Friday, August 5, 2011

What is Geocaching?

Geocaching is all the buzz these days. For over ten years now, this family-oriented outing has been the buzz the world wide. So just what is all the fuss about?

Geocaching is usually an outdoor activity that makes use of global positioning system (GPS) to track hidden "treasures" placed by other geocaching enthusiasts. It is a great way to get out and enjoy the outdoors with your family or friends, and can be easy enough for the youngest child to participate. With some of the larger cache's there is an opportunity to take an object and leave something else. My daughter loves it when she finds something she can take!

My daughter and I just got into Geocaching recently and I have to say that we are hooked! There is nothing more exciting than tracking a cache to discover it hidden out of site to most of the general public. With a GPS unit, you track the cache with specific coordinates provided by the individual that has hidden the cache. Because this is a world-wide phenomenon, it is common to see logged notes of the cache's discovery from people all over the world.

One great side activity involves the movement of an object that can be tracked online. That way you can see where your special object travels, and the journal is limitless! Referred to as geocoins, geobugs or travel bugs, these objects usually have a tracking id that you enter online when you find one. You can even note where you want the trackable to travel to. One recent travel bug I found was all the way from Germany!

If you are looking for a great way (or excuse) to get you and your friends and family out to get some exercise and fresh air, then geocaching might be just for you.

All the is required is a GPS tracking device
, something special to leave in the caches, and maybe a pencil in case there is nothing to document your visit. As well, depending on where you are headed, a good set of shoes, maybe long pants, bug spray and a flashlight will all come in handy and you will be glad once you are out in the field to be prepared!

If you are looking to get started with geocaching, take a peek at some products that will compliment your outdoor experience!

Thanks for visiting, and hope to see you out there in the field!

dadnalexa

Trip To Okoboji, With Geocaching Along The Way

With some much needed time off from the daily grind, and the opportunity to take a trip out of town with my daughter, what better way to get in some geocaching on the side? Nothing at all, but what I was not prepared for this time round, I will be ready for next time.

For someone that has just got his (and her) feet wet with geocaching, inexperience starts to show. Here are a few pointers for you to consider before you head out on your next geocaching adventure.

  1. If you use your cell phone for geocaching, do you have a plan that has an affordable data plan? With my plan, I have unlimited data, even when I am roaming. However, on this trip I was not completely sure about data usage when roaming and so turned OFF my data. What this did was turn off getting data for updating my geocaching data, and so I was unable to locate any caches along the way! What I needed to do was choose the geocaches to visit and store them for offline geocaching, before you left. There were a TON of geocaches that I could have visited, but due to a limit to data usage, I was unable to locate any of them.
  2. Be prepared for the worst. I do not mean this in a bad way, but even what might seem like a simple park and grab, could end up being more than you expected. Sometimes the logs for any specific geocache provide VALUABLE information you need to consider. If they mention that it is wise to bring bug spray - BRING BUG SPRAY. If they mention there are thorns and longer grasses, BRING LONG PANTS and/or BOOTS. In a future post I will put together a listing of what necessary items you should include in your geocaching "bag". There were a few geocaches on this trip that had us slapping the countless mosquitoes away cursing ourselves for not bringing the bug spray.
  3. Look for the "easy way in". Before just heading "as the crow flies", you should step back and take a look at your surroundings. For example, there was a geocache the other day that happened to be along a fence that way located on a steep slope above the main road. So of course, I attempted to head up this steep slope (as did others as it looks). After a quick slip and almost throwing in the towel, I happened to notice a driveway a few feet ahead that led to a landing - at the same level as the geocache, AND a much easier way to get there! So, stand back and take a look at your surroundings.
  4. Zoom in as much as possible with your GPS device. If you are not completely ZOOMED in, there is a chance that you could be several yards off from the actual geocache hiding place. This happened to me a few times - I thought I was right over top of the geocache, when in fact I ended up walking much farther to get to the true spot.
  5. You need to be as creative as the geocache's owner is. Not all the geocaches you find are going to be cylindrical tubes covered in camouflage. To add challenge to the hunt, you will soon see that geocachers are getting creative. I found one the other day that was a block of wood with a large hole drilled in the bottom big enough to fit a small geocaching tube. This block of wood fit in with the natural surrounding and seemed very innocent. As well, it is not always about looking down. Many times the geocache might be above you, or at eye level and in the most unlikely spots. Anything goes!
Well I hope that this gives you some insight to what to expect as you head out on your next (or first) geocaching adventure. With a little bit more insight, your geocaching experience will be an even greater experience. I am going to go now and put some more calamine lotion on my shins and ankles.

Until next time, happy geocaching!

Geocoins/Travel Bugs