Hostanut

Hostanut

Interviewed December 2006

For our 1st Anniversary Edition we are honored to be able to interview a geocacher who began his caching experience before the sport of geocaching celebrated its 1st anniversary. Hostanut is also known as Preston Littleton. His partner is Lady H (H stands for Hummingbird) is also known as Genie Jones. Both live in Seaford, Delaware.

When we asked Hostanut if he would be our interview subjects for this month he responded: "I’m glad that 13 is not unlucky for me…I’m the 13th Featured Geocacher, my first cache hide was Lucky 13? Or Vice Versa, and recently (on 11-11-06) I successfully found 13 caches."

For those Delaware Geocachers who have been reading our interviews each month you know we typically ask each interview subject the same set of questions. Since this month's interview is special, we have altered the questions a bit. All the standard questions are there but we've added some questions to help all of us learn more about this geocaching pioneer:

Your profile on geocaching.com shows that you found your first cache on June 23 2001. That's almost at the start of geocaching in Delaware. How did you become involved with geocaching?
My daughter and son-in-law (dww9) ask us to go along with them to do something they thought we would enjoy. We enjoyed (8 caches in the first 7 months) but other interests took precedence at the time.

Tell us a bit about how you selected your geocaching name.
I was involved with hostas…..buying, growing, traveling to conventions and meetings nationwide, vice-president and newsletter editor for the Delmarva Hosta Society, webpage developer…..at the peak I had over 650 hostas (with over 300 varieties).

There is a LadyH. Are the two of you a team?
We have been a team for over 20 years, a geocaching team for 5 years.

Geocaching and technology go together. Everyone knows that technology never stops evolving. What was the technology like when you started caching? For example, what features did your gps have? How has geocaching.com changed?
My original gspr ( a Magellan 315) lists an accuracy of 49 feet (15 meters) while my current gpsr (Magellan SporTrak Pro) lists an accuracy of 10 feet (3 meters). The expanded list of software at Geocaching.com has made it easier to manage the caching data…..from downloading caches into your GPS receiver to enabling the use of PDAs and Pocket PCs.

In the early days did you go geocaching alone or with friends/partners? How about today? Has anything changed regarding how you seek caches now?
In the beginning, we geocached mostly with my daughter and son-in-law progressing to mostly just Lady H and myself. Throughout the years a couple of friends have gone caching with us from time to time. Our nephew went on a few caches one day. Lady H’s parents have been geocaching with us many times, especially on vacation. Today, we enjoy taking our 2 yr old grandson Nick with us. Another pleasure has been getting DEfire52 (Genie’s son) started (translated “hooked”) on caching.

When I first started caching, I was not interested at all in travel bugs. Now I prefer caches with a TB to retrieve. We have been on geocaching vacations…not just vacations when we geocached…..but vacations that were planned with geocaching as the main activity. I now also have a passion for FTFs (18 as of 11-26-06)….even willing to get up in the dark to snag a FTF before work.

Are there any geocachers from the early days who you fondly remember?
Most of the memorable geocachers from my early days are still active…they just have many more cache finds and hides now.

What's the biggest difference between geocaching when you started and how geocaching is done today?
The biggest changes have been in technology (software available now,increased accuracy allowed, use of PDAs) and the increase of gear available for purchase (containers, clothing, accessories)

How many caches have you found so far?
575 as of 11-26-06.

Which type of cache do you prefer seeking - traditional, multi, puzzle or virtual?
Multi caches with a traditional final stage. Preferably caches in parks with trails OR caches that take us to historic places.

Which find was the most challenging?
Believe it or not….some of the micros especially Mispillion Micro (GVJXXD) which I did not find until my third attempt.

Which was the easiest?
Parking lot light poles.

Do you have a favorite or favorites?
Three Parks and a Forest (GCCEF3) because it was a multi with bricks giving you the coords to the next stage. This one was the first cache for Genie’s nephew.

Sandy Pt. (GCPTWP) because of the over .8 mile walk up the beach. Genie got a picture of our grandson Nick (who was 20 months old at the time) throwing a stone in the water and captured the stone mid-air.

UP-UP AND AWAY (GCYN89) because I was able to experience it with DEfire52 on his second day of caching and see the delight in his face when he discovered the unique cache.

What's the most unusual thing you've found in a cache?
We have never found anything that we considered unusual.

Have you had any memorable experiences while seeking a cache?
Many, including those described in other answers.

There was the time that we were attempting a cache in Tuckahoe State Park when I slipped in the mud and fell flat of my back….I jokingly accused Lady H of pushing me down. She replied that she would make it up to me by going to a nearby store to buy me a new set of clothes. From then on, I usually take extras clothes with me whenever caching.

What advice would you give to a beginning geocacher?
Follow the advice of Nike’s slogan….”Just Do It”….Alone, with friends, and, if you are fortunate, with experienced cachers that can provide tips and guidance. You will soon learn where to search and how to spot caches.

Geocache in the way that is important to you…whether its accumulating numbers of caches done as quickly as possible or being more laid back and exploring the area after caching…. going after FTFs or letting others find so you can read their feedback……actively looking for TBs and geocoins or ignoring them.

MOST IMPORTANT: enjoying yourself should be your primary goal.

Your geocaching.com profile indicates you have placed 11 caches. Most of them have been multis. Why is that?
Multis are:
- more challenging…to set-up and for the cacher.
- allow the cachers to see more of the area (county, city, park, etc)

How do you go about deciding how many stages a multi should have?
No real decision process….in some cases, mores stages are needed to develop adequate number gathering stops.

Your profile also shows that you have created a few virtual and locationless caches. Tell us something about them.
-Across Sussex requires cachers to cross Sussex County from Lewes, thru Georgetown, to Bethel and Seaford to gather numbers that will made up the coordinators of a final site. A description of the final site is required to log this cache.

-Tour Around Seaford takes cachers to several sites in the town to gather numbers to find a historic site that is owned by a friend of mine.

-AL’s Story is located in Kentucky. AL is actually Abraham Lincoln. The task is to find the number of windows in the outer building and the number of steps leading to the front of the outer building and how both these numbers relate to AL.

-The locationless cache ( now archived) is named Turner Bronze Sculptures. The cacher’s goal was to find sculptures created by William and David Turner, post the coordinates, and a picture as proof. The Turners have created over 50 public commissioned bronze sculptures that can be found throughout the US (Salisbury Zoo has several). If you ever get the chance, please visit their gallery in Onley, VA...you'll be glad that you did.).

Geocaching.com no longer supports the creation of virtual caches. What's your feeling on that?
I understand that virtual caches and their logs were consuming an ever increasing amount of valuable web space with an associated cost but also feel that geocachers are missing out on some interesting and enjoyable caches (both placing and finding).

Have any of your cache hides proven to be more "popular" than you expected?
I’ve received several complements on Across Sussex (GCB8AD) despite the miles that must be traveled.

Have geocachers found any of them more difficult to find than you expected?
Play It Again Sam(uel) has created problems for some because a sound file must be decoded to find the first stage but this was really expected.

Have any of them been muggled? If, so how did you handle this?
I’ve only had 1 cache muggled……the final location of the multi was relocated to a nearby spot.

What's your best caching story - the one you tell others to let them know the kind of fun and adventures one can have while geocaching?
The story of our grandson Nick doing Sandy Pt. cache with us when he was about 20 months old and walking almost the whole .8 mile down the beach to and from the cache. Nick would stop from time to time to toss a stone into the water. Lady H was fortunate to capture a picture of Nick with the stone mid-air.

Another one would be about the geocaching adventures with Genie’s parents….like finding the US’s smallest post office, discovering graveyards in the middle of shopping centers, and good times stopping for a picnic lunch at some state park/ roadside table or even just throwing a blanket on the ground for an impromptu meal while caching.

What advice would you give to someone designing a cache placement?
- Do caches by several experienced cachers to learn about different styles (hart612 and Nimrod x2 have some unique caches in Sussex County).
- Cache in another state (the further away from home, the better) to experience caching in an unfamiliar area.
- BE CREATIVE
- Make it enjoyable: interesting area, different container, unique hiding spot

Beside geocaching, what other things do you like to do?
Travel, puzzles, talking about geocaching, grandkids, online Texas Hold ‘Em.
Lady H in VERY much into Christmas especially Santas (she collects Pipka Santas). We have 7 Christmas trees and 1 room that stays decorated in a Christmas theme all year.

Which Delaware cache site would you'd like to see reviewed on the Delaware Geocachers web site and why?
Across Sussex because it provides a glimpse of some of Sussex County history while providing a tour of the county. Residents of the county will see some sites that they probably know about but may not have taken the time to visit. Non-residents will be taken on a tour that will familiarize them with the county.

What question did you expect us to ask but we didn't?
What part of geocaching do you enjoy the most?

And the answer is?
I enjoy the locations, interesting hides, FTFs and meeting other geocachers but seeing new cachers get excited about caching is the ultimate pleasure.

Thank you for these informative answers. Delaware Geocachers wishes you well as you continue your geocaching adventures

.