Geocaching

[downy]

Anybody out there geocaching?

 

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[bwilly36]

I have gone to the website & looked at some of the local caches to look for...but yet to actually venture out to look for them...but I would like to get my kids out to try it out.

bwilly36

 

[stefen]

What is your definition of 'Geocashing"?

 

[jeff of pa]

What is your definition of 'Geocashing"?

This is Geocaching.

http://www.geocaching.com/seek/


http://www.geocaching.com/



Not Tom Masse's "Geode-Caching"

 

[Jeffro]

Geo- caching is where people hide little caches and then post the GPS coordinates on the web, check the sites above.

I have done it, and it is fun.... but I'd rather be metal detecting.

no matter where you live in the USA, there is probably a geo-cache somewhere in your vicinity. Little ol' Eugene Oregon has several hundred.

 

[stefen]

Thank all of you for your response regarding the definition.

If I can say I have learned something new each day, then it was a good day.

I much prefer the environmental aspect as opposed to cyber-detecting.

I'm always open to new experiences, though.

 

[ewc79]

I love geocaching! I just found this website and was going to ask the same question. I have only found about 46 caches so far and have hidden 5. You can always get to the area and turn your GPS off and search for the cache. That makes it a little more of a challenge. I just made a new website at http://www.nationaladventure.com where I have a forum to talk about adventures and geocaching. I want to add another forum on GPS treasure hunting.

It has been interesting searching through these pages and seeing what some people find. I know some people have come across old coins and things while geocaching.

Eric

 

[KalamazooHunter]

Husband and I tried Geo-Caching out this weekend. He loved it! It was a lot of fun.
We were hooked and did about 15 this weekend.

Tara

 

[ewc79]

Husband and I tried Geo-Caching out this weekend. He loved it! It was a lot of fun.
We were hooked and did about 15 this weekend.

Tara

Isn't it fun??

I don't want to get too off topic on this forum, but if you enjoy geocaching then check out my site above. I added some new topics.

 

[KalamazooHunter]

We did 3 more so far, Total of 18.
It's cool because while we are out Geo-Caching we notice a few places that would be great for metal detecting!

 

[Stroover]

I'm "Stroover" in geocaching.com too. Been doing it for a year now. I'm more into it for finding interesting places or neat geological/environmental sites. As a result of geocaching, I've also came across a few very old settlements with potential for coin shooting and/or relic hunting. One thing I like to do sometimes is copy the coordinates of geocaches and paste them in google earth to have it zoom in on the site so I have a better idea of where I'm going.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

I have never tried geocaching. I have found a few by accident. Are they all in military cartrige containers? I may take one with me when I take a long hike in the swamp. I doubt if anyone will walk the places I go, but would be interesting to find out.

 

[wmas1960]

Tried a little bit ago to send this but my net connection crashed. So, here goes again.

I had a friend tell me about Geocaching a few years ago. When I first heard of it, I laughed my *$$ off. It seemd so ingenious. I immediatedly ran out and got myself a Garmin eTrex for about $90. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to get out, during the day, for enough time to actively pursue any caches.

Not all are ammo cans. The cannisters can vary with the immagination of the person who plants them. I have seen pictures of some, so elaborate, that they were modeled to look like a tree stump or rock. Or some other item that you might naturally find in the wilderness. A hollowed out log turned upside down with the cache underneath... Some are as simple as a food container. Like Tupperware or Rubbermaid etc. They can, I guess, even be the containers like I use to store my finds in my car. I keep a bunch of the Ziploc storage containers with the twist tight lids. As long as a container closes securely and would be relatively air and water tight. I have also heard of people using PVC Pipe with caps on the ends. However that can look a little suspicious to some who might find it. Imagine a parks ranger stumbling accross one of those. I have thought of building my own cache containers like that, painting them up nicely and all but putting a clear window in one end, or both so you could see what is inside. I think transparency would usually be best in this day of anxiety and suspicion. Especially if you are going to plant your cache in any area of reasonable traffic or proximity to anything sensitive. I once read of a man who planted a cache near a railroad tunnel in the mountains. They found it and called in a bomb squad to remove it. Needless to say, when they found out who planted it there, (which with most caches they are marked with the owners email or something), they were not as amused by it. Don't know if it was an ammo can or PVC but whatever, Using a transparent food container might be one of the best choices. If you are planting way out in the wilderness or wherever, you probably don't need to be as concerned and the durability and such of an ammo can would maybe be more ideal.

Other forms that I have seen have been what are called Micro-Caches. These can be anything small like a film container or an old cigar tube. Heck, could be an Altoid tin or a Tic Tac box. Anything large enough to maybe have a clue to another cache, or a pencil and a small roll of paper for a log book... could be adequate since, in a lot of cases, the only purpose is to simply find the object and log your find on Geocaching.com. As I think of it, put an internet log book on the net somewhere, Print up some weather resistant magnets with the address and stick them to the back of a road sign or under a park bench.... Name the cache site and write that ID on the magnet with a Sharpie or something. Then have people go sign your registration book and post on the Geocaching site. Maybe have people email you pictures of something in the area of the cache to prove they were there. Then post some of the good pictures of a scenic area. Some caches are placed to encourage people to engage in a specific outdoor activity. Like climbing the side of a cliff or canoing out to a small island. We have one near me where it is in some lagoons. Out on an island full of deer. The idea is to get people to canoe out to the island and take a look around. Don't have a canoe so I haven't tried that one. Or, to simply draw someone to a site of some grandure to enjoy the spectacle of our wonderful landscape. I have even heard of some placed to get people to go to a horribly neglected or abused and littered area and encourage everyone who goes there to fill a bag with garbage and take it out. Cache In Trash Out as they call it. By getting people to use some areas will, sometimes, cause areas to get more cleaned up.

Most conventional caches though are large enough to hold a log book, a pen or pencil, some trinkets or other objects. If you find one, take a prize but it is good practice to put one back. Keep the contents circulating and people can even go back again and again to see what is new. Common items are Happy Meal or dime store type toys. Batteries for a GPS, Film for a camera. Some caches will contain a disposable camera but usually for you to take a picture of your party and leave the camera behind. The owner or custodian of the cache will take the camera to get processed and post the pictures, Of course if appropriate.

Like I mentioned above, I have often thought of trying to plant a couple caches myself. Some ideas that I have had were caches that might tie into metal detecting in an area. I once thought of burrying one on a beach or play lot that would require someone to have to use their metal detector to find it. Other thoughts were a memorial set of caches dedicated to my old High School. It is long gone now, torn down to make room for million dollar lake front homes. It started near Chicago and moved to Wisconsin after a fire burned it down. Then merged with another school in Wisconsin. Maybe something with some laminated sheets of pictures and such, at the locations of the original campuses. Encourage people to leave mementos of their experiences with the school so that they can be put in the schools museum. Or, maybe have the cache contain instructions on how they can send in some items. Another thought was something tied into Casino Collectables. Decks of cards, dice, casino chips and tokens... swizzle sticks and napkins. Would be an interesting way to get some trading going on. Maybe one could be done for coin collectors. People leave some semi valuable old coins. Nothing too valuable but unique enough to encourage kids to get started in collecting.

Whatever one puts into a cache, keep a few things in mind. First be a little careful when opening them. You never do know what you will find. While Geocaching is generally a positive safe and constructive hobby, like with anything, there are deviants out there who will put things that are not appropriate in a cache. Maybe even vandalize a cache in some unmentionable ways. Email the cache owner if you find something amiss like that. When putting items in a cache think of things that are appropriate and safe for any age. Don't put knives or weapons in. Don't put accelerants, explosives like fireworks or combustables like matches. Some caches, in the summer heat, could get warm inside. Or, you don't want some child coming accross something dangerous and hurting themselves. Or some vandal doing some danger to the park with items that you left behind. Avoid putting food in the caches. Some people will put bottles of water or dog bisquits in for people who go out with their pets. However, parishable food can go bad. In winter months, a water bottle could freeze and burst, destroying the contents of the cache. Animals might smell the food and tear apart the cache.

If interested in Geocaching, go to www.geocaching.com and seek out their forums and read some. There is a lot of interesting information about peoples experiences, the different types of containers that people use and such. Don't want to distract people from these sites or their detecting and treasure hunting but there is a lot of fun stuff there. I haven't actually gotten out to find any caches as I got wrapped up with a lot of things that don't get me out enough during the days. I don't even get out detecting as much as I would like, except for an hour or so at a time. But, I have had a blast reading up on the hobby and really look forward to a day when I can get out for an entire afternoon and find some.

Definately, if you are going out places that you think people might be interested in, take a cache container out with you. Sign up on the geocaching website and register the cache. You might be surprised. Put a few things in there with a small note pad and a pencil. Maybe the disposable camera idea and see what happens. Maybe post some pictures of what you find left behind.

 

[wmas1960]

Writing my previous post, I had the curioscity to visit the site for the first time in a while. I found an interesting thread that you might find interesting.

http://forums.groundspeak.com/GC/index.php?showtopic=62421

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

wmas1960, thanks, there are some cool containers that might be hard to find. 8) If they had treasure in them , I would search.

I enjoy hiking alone in the Big Cyress Swamp. I find some remote places, often dangerous, where possibly no man has walked before.
I start walking at about 4-5 am and make it back just before dark. This would be a way of sharing those unique places with someone determined enough to find them. thanks again.

 

[wmas1960]

Like I said, You might be surprised. However, on second thought, if you like the fact that the areas you go are so untouched and solitude, you might not want to post caches. They, or I guess you, would rate the caches based on challenge and difficulty and all. Rate them high on the scale and there would be a hand full of nuts who would do it, just for kicks.

Sounds like a cool walk you take. I don't know if I would have what it takes to walk it.

Enjoy...

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

I don't mind sharing.