[B][URL="http://www.geocaching.com"]www.geocaching.com[/URL]
What is Geocaching?[/B]
Geocaching is a worldwide scavanger hunt that uses GPS units, a logging website, and a variety of different types of "Caches". Members of the website can acquire the GPS coordinates of user placed caches, go out, find them, log their name, and record the find on a website.
[B]So why is it fun?[/B]
Well, I personally find the two main types of geocaching fun for different reasons.
In urban geocaching, half the battle is finding the often bottlecap sized geocaches, which are often in very odd places (I once found one inside of a lamp post on the side of a busy city street, for example). To add an additional challenge, one must try to avoid drawing attention to themselves as they fiddle around in various odd places, so people who dont know what geocaching is dont come over and steal or disrupt the cache. The sheer cleverness of the hiding spots for caches is also simply awesome. If you live in a city, you more than likely pass by more than 10 caches on the way to work.
The other variety of geocaches are hidden in more rural areas, often placed at a cool, yet hidden scenic spot, or an area with an interesting historical background. These caches are often easier to find and are larger, sometimes even containing prizes for those who find them.
[B]
What does a Geocache look like?[/B]
Urban caches are often very small, some only containing a small roll of paper to be used as a logbook.
Some being as small as:
[IMG]http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2271/2063612922_246dee7f6a.jpg?v=0[/IMG]
The larger urban caches are usually a key box or waterproof soap box, these may contain small trinkets to trade occasionally:
[IMG]http://blog.mlive.com/saginawnews_impact/2009/03/large_APS.Geocache3.jpg[/IMG]
Rural geocaches are usually ammo cans or tupperware containers hidden bettween rocks or in a hollow stump:
[IMG]http://noadventure.files.wordpress.com/2009/04/official-geocache5.jpg[/IMG]
Small rural caches do exist though, often hidden in trees or trail signs:
[IMG]http://farm1.static.flickr.com/65/157340708_144f971a78.jpg[/IMG]
[B]
What do I need to Geocache?[/B]
A GPS, and an internet connection. When you register an account on Geocaching.com, you can type in your location to get a list of caches in your area. Caches are found literally all over the world, Ive found many on trips to other countries in addition to finding over 30 in my local area.
[B]Other Caching info/resources:
[/B]-[U]Multi caches[/U]: several caches in a tight proximity (Often a park) are often organized into multi-caches. These types are the most fun IMO, since they only give you the coords to one cache, finding this one cache might give you the coords to the next one, or a hint to where it can be found.
[url]http://shop.groundspeak.com/productList.cfm?categoryID=13[/url] Purchasable geocaches for hiding
[url]http://www.geocaching.com/faq/default.aspx[/url] Official FAQ
[url]http://www.geocaching.com/iPhone/[/url] Iphone app info
[url]http://www.geocaching.com/calendar/default.aspx[/url] Geocaching events calender
All the Geocaches near me get vandalised and disappear.
[editline]10:49PM[/editline]
:C
So what happens if someone registers a geocache on top of a building or in a lake
My mum is addicted to this, she recently bought 5/6 magnetic ones which disguise themselves as big bolts.
[QUOTE=Kai-ryuu;20821888]So what happens if someone registers a geocache on top of a building or in a lake[/QUOTE]
A volunteer goes out and checks the location to make sure the cache is actually there. And they use a google maps based system, with satellite images, so it would be pretty easy to tell if it was in the middle of the ocean or something.
This sounds fun.
I should try it.
Oh cool, there's one near where I live.
there is one very near where i live, might check it out and post results
Edit: holy crap theres 2325 caches in Stockholm :byodood:
Quite Surprised there's one right outside my college
I have Geocached for years. I have a sticker on my car. Two of my friends Geocache.
The next big thing is Wherigo, however. GPS adventures.
I once went geocaching in my neighborhood. I found a little capsule thing on the bottom of the fire hydrant. Turns out the guy who put it there watches it 24/7 and came out to greet me. He was a real creep.
Stalker stashes, anyone?
I used to geocache all the time with my dad when I was younger, but his GPS broke then we kinda just stopped doing it.
I've always loved finding hidden things so geochaching to me is awesome, I love doing the ones on sheer cliffs or really hard to reach those are the most rewarding.
Hey, there's some in my town. And one of them is near where I get lunch sometimes.
Next time I'm up there I'll check that out.
I have tried this twice:
First time I went to one and found a beautiful view and an empty box.
The second time I found one it had two packs of 5gum, and six dollars.
Definitely something to do again.
I am flying with glider planes over the black forest quite often. Maybe I should throw out some geocaches so you people can go and find it?
I'll put in some money prize, too :)
Wow, this looks really fun. I want to try it some time.
Someone should write a fake name in the log book and leave hetai or furry porn or something to that effect.
I have an iPhone app for this. I've been planning to go search for one. (there is only a few in my area unfortunately.) Might do it soon on my lunch break.
Looks pretty fun, though gps's cost a fair amount. :C
Timebomb, don't forget Mystery Caches, Puzzle Caches, Night Caches ( <3 ), etc etc etc
I've been geocaching with my mom for several years now. I don't care much for the searching, but I love the places people put them.
And there are water geocaches. We go out on kayaks and get ones that are on the shore, or on little islands, or sometimes just on a rock in the middle of the lake.
A lot of them and filled with random junk and kids toys so kids can come and have fun as well. Personally, I think it's more about the areas you get to visit (and exercise/hiking). I don't like the urban ones nearly as much.
Currently, we're working on the 'Fizzy Challenge' which is finishing a geocache of every terrain / difficulty level. So, getting a Difficulty 1, Terrain 1 and a Difficulty 1, Terrain 2, etc etc etc. We have like 4 more to go.
There are some REALLY hard ones. Some of the most difficult ones can require other equipment like rock climbing gear or a scuba suit. There was one that was something like an 11+ hour round trip. Luckily, any kayak geocache counts as a 5 Terrain because it requires extra equipment.
[QUOTE=Newbienice99;20826161]
Personally, I think it's more about the areas you get to visit (and exercise/hiking). I don't like the urban ones nearly as much.
Timebomb, don't forget Mystery Caches, Puzzle Caches, Night Caches ( <3 ), Micro Caches ( </3 ), etc etc etc
[/QUOTE]
I figured they would be in the FAQ I posted, so I just put in my favorite (Multi-caches).
Honestly, I like the urban ones because of the strategy and timing required to get them without getting noticed. Sometimes me and a friend will even do a tag team cache grab, where he makes a distraction or watches my back while I grab the cache :v:
Hahaha, nice. I just find that too many of the urban ones are in Wal-Mart parking lots and require no skill and aren't interesting.
I want to see someone who does parkour do a straight line from 1 end of the city to the geocache location.
Step 1: Buy a large geocach (ammo box), and a pull pin smokebob
Step 2: Rig the box so that the smoke bomb is activated when the ammo can is opened.
Step 3: Hide box in an indoor area (large shopping mall, under a trash can or something)
IRL trolling success.
[QUOTE=Wonky;20826506]Step 1: Buy a large geocach (ammo box), and a pull pin smokebob
Step 2: Rig the box so that the smoke bomb is activated when the ammo can is opened the grenade is set off
Step 3: Hide box in an indoor area (large shopping mall, under a trash can or something)
IRL trolling success.[/QUOTE]
Doing this.
Now.
A few years back I found what little caches I could find. I ought to try this again.
I've done a few of these with are aunts. It's pretty fun. :3:
[QUOTE=Wonky;20826506]
Step 3: Hide box in an indoor area (large shopping mall, under a trash can or something)
[/QUOTE]
There aren't any indoor Geocaches :downs:
[QUOTE=Timebomb757;20826675]There aren't any indoor Geocaches :downs:[/QUOTE]
Fine, an urban setting then.
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