What is geocaching? A fun GPS game for all ages

Geocaching is a game where you literally try to find "hidden" treasure with a GPS unit.  Geocachers hide containers of varying sizes usually containing a log sheet where you can log your user name to record that you made the find.  Some containers are so small they you can barely see them.  They are called "nanos" which usually only contain a tiny log sheet rolled up inside.  If the container is large enough however, it may contain small items like small plastic toys, jewelry, small amounts of money or mostly items that are "trackable" online such as "geocoins" which have a unique ID number or "trackable bugs".  These are usually items that have a small tag attached that has an ID number that can be tracked on the geocaching web site.  The only rule is that if you remove an item from a cache, you must put something in it's place.  So you need to carry a few items along while geocaching to leave in place of things you find.

You find geocaches by logging into your geocaching account or create a free account if you don't have one.  By entering your zip code or address, a list of caches in your local area will appear.  You can then open the ones that look interesting and get the GPS coordinates of where the item is located.  You can also view a map of the items via Google Maps which show where the caches are located.  Sometimes there are clues included in the cache description.  In some instances, you must solve a riddle or find other caches to determine what the coordinates of the real cache.  If you have a compatible GPS unit, (Garmin, DeLorme, or Magellan) you can directly download the cache coordinates to your GPS by connecting your GPS unit to your computer.  Depending on your device, the caches will then show on your GPS display as small treasure boxes and can be easily tracked. 

The fun begins when you try and actually find a cache.  Some may be easy, but in most cases it is quite challenging.  Caches are very will hidden and often camouflaged to blend in with their surroundings and are difficult to locate.  Most of the fun is not in what you find, but the hunt itself.  I personally have seen some amazing things in the process of hunting geocaches.  I list some of my favorite places and finds in other entries in this blog.  Most of the time it involves a lot of hiking and therefore gets you exercising without even realizing it.

Once you find and log your cache, you can log your find on-line by opening the cache's web page, and entering information about your find.  You can log that you found it, did not find it, etc.  You can leave a note detailing your search and you can even attach pictures.  Any trackable items picked up or dropped off can also be logged in the inventory area of each cache.

You can see where a trackable item in the cache has been and where it will go in the future. When you find one of these items, you log into your geocaching account, pull up the name of the geocache that you found, and log that you found it in the inventory area.  If you removed any trackable items, you find them in the inventory, select the item, then log that you removed it from the cache.  Then, when you decide to place it in another cache, you open the trackable item on-line using it's unique ID.  Then you log that you placed the item in a different cache.  It is exciting to see where some of the things you find have been.

The goal is to see how many caches you can find and just to have some good clean fun in the process of your hunting.  To get more information or to create a geocaching account, log onto www.geocaching.com.  Unless you choose to create a premium account, its FREE!  You will also begin to spend some money if you decide to hide your own caches.  If you do not have a GPS, you can get started buy logging in and printing out the cache detail sheets and the Google cache maps.  These will get you pretty close to the hunting area.  You can purchase a GPS unit for $100 or less if you stick to a base model or the kind you use in a car.  You can even use an iPhone if you download the apps available on the geocaching web site.

Have fun and good luck in your geocaching adventures!