What is CARW?

Cache and Release Winter is Edmonton’s (Northern Alberta’s) main caching event held every winter, where cachers hide winter friendly caches and the community rallies together for one great caching spree in the winter.

When is CARW2025?

CARW2025 is scheduled for February 27th, 2025 – March 9th, 2025. Please see the details and events pages for more information.

Hiders

Is there a limit to the number of hides I can place?

We encourage you to place as many caches as you want, but please keep the guide of ‘Quality over Quantity’ in mind while planning your hides. Place caches you would be excited to find yourself!

What is the Cache Submission Deadline?

All caches must be submitted for review by the community review team by Thursday, February 20, 2025.

What do you mean by Quality over Quantity for CARW caches?

Our focus is Quality Caches. We encourage everyone to put extra thought and creativity into their hides, especially by leaning into this year’s theme, Celebrate 25. CARW caches are often some of the most memorable finds for geocachers in future years because of the cleverness and intentionality put into them. In other words, please don’t just stick a micro in a spruce tree and walk away. Instead, place a cache that you would be excited to find and that captures the spirit of celebration.

What are Winter-Friendly Caches?

Hide caches that are winter-friendly. Caches should be hidden above the snow line and accessible during winter conditions. Hide something you would want to find in winter!

How do I name my cache to make sure it is included in CARW2025?

Be sure your cache name ends with CARW2025 (note: No Spaces!), as in “MyCache Name Here CARW2025” This helps geocachers using handheld GPS units find downloaded caches and makes it easy to search for all CARW2025 caches online.

What other rules do I need to know about hiding caches?

Be familiar with and adhere to all Geocaching.com Guidelines for Hiding Caches.

How do I choose a location to hide my cache?

Accurate coordinates are essential. All caches must be placed within a 25km radius of N 53 27.598 W113 36.936. Take the time to get solid, averaged coordinates. For tips, check out this Groundspeak article on getting accurate coordinates.

To ensure your location isn’t too close to a puzzle cache, multi-cache, or another CARW2025 cache, ask the Volunteer Reviewer for a “Location Check.” Create a basic cache listing with your chosen coordinates and include the following reviewer note:

“This is a CARW2025 cache. Please perform a Location Check for this cache. If this location is acceptable, please reserve it until the CARW2025 caches are published, and disable this unfinished cache page.”

How do I write and submit my CARW2025 cache page?

Once your location is confirmed, write your cache page and submit it. Include the following on your CARW2025 cache page description:
1. This cache has been placed for the CARW event with the intention that it not be located prior to 9:00am hours Saturday, March 1, 2025.
2. Should you hunt and find this cache before the event start, it will not count for the event, and FTF points are only valid as of 9:00am hours, March 1.

What awards categories will there be this year?

While that is still being decided for this year, be sure to check the back for updates and information on submitting your cache for event prizes.

I don’t have time to read every question individually. Do you have a general overview I can refer to for hiding caches?

Winter-Friendly Attribute: All caches must display the “Winter Friendly” attribute. If it’s buried under snow or difficult to access in -30° weather, it’s not suitable as a CARW2025 cache.

Follow Guidelines: Review and comply with the Geocaching.com placement guidelines. Note that guidelines may have changed in the past 18 months.

Accurate Coordinates: Use a GPS unit rather than a phone for accurate coordinates.

Accessibility: Caches should not be “premium members only” during the event. You may convert them to premium no sooner than one week after the event ends to allow non-premium members to participate.

Family-Friendly Focus: Aim for high-quality, family-friendly caches. Medium or large containers are preferred, as they’re easier to handle in cold weather and allow for swag trading. Micros and small caches are acceptable but should offer something special to qualify as a CARW2025 hide.

Puzzle Caches: Puzzles are welcome but should be solvable within the event timeline and accessible to a broad audience.

Confirm Locations Early: Work with a volunteer reviewer early to confirm your hide locations. Remember that everything needs to be within a 25km radius of N 53 27.598 W113 36.936.

Finders

Who can participate in CARW2025?

Everyone is welcome to participate in CARW2025, whether you’re a seasoned geocacher or brand new to the hobby. This event is a great way to learn more about geocaching, get involved in the community, and discover how caching can be fun year-round in our winter city. Our motto is Have fun at your level, so join in the way that works best for you, whether that means hiding caches, finding them, or just connecting with other geocachers.

How can I participate in CARW2025?

Whether you want to hide caches, find a few, or just enjoy the community spirit, CARW2025 is for everyone. This event is an excellent opportunity to meet other geocachers, explore creative hides, and experience the joy of geocaching in a winter city.

When can I start to find and log CARW2025 caches?

For those new to CARW, please note that while caches will be published on Thursday, February 27, 2025, at 6:00pm, they should not be searched for or logged until 9:00am on Saturday, March 1, 2025. This early publication allows participants time to pre-solve any mystery caches and determine their coordinates. Please respect this timeline to ensure a fair and enjoyable experience for all participants. If solving mystery puzzles is something you need help with, be sure to attend the CARW Puzzle Solving Event [GCAVZ50] to learn more about each puzzle and how to solve it.

Note: Searching for or logging caches before the official start time is against event rules and may result in disqualification from event activities.For more details, please refer to the CARW2025 Details.

Can I vote for my favourite CARW2025 caches, even if I didn’t hide any caches?

Of course! Part of the fun of CARW2025 is Celebrating the creative caches that have been published for the event. Voting is a great way to let Cache Owners (COs) know that you appreciate their efforts. Check back later to cast your votes and celebrate the best caches of CARW2025. If you have favourite points available to award, that is another great way to show your appreciation for hidden caches.