easy and fun on a snowy day.

Which was your favorite?
Well, right now, two of the newest I’ve done and really enjoyed were: Grandpa’s Cache – GCRXPY, loved looking for the marker and A.C.C.E.N.T.- Love on the Rocks GCVMTJ- this was my 500th cache and it almost beat me as well as beat me up!

What's the most unusual thing you've found in a cache?
Dunno about unusual, but found a mini maglite, really cool mini model car and a neat stone bracelet!

Have you had any memorable experiences while seeking a cache?
Seeing the wildlife and scenery out there always makes it an even better day. I’ve come across some really big deer, some really neat birds and one time walked up a huge hill to come face to face with a woodchuck. Later while hunting the cache, came upon a praying mantis. Gotta love it!

What advice would you give to a beginning geocacher?
Take water, a phone and extra batteries and GOOD hiking shoes. After a long day on your feet you will be glad you have something comfy on your feet! The cache is always in the last place you look! Don’t get discouraged, have fun and keep looking!!!

How many caches have you placed?
6 and a couple more are in the works.

Have any of them proven to be more "popular" than what you expected?
"Bulls Eye". It’s a simple one in a parking lot which I placed, so that people out in my area had things to find, and people just have a blast with that one! I think it’s the silliest thing, but cachers have loved it!

Have any of them proven to be more difficult to find than you expected?
Hunt Till You Drop. Figured it would be a little difficult, but w/the tree cover people seem to have a hard time w/this one. This is the hardest one of all of the ones I have out.

Have any of them been muggled? If, so how did you handle this?
Yes, the first cache I placed, was tossed a good distance from where it was originally hidden. It took me three days to find it, but eventually I replaced it, in the same park, but in a different area,and it’s been fine ever since.

What's your best caching story?
Went out to High Point NJ, in October to go ‘see the leaves’. Couldn’t have picked a wetter day to do this as it was POURING. Saw lots of foliage… on the ground, wet! But, we decided to cache anyway. After going up a pretty steep hill twice, to try to find a cache that was confirmed missing later, we headed on to Buttermilk Falls. It was a multi. Well… I was determined to find the little bugger… At this point, I was soaking wet, the tie string on the bottom of my jacket got pulled off somewhere along the line, and I started following the GPS. Closer, closer, closer… All of a sudden I decided to stop, and look down. I was about 90’ UP the side of a mountain next to a waterfall that was pounding down the mountainside, wondering how I got UP there! A Ranger decided to stop by my caching partner angryEMT and they were out there chatting while I carefully made my way on down. I had enough looking, was wondering if he was going to yell at me for being up there in the rain and could not believe how far down I had to go in the rain! Eventually I got to the bottom, got back to the cars…and said hi to the ranger and the smart cacher of the day who decided to NOT go up there… and the ranger asked me "Why didn’t you take the path?" Ohhh… I could have died!!! All I could say was ‘WHAT PATH?" Not only was that a trek down I hope to never repeat…I could just imagine what he went back and told the rest of the rangers that day. Some crazy woman walked down the mountain when there was a perfectly good set of steps and path to take down! ARGH!

What advice would you give to someone designing a cache placement?
First, I think they should find a few caches… this way you get an idea of how things are hidden and what are good/bad hides. Then really think of the location and make sure it’s a good place for people to come wandering to looking for ‘stuff’. And lastly, check those coords.

Beside geocaching, what other things do you like to do?
Take photos, camp, travel, arts and crafts, drum circles, hike, see live bands.

Which Delaware cache site would you'd like to see featured on the web page and why?
Albertson Lookout. Had fun getting to this one the HARD WAY… Found the other one in the park that day, slipped and fell on the way over to this one…and wound up on the other side of the cliff so to speak while my caching partner was somewhere else. To get at the cache, I climbed up crumbling dirt….it was almost like a cartoon—as I’d get a foot up, I’d slide back…..and this went on till I got UP to the top and eventually found it! It sure was fun!

Thanks, Krazy Trollz, for sharing these answers with us.