There’s a lot of outdoorsy fun to be had with geocaching! Whether it sounds like something that may be up your alley – or not so much – it’s an interesting game that’s capitalizes upon your GPS device and all its capabilities.
What is Geocaching?
By definition, geocaching is a game for GPS owners that involves a certain element of surprise and adventure. It involves a cache hunt, which can be a great way to more fully explore the many useful and fun features on a GPS device.
The basic premise is to encourage various individuals or organizations to establish caches in different locales all across the globe, and post the locations of these on the World Wide Web.
Next, GPS aficionados can use the location coordinates to search out the caches. Once a cache is found, it can offer its locator a variety of hidden and often surprising rewards. The only request made of the player is that he or she is asked to leave something for the cache if he or she does take one of the prizes.
The Rules of Play
Because geocaching is still a relatively new phenomenon, its rules have as yet remained very simple. They are as follows:
1) Place a cache anywhere you want.
2) Post the position of the cache online.
3) Locate a cache.
4) Once found, take a prize from the cache.
5) Add a prize to replace the one taken.
6) Write about what happened in the cache logbook.
What Does a Cache Contain?
At its most basic, a cache may have nothing more than the logbook, which contains information about the founder of the cache, and any notes from the cache’s previous visitors. It might feature details about local sites of public interest, or humorous anecdotes about what it took for visitors to get to the cache site. If a cache is a bit bigger, it might contain CDs and DVDs, money, or even jewelry.
Geocaching is also known as Global Positioning Stash hunt, or the GPS Stash Hunt, though the term ‘Geocaching’ is the standard term employed when describing the game.
Happy hunting!
Here’s what everyone should know about Geocaching:
The cache is ALWAYS on the other side of the river, and there’s NEVER a bridge right where you need it. And no, you cannot fool this rule by going to the opposite side of the river to start.
Aww man I love geocaching, haven’t been in ages. Come on, let’s go right now! *Jumps in the car*
The best part about finding a geocache is getting there. Cache hunts have taken me to many great places I otherwise may have never seen.
nice article, i really appricate it
Although geocaching may be fun, around here a wall was pretty much taken down by people looking for the cache in the wall. I mean c’mon that’s pretty much vandalism. I know that may seem harsh but it happens, so please, give a little more respect to where your looking for the cache.
I’m going to have to disagree with your first guideline:
“1) Place a cache anywhere you want.”
While this may in essence be true, you will find that the largest sites to perform this next part:
“2) Post the position of the cache online.”
have pretty strict rules for what they’ll let you post. Most sites have guidelines in terms of proximity to things like railroads, rivers, airports, or vehicular bridges. In addition, large sites like geocaching.com don’t allow for caches that require digging, or jumping a fence. There are also often density guidelines, to prevent too many caches in one area.
Getting a cache approved can be quite the challenge, but that’s not to discourage you!
Hi -
I started with GPS geocaching in 2002, which then led me to get *very* interested in use of GPS for vehicle tracking in commercial setting.
It’s interesting how geocaching differs in many countries. While http://www.geocaching.com allows you to place a cache almost anywhere reasonable (but not buried), the Russian/Ukrainian analog site at http://www.geocaching.ru requires that the site placement have some sort of historical/geographical/cultural significance. But many caches in Russia & Ukraine are partially buried, a twist on the standard North American rules.
Cache on !!!
Peter S.
http://www.fleetscan.com
My very first Geocaching experience: had to cross a little river by shimmying across a log on hands and knees. The GPS was attached by a belt clip. The GPS popped out of the clip and into the river, never to be recovered. I even went down to the lake to ask the fishermen to see if a GPS had come floating by. No such luck.
Now I attach the GPS to my belt loop with a carabiner.
Bruce