Geocaching
Geocaching is a high-tech treasure hunting game played throughout the world by adventure seekers equipped with GPS devices. The basic idea is to locate hidden containers, called geocaches, outdoors and then share your experiences online. Geocaching is enjoyed by people from all age groups, with a strong sense of community and support for the environment. *
My boyfriend and I started geocaching in September 2009 and are in love. It is so fun to go for a walk or a hike and find hidden caches along the way. We went for a walk on Christmas day and found one just around the corner from his sister’s house. Besides Alberta I have found caches in Massachusetts and New York. I am looking for my upcoming site trips which will allow me to find caches in two more states. We also are hoping to get caches in a couple more provinces this year as well.
It is inexpensive, fun for the whole family and can be done pretty much anywhere in the world. We have even hidden a cache of our own in Fish Creek Park and hope to be hiding more soon. It is fun to read the logs and see the photos posted about our cache.
How it works:
1. Sign up for a free geocaching account at www.geocaching.com – you don’t need the premium account, it is something you can look into if you catch the geocaching bug.
2. Get the gear – first of all you need good walking shoes, and some sort of writing stick. You also need a GPS, it can be $10 Geocaching App for the iPhone, or $20 Geocaching App for the Blackberry or any other GPS device you may have. We have been using both the Blackberry 8900 and the iPhone and have found 50 caches.
3. Pick a cache and hit the road. You can search for caches through the website or using your phone app there is usually a button to “Find Nearby Caches”.
4. Select the one you want and use the navigation tools to get to the coordinates posted.
5. Read the description and title of the cache for any hints or clues as to where it may be hidden. It is also a good idea to check the size of the cache so you know if you are looking for something the size of a key chain or a big ammo can that could hold a lot of treasure. If you still aren’t sure, you can check and see if there is a hint. (this geocache is posted by Igloomaniac and called Stop In Cranston)
6. Be stealthy and make the grab (it is a fake nut and bolt. second down it is magnet and the bolt screws off and the log is inside. They aren’t all like this, there are a lot that are tupperware containers hidden under rocks or in a tree trunk)
7. Sign the log
8. Photographic log (you don’t have to do this but it is fun to keep a record of all the caches you find)
9. Rehide the cache where you found it
10. Log your find on the website
11. Rinse and repeat
See just that easy a nd it’s so fun. When geocaching keep an eye out for unnatural piles of rocks, sticks or twigs. This is usually a sign of a hidden cache. You can find caches hanging in trees too. They are everywhere. This cache is called a Traditional Cache, which means you go to the coordinates posted on the website and you should find a cache there. There are a wide variety of caches. You can read about the other types here: http://www.geocaching.com/about/cache_types.aspx
In browsing geocaching info I found a great blog that a girl in Ottawa is writing about geocaching and her family’s adventures. Stop by and give it a look: http://geonarcissa.wordpress.com/
My geocaching name is angestar. If you sign up please feel free to add me as a friend.
P.S. – My boyfriend and I bought the Garmin Dakota 20 GPS today. We went out right away and found a cache with it. After having used it for a while, I will post my review.
