Dear GBES Family,

It is with heavy hearts that we officially announce the dissolution of the Great Basin and Eastern Sierra Geocachers group. This was an extremely hard decision to make, but in the end one that we felt was the best one for the groups and the geocaching community.   The origins of GBES were based around the planning and execution of the annual GBES Rally. Due to recent changes and requirements from the Bureau of Land Management, GBES would be required to purchase permits and insurance that would make the rally unfeasible to put on any longer. We felt that as the core purpose of the group was no longer a reality its need to exist was greatly reduced.

In addition, the hobby of geocaching has developed drastically over the past few years and seen many changes. We feel many of these changes has significantly diminished or eliminated the need for GBES to exist. GBES events and the website/forum once served as a social hub for the geocaching community. Those needs have now been replaced by social media such as Facebook and Twitter. The forums that once were a buzz of information and talk, are now a ghost town. The website, as well as the group, take considerable resources to maintain. And once again if with the need no longer there, we felt that the purpose of GBES had run its course and it was time for something new to develop.

We hope that in the wake of GBES'''' departure from the community, that new groups will be created in the void left behind. We look forward to seeing what our always creative and passionate members develop in the new culture of geocaching, a hobby we all hold dear in our hearts.

We also would like to take this time to thank all the past and current board members that have so selflessly devoted so much of themselves to the group through the years. I think it''''s safe to say that all of us can attribute some of our most memorable moments in geocaching to the GBES organization.

Thank you to each and every one of you for your understanding of our decision, and we hope to see you all at a cache soon!

Sincerely,

Great Basin & Eastern Sierra Geocachers.