Geocashing, A.K.A. Geocaching

Geocaching ...

So what is Geocashing?  If you haven't heard of geocaching, it a hightech sport centered around use of handheld GPS navigation devices; a modern day treasure hunt!  With geocaching the basic idea is to locate a cache by it's GPS coordinates posted on the Internet by those hiding the cache.  The caches are containers that vary in size and contents.  They may be as small as a film canister with a log in it, or as large as ammo boxes and even up to 5 gallon bucket size.  A cache may provide the visitor with a wide variety of rewards and the "geocashers" exchange items left in the cache with items of their own.  Finding a cache can be easy.  Sometimes it's a challenge.  For some the biggest reward is the thrill of the hunt and the discovery of locations they have never been.  Sometimes just getting to the location of a cache is the reward itself. 

What is involved in Geocaching?

1. Get a GPS Receiver

2. Create an account with one of the caching sites listed below. Membership is free.  Some sites offer additional "premium" members, which allow access to additional features.

3. Use the search features these sites to find a list of caches in an area.

4. Choose caches that interest you.  Create a waypoint in your GPS unit for each cache using the latitude and longitude coordinates from the cache's description.  Record any additional details such as hints and description of the cache.  Some GPS units such as the Garmin Rino allow uploading coordinates directly into the GPS.

5. Bring a small exchange items for trading at the cache.  It should be something you are willing to give away, but might be of some interest or value to another person.

6. Use your GPS unit's "navigate" features to direct you to the cache waypoint or location.  As you make your way towards the cache, the challenge begins.  Some are easy.  Others are cleverly hidden.  Some are multi-caches where your first find will be hints towards the 2nd or 3rd leg (or more) of the cache's actual location!

7. Once you find the cache, take note of how it has been hidden. You will need to replace it in the identical fashion that it was found.

8. Open the cache and browse the trinkets and goodies within it. Consider if you would like to take anything in exchange for the cache item you have brought along with you. You should always trade something of equal or greater value to keep the sport fair and honest. You are not required to make a trade if you don't want to. Alternatively, you can help "restock" a poorly filled cache by leaving your item and taking nothing.

9. Find the logbook within the cache. Make a new entry in the book noting the date, time, your caching site username, and a line or two about your journey. Also log what you traded by including what you took and what you left, even if it was nothing.

10. Close the cache back up securely and hide it in the exact same place and manner in which you found it.

11. Return home and log back into your chosen caching website. Find your chosen cache once again and use the "Log Your Visit" feature (or equivalent) to record that you found the cache. Include the same kinds of details that you wrote in the cache logbook.