Saw the thread on car navigation systems in the Electronic forum and wondered if we had any Geocachers on board.

For those who don't know what geocaching is, basically it's a worldwide scavenger hunt using hand held GPS's. There are a number of sites dedicated to it. One of the more popular is Geocaching - The Official Global GPS Cache Hunt Site. You'd download coordinates to your GPS and go searching. You may be looking for something as big as an ammo box or something as small as a magnetic key case (or smaller). There is almost always a log inside and often there are trinkets to trade.

There are a whole variety of different types of caches from standard as described above to multi, which include clues that lead to other locations, to virtual, which require identification of items in the area (we did a virtual at DisneyWorld). There are Travel Bugs at some locations in which you pick up an item and relocate it elsewhere. We've found caches deep in the woods at the bottom of a rotted tree stump and stuck inside a Cyclone Fence post (remove the cap) at a very popular park. There's no limit where they could be hid.

Personally, I think it's good family fun. We've looked at doing it for Cub Scouts. We've taken neighbor kids. And tomorrow I plan on taking a number of my sons friends as part of his birthday party.

It's gotten pretty popular. I've recently turned a number of co-workers on to it. You may be surprised at the amount of stuff hidden right near where you live.

A couple YouTube videos if you'd like to see what it involves.
Introduction to Geocaching
Geocaching News Story on KABB (San Antonio, Texas)
Geocaching on WUNC-TV

Thanks for indulging me.

I've always thought it sounded interesting but have never had time for it. I should check around out by me. I have seen people doing it up in the marquette, mi area where our cabin is.

It sounds pretty cool. I love exploring in the woods - this would make it purposeful. I've heard about it before, but I checked my local area at the site you linked and I was surprised by the amount of spots in my very town.

Thanks for this. I plan on rounding up some friends this summer, not to mention, buying a GPS.

Thanks again!

FWIW - research the type of GPS's. Probably most popular are the Garmin eTrex's, Legends. And check out eBay. There are always a ton of them there but be mindful of the bidding. Sometimes you can get a great deal. Sometimes the bidding gets crazy and people are spending more than what it might cost new at some place like Amazon.
I got a brand new eTrex for $100 on eBay, retail was $249. I recently saw someone pay $160 for a model that Amazon had for $149. Whatever you get, it's important that it have a compass function.

quote:

Originally posted by Smedley:
FWIW - research the type of GPS's. Probably most popular are the Garmin eTrex's, Legends. And check out eBay. There are always a ton of them there but be mindful of the bidding. Sometimes you can get a great deal. Sometimes the bidding gets crazy and people are spending more than what it might cost new at some place like Amazon.
I got a brand new eTrex for $100 on eBay, retail was $249. I recently saw someone pay $160 for a model that Amazon had for $149. Whatever you get, it's important that it have a compass function.

Thanks. I'll check it out.

But, hey, what happened to just looking up at the sun?

Uh, retina burn perhaps? Jeeez.