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!