What is geocaching (pronounced jee-oh-kash-ing)? Basically it is a high-tech treasure hunt but instead of a treasure map you use a GPS and a set of coordinates. You are looking for hidden treasure which in this case is not a chest of gold but a geocache, a weather-proof container hidden by someone else.
The main piece of equipment you need for geocaching is a GPS. GPS units work by receiving signals from GPS satellites that help the device determine its location. No matter how much you pay for it, most GPS receivers will show your location anywhere in the world within 15 metres of accuracy. They will also store data in its memory and keep a track log for you. They are all similarly accurate so spending more money may get you more bells and whistles like base maps and additional memory but it won’t get you any closer to a geocache than a costly unit.
Finding a Geocache
Before setting off on your own hunt, there are a few things to consider. Some caches are in remote areas that take some planning to get to. Do you want a full day hike in the wilderness or do you want to spend ten minutes searching around your area? Geocaches are rated in two categories; the difficulty of finding the cache and the terrain of the environment around the cache. A 1/1 rating is the easiest to find whereas a 5/5 rating is the most challenging. There is a 5/5 cache hidden in Antarctica that is at an altitude of 12,000 feet but you may want to start with something a little less challenging. For the terrain ratings, one means it is handicapped accessible, three is not suitable for small children, and a five rating cache means you usually need specialized skill or knowledge to get to the cache. Keep an eye out for clues on the cache’s web page that may make it easier to find.
Once you figure out how challenging you want your hunt to be, select a cache from the official geocaching website. Once you set up your free membership, you’ll get the coordinates to enter or download into your GPS. Downloading the coordinates directly eliminates the chance of an accidental inputting error and a frustrating, fruitless search. Geocaching.com is interactive with Google Maps which many cachers find handy. Now that you are ready, head out for a modern version of hide and seek!
If you drive to your destination, mark your parked car as a waypoint on your GPS so you can find your vehicle when you are done.
Once you find the geocache and are done doing the happy dance, open it up and see what’s inside. There is usually a logbook and a writing tool for you to enter your name, the date, and any observations about the location, environment, or the geocache itself. You may take a trinket from the cache if you replace it with something of equal or greater value. When you are done, seal the geocache back up and place it exactly how you found it. Replace any rocks or other items that were on top of it or around it.
Once you have the geocaching bug, which is one of the few bugs you want these days, you’ll want to make a geocache of your own to hide. Finding a location is not as easy as you think. Unless you have permission from the landowner, don’t place the geocache on private property. Steer clear of military bases and railroad tracks. Do not bury your cache; seekers should not need any tools to locate your container.
How to Make a Geocache
What should I put in my geocache? The most important thing is a notebook and a pen or pencil so the people who find your cache can jot down their info. The logbook is the one necessity. Fill the rest of the cache with treasures for those who find your container to take. It is common practice for geocache seekers to take something from the cache and replace it with something for those who come after them.
Some other items, commonly called SWAG (stuff we all get), found in a geocache may include:
- Disposable camera for your cache visitors to snap a pic of themselves with before putting it back.
- Trinkets for people to swap. Common ones include coins, tiny toys, baseball or hockey cards, CDs, handmade items, stickers, and anything else you can easily fit into your container.
- Signature item that reflects your personal interests. Stamps for a stamp collector, animal figures for a veterinarian student, etc. You get the idea.
- Geocoins or ‘travel bugs’ which are items with a unique tracking number that can be followed on Geocaching.com. It's fascinating to see where your item goes after it leaves your cache.
Things to NOT include in your geocache include weapons, alcohol, pornography, drug paraphernalia, and food that may attract animals.
Make sure your geocache is waterproof. Common geocache boxes are Tupperware containers, ammo boxes, and anything else that can withstand the elements.
Now that your container is ready to go, post it on Geocaching.com. Once you fill out all pertinent information and submit it, a reviewer will look over your listing to make sure all necessary info is included and it will be online in a day or two. It is so exciting when people start finding your geocache and commenting on it!
Geocaching Trivia
Here are some interesting geocaching facts:
- Geocaching.com was established in 2000 with 75 geocaches posted. As of November 2010, there are 1,232,415 caches.
- Geocaching is a term made up of the prefix ‘geo’ which means earth and ‘caching’ from cache which is commonly thought of as a hiding place.
- There are 31 GPS satellites orbiting the earth.
- Geocaching is featured in the movie Splinterheads which hit theatres in November 2009.
Have fun and happy treasure hunting!
For more information:
- The official geocaching website
- The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Geocaching, Second Edition (by the editors and staff of geocaching.com)
Toby Welch - Toby is a full-time freelance writer who specializes in magazine articles, online writing, e-books, and manuscript editing.
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