What is Geocaching?
FTF…DNF…TNLNSL…TFTH??
Is this a new language or something else?
These are all terms used by geocachers.
Geocaching is a new form of treasure hunting fun using satellites and a hand held GPS receiver. An activity that the whole family can participate in is hard to find, but tell them you are going on a treasure hunt will have even the most reluctant walkers out the door faster than your GPS can get a lock on satellites.
This activity is for all ages and abilities. There are caches you can drive up to; hike to; swim to or just enjoy a leisurely stroll along a path or sidewalk. Geocaches are all over the world and are just waiting for you to find them.
Caches are placed by fellow geocachers. To start off if I wanted to place a geocache I would find an interesting area or location and then using my GPS I would mark the coordinates of the location where the geocache is placed.
Once I have the location and the coordinates I would take the coordinates and place them on a cache page on www.geocaching.com and write up a little story about the area or why I placed the cache there. Once it has been approved then anyone that has a GPS can log into the web site and get the coordinates, put them into their GPS, and go and find the cache.
Once you find a cache you can take something out of it, like a little trinket, but you have to replace it with something else, and sign the logbook. Once you have done that then you replace it where you found it for the next person to find it.
Once you find one cache you will be hunting for your next cache very soon. Geocaching is very addicting and also a great way to get exercise.
Knowing that I was going to be writing this post I went out today to pull a couple of my geocaches in and to also find one so that I could post some pictures of what you would be looking for and how sneaky people can be when hiding caches.
The following are the different types of geocaches:
Traditional caches are at the posted coordinates listed on the cache page.
Multi Caches are ones where you get information from one location and then move on to another location, the final location being a physical container. There are many variations, but most multi-caches have a hint to find the second cache, and the second cache has hints to the third, and so on.
Mystery or Puzzle Caches is "catch-all" of cache types; this form of cache can involve complicated puzzles you will first need to solve to determine the coordinates. Due to the increasing creativity of Geocaching this becomes the staging ground for new and unique challenges.
Event Caches are when local geocachers and Geocaching organizations designate a time and location to meet and discuss Geocaching or just have a meet and greet.
Cache In Trash Out Events is an activity intimately tied to Geocaching. While out on a cache hunt, we collect litter along the trails and properly dispose of it. Cache In Trash Out Events are much larger clean-up events that involve and benefit the larger community.
An Earth Cache is a special place that people can visit to learn about a unique geoscience feature or aspect of our Earth. Earth Caches include a set of educational notes and the details about where to find the location (latitude and longitude). Visitors to Earth Caches can see how geological processes have shaped our planet, how we manage the resources and how scientists gather evidence to learn about the Earth.
Basically you are using longitude and latitude to find Tupperware hidden in the woods! It is great fun and the whole family can enjoy participating in it.
I have been Geocaching since 2004 and I have found 709 caches (I took a year off in 2005 when I was paralyzed) and I have placed 61 geocaches in and around the Fraser Valley.
We much prefer to go Geocaching in the woods where are some people preferred to geocache in the city.
One big thing that you have to remember is that you have to be stealth when finding these caches so that non-geocachers do not find them and destroy them.
My daughter and I are not very stealth when finding geocaches! We are the ones that are laughing and having a great time on the trails. Everyone knows that if you want to have a fun and entertaining Geocaching adventure, call the Angels up and get them to take you on a tour of the area!
Not only are more people Geocaching but there are more businesses that are wanting in on the whole idea. I have a geocache hidden inside of a tourist center and they were the ones that approached me about it being placed there. It brings people into their business and promotes Geocaching. It’s a win win situation.
I hope I have helped you learn a bit about what this Geocaching hype is all about, if not then I will be more than happy to explain it to you again.
This is a geocaching container.
This is where the container was hiding. It is a tree stump.
This is what it looks like covered up!
This is where it was hidden.
You wouldn't know there was a treasure there would you!
This is Gizmo being all pathetic in the rain at the cache location!
Do you like his twig friend he had following him?
