The "i Have No Clue What Geocaching Is", Geocaching Guide!

Intro: The "i Have No Clue What Geocaching Is", Geocaching Guide!

Little do most hikers know but geocaching has always been right under their noses; It's an international hobby inspired by adventurist spirits that just love the woods.... or wannabe land-pirates that don't mind sharing.

So what is it exactly?

Geocaching is an entertaining adventure game for gps users. The concept is individuals set up 'caches' all over the world and share their coordinates online so others can find the hidden cache. If you do take a reward from the cache you must leave something else within the cache.

So how easy is it?

Each cache has a different difficulty considering the terrain, distance and how well hidden it is. Most caches are family friendly but some will definitely, 'bring out the sweat!'

STEP 1: So How Do I Start?

Expensive gear is not recommended! More importantly, I suggest cheap, easy to use equipment that does its job and thats it.

I've been using a etrax legend by garmin and highly suggest it, but consider your options and heres a mini guide about gps recomendations taken from http://www.geocaching.com/about/buying.aspx

Feature considerations for good geocaching GPS gear:

Basemap. This is highly recommended. The additional cost is marginal, and the increase in the equipment's usefulness is substantial.

Channels. Use a receiver with 12 parallel channels. This should include most manufactured after 1997. Older, single-channel receivers are much slower and may not be as accurate.

External antenna jack. This allows the equipment to be mounted inside a vehicle. It is not always possible to obtain good satellite coverage through a front windshield. Even backpackers will benefit from the ability to safely store the receiver inside a pack with an antenna attached to backpack shoulder straps.

Interface. If using the receiver with a computer, be sure that it includes both data in/out ports, and make sure it's NMEA compatible.

Memory. This is used to load detailed topographic or street-level digital maps into the receiver. Topo maps use up a great deal of memory. Capacity should be at least 8 megabytes, or the receiver should include the ability to accept a memory card for as much memory as needed.

Power source. Use a cigarette lighter power cable whenever possible. If you're only using batteries, make sure to carry spares and use a solar charger for extended field use.

Rocker keypad. Using a receiver without a rocker keypad is like using a computer without a mouse.

Screen size. For visual ease of operation, use a receiver with the largest screen that can be realistically carried. Screen size is measured diagonally. Color is great and helps define map features, although it does burn battery power.

Waterproof. Sooner or later the gear will get submerged. Get gear that is at least water-resistant. Plastic bags and boxes give electronics a little additional protection.

STEP 2: Using the GPS

Heres the steps and some pictures to mapping a cache's location using Gamin's Etrax legend.

Create an account on http://www.geocaching.com/ to access location waypoints in your zip.

Once you have coordinates to a possible cache, power on your GPS and go to 'main menu'

On the 'main menu', go to 'mark' and that should bring up a new screen

Enter the location coordinates into the 'location' block as they appeared on the internet, (ex. N 42* 12.345, W 072* 12.345)

Some GPS's might have other options such as elevation, distance, or bearing, well don't bother with those, your only going to need to input the location coordinates.

At the bottom of the 'mark' screen should be either 'map', 'goto' or 'ok'.

'Ok' saves the location for later, 'Goto" pulls up a compass with an arrow and distance pointing towards the cache, "Map' (which i use) creates a map of your current location and a path to the cache.

Some other tips,

I suggest reading the entire description of the cache before going out, usually the owner of the cache will have information to help you find it, or warnings such as poison ivy or bee's nests around the area. Also look to see if the owner suggests a parking lot, it helps a lot to know where to park.

STEP 3: Additional Tips and Hiking Gear

Heres some tips I've found useful....

Always go hiking and caching with a buddy, that way if you fall off a cliff someone can have a good bar story for later.

Many caches are off trail so be aware of your surrounds, Bug-spray rarely stops a bears from clawing your buddy's face.

Bring water bottles and DON'T DRINK FROM STREAMS, animal's poop in those.

Inevitable your GPS will lose signal every now and then from overhead tree's and rock's but eventually it should clear up and most caches are located in clear sky locations.

The Final 30 feet is the hardest, most likely your GPS will bounce, so put the gps down and start circling the area looking for good hiding spots, and WATCH FOR WHAT YOU POKE, don't go sticking your head in a hole if it doesn't look safe.



OK, so you found the cache right now what?

Usually if you have kids they like to exchange Macdonald's toys with the other ones other kids left behind,

For the rest of us that aren't amused with an Indiana Jone's windup, usually adults leave behind geocoins, which can be tracked online and then placed within another cache.

I can't stress this enough though, If you take something PLEASE leave something!

Also, if you'd like to leave comments to the cache owner they usually appreciate that and it's nice to know the condition of a cache and what people have been leaving in it.

Comments

[stephenf]

Bears? BEARS? Is there a city-version of geocaching?

[RosaL1]

Yes there is! Geocaching is geocaching, and I've seen plenty hidden in small parks, graveyards, and even between buildings! I've never geocached in an actual woods.

[bajablue]

Great Ible... and I'm no longer clueless! ;-)

[xanxer82]

Nice 'Ible. I've been Geocaching for a while. Geocaching.com is a cool site and makes it easy to load coordinates to your GPS or GPS enabled smartphone.
On a side note, if you run out of water you can drink from a stream but boil, filter and/or treat the water first. Iodine tablets are cheap, easy to use and weight very little. (Just don't use them if you have thyroid issues. There are water bottles designed to filter water for sale at most places with an outdoor section.
Have fun and happy trails!

[artworker]

A bad day of Geocaching is anytime better than a good day at the office.

[hbrommer]

hey this is the first i have heard of geocatching & it sounds great, by the way where did you get your geocoin?

[glier]

i can bear mosquitoes, enraged bird (their eggs can be a good breakfast) and haven't happened to get close to a bear to shake hands but... (PWAGH GET AWAY THAT INSECT FROM ME), i hate the fealing of light things touching my skin.

thanks for the info, i'll try to apply it in my next hike

[Tommi Potx]

Ooooh, why all this arguing? Who is Fred82664 with the attitude and poor grammar? Why the big peeing contest? It's just Instructables.
Chill dudes!

[Fred82664]

sound cool ! but the gas is about $5.00 or more a Gal. that makes it a bit short on doing all that for a $ . 05 worth of bronze and leaving one behind. this must be a game for the Rich and Oil tycoons

[Pie Ninja]

You know, if you think about how much it costs to do something compared to how much you get out of it, nothing is worth it.

[Fred82664]

that sounds like a statement made form someone that has no idea about doing much investing in any thing. You should run for some Government Election you would fit in vary well with the majority of them  

[Pie Ninja]

They're all 15 year old Australians who like to burn things?

[Fred82664]

I understand now here in the USA it is all about ROI (Return On Investment) If the return dose not exceed the investment then is is a lose.  

[Tape-structable]

It's not about the cost you put in and what you receive out of it. Its the experience you have with your friends and family.

The point is to have a good time! Have you ever been hiking before? Surely you drove somewhere thats challenging. Let's say I was planning one, I would look up if there are any caches around that location I'm hiking, because I'm going anyway.

I agree though, gas is expensive these days. 

[Fred82664]

When hiking I do look for things like edible and medicinal plants. I am  a survivalist. Trinkets are nice to look at but don't hold much value to staying alive in the wild lands. But yes I do see your point if I was there and was thinking about such things as a player of that sport it would be cool. I did not see it vary fun let alone useful to spend a lot of gas money out  just to find a $.50 trinket.     

[integrator]

I'm extremely new to geocaching, like a day. But there are 20 or 30 caches within 2 or 3 miles of me, and at least several hundred in the area I drive daily. 

As far as value, it's not about that. You're supposed to leave something of equal or more value to what you take. It's about the hunt, finding the treasure, solving puzzles. If you don't like any of those things, or the outdoors, it's probably not for you. 

[Fred82664]

Vary good for you and your location Mr Integrator lol you might have me shaking in my boots with your intimidating ID name   ROLFAO ! Even professional that solve puzzles, find treasure and have good hunting look at the high dollar they can make as profit.  I can say the only thing your statement  has truth is wasting my money is not for me. when I could give it to some one that is in need of a vital life sport items ( Example: Medication, Food, Cloths, Shelter) you know those things greatly rich and wasteful people hoard.             

[blue_note]

LOL yes his name could be intimidating if it really was "interrogator" as in to interrogate someone, looks to me like it is "integrator", as in to integrate two things together 8)

[integrator]

You got it right blue_note. It's what I do for a living, integration of low voltage systems.

[scorallo]

Do you watch movies? Pay for cable or sat? Listen to music?

EXACTLY

so shut up - I’m so tired of people harping on 'entertainment' when they use it EVERY day.  People need these things - if you don't want to do it then why bother talking about it so much????
I can only conclude that you are either jealous (can’t imagine why), or just looking for an argument - neither of which is particularly commendable.

That said, I understand what you are saying, but it is the manner in which you chose to say it and the way in which you continued to talk about it that bothers me.  If you are not open to other people's hobbies and pastimes then why would we care about yours?

Also rolling on laughing f@&king a$$ off makes no sense