👤 Cachenick: hegenor
📍 Hometown: Harstad, Norway
📅 Started: 2014
📊 Total Finds: 23000+
📈 Caches Hidden: 99
🌍 Countries Cached In: 80
🏷️ Favorite Cache Types: Challenge Caches, Puzzle Mystery EarthCaches, Events
This week’s featured geocacher is a true globetrotter based in Norway, with a heart set on exploration. With over 23,000 finds across more than 80 countries, a camper van as base, and a strong passion for the community, hegenor has turned geocaching into both a lifestyle and a travel guide.
✨ How It All Began
Behind the username hegenor is a sales driver for Diplom-Is, one of Norway's leading ice cream, – and adventure enthusiast. She works intensively during the summer, then hits the road for several months each winter. Although she first read about geocaching back in 2005, it wasn’t until 2014 that she tried it for the first time, when a friend invited her along on a geocaching trip in Harstad.
They found six caches that day, but the experience didn’t quite spark the addiction. Geocaching fell into the background for a while.
Everything changed a few months later. Alone in Rio de Janeiro with a rented bike and low motivation to explore, she opened the geocaching app and spotted a few caches nearby. One of them led her to a quiet neighborhood in Copacabana, far from the tourist paths. Hidden in a colorful mosaic wall, she found the cache – and the magic. 🌟 It was beautiful, off the beaten path, and entirely hers in that moment From then on, she was hooked.
🌏 A World Opens Up
Since that first spark in Brazil, geocaching has shaped how she experiences the world. Whether in remote wilderness or urban backstreets, she finds joy in discovering places others often overlook. It keeps her moving, learning, and connecting with people from all walks of life.
She thought she knew her hometown of Harstad well, but geocaching revealed hidden gems she had never noticed before – secret trails, quiet viewpoints, and forgotten corners that suddenly came alive thanks to a well-placed cache.
🌿 Memories for a Lifetime
hegenor has experienced what many only dream of – from hidden sea caves in South Africa to rescuing baby goats and lost dogs.
"I got FTF on the world's highest physical geocache: GC45E08 Aconcagua – The White Sentinel in Argentina. It’s at 6,962 meters and took 18 days to reach."
The expedition to Aconcagua was no small feat. ⛰️ The summit required acclimatization, endurance, and determination. But she reached it – and was the first to sign the logbook. A rare achievement and a testament to how far geocaching can take you.
"It was brutal, but unbelievable to stand there knowing I was the very first."
🌺 GC1TV3H Duiwelsgat in South Africa was another unforgettable moment. To reach it, she had to climb down a steep slope and follow the coastline to the entrance of a sea cave. But there was a catch – the cache is only accessible during low tide, and even then, only for a narrow window of about one hour. With the clock ticking and waves not far behind, she entered the cave just in time. A shaft of sunlight pierced through an opening in the roof, illuminating the exact spot where the cache was hidden. The tension, timing, and natural beauty combined into pure Indiana Jones vibes!
On Lanzarote, she went out to find a geocache – and came home with a baby goat. 🐐 She found it stranded and alone on a remote mountaintop, far from any farm or flock. Carrying it carefully back down, she delivered it to a very thankful farmer who had been missing the little one. Later, she also saved a lost dog whose owners had been searching for hours. All thanks to geocaches hidden in remote, wild places.
These experiences make geocaching more than a hobby – it’s a way of discovering both the world and yourself 🚀
🏡 Geocaching as a Travel Guide
For the past five years, hegenor has explored Europe in a camper van – with caches guiding the route. 📍 She plans trips to visit new municipalities, avoid the crowds, and follow locals' geocache recommendations. Her partner is also a geocacher, making it easy to agree on where to go.
"I often park right at the start of a cache trail. That way, I wake up ready for adventure."
🔍 Favorite Cache Types
"Challenge caches keep me going. No matter how many I've found, there's always a new goal."
Challenge caches are what truly hooked her on geocaching – and what still keep her motivated today. They require meeting specific goals, such as finding a cache in every country of a continent or achieving a streak of daily finds. No matter how experienced you are, there’s always a new challenge waiting.
Another favorite is the classic puzzle mystery 🧩. For hegenor, sitting down with a good logic puzzle and an audiobook or podcast is a form of meditation. It’s a relaxing balance to the outdoor adventures, and the satisfaction of finally cracking the code and heading out to find the solution is unbeatable.
She also enjoys attending geocaching events – not just for the caches, but for the people. There's always something special about gathering with fellow explorers, sharing stories, and discovering new places together. Earthcaches 🌋 are another highlight, offering unique geological insights that make every find a mini science lesson.
"Geocachers come from all walks of life. I love the diversity!"
📅 Top Recommendations
Here are three must-visit caches or cache areas she recommends:
GC5G26W – You never know….TB/GC (Harstad): "Absolutely amazing!"
GC469TG – Die grünen Geister (near Frankfurt): "From an area with 5,000+ favorite points, this one stood out."
Favorite regions: Mallorca, Tenerife, Lanzarote, and Luxembourg – paradise for geocachers 🌄
✨ Tips for Beginners
Attend events! Geocachers are super welcoming. 🤝
Start a streak early – before you run out of nearby caches. 📊
Use project-gc.com for stats, challenges, and more! ⚖️
❤️ What Geocaching Means Today
"I've never been bored since I started. Geocaching gives me new ideas, keeps me fit, and challenges me in ways I never imagined. I don't see myself stopping anytime soon."
Geocaching isn’t just an activity for hegenor – it’s a way to keep both mind and body engaged. From solving intricate puzzles to hiking up mountains or crawling through caves, every cache is a different kind of workout. It helps her stay sharp, active, and always curious.
And perhaps even more importantly, it has introduced her to wonderful people. Many of her closest friends today are people she met through geocaching – at events, on the trail, or through shared goals. The hobby continues to bring new friendships, fresh inspiration, and reasons to keep exploring.
💬 Want to be Geocacher of the Week?
Send me a message on Instagram or Facebook – you might be next! 🚀
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