| Muchmor Canada Magazine decided to take a | | | | and durable. Some GPS units come with certain |
| look at the phenomenon of Geocaching and how | | | | functions and accessories and others require |
| you can get involved and make exploring your | | | | you to but additional software etc. |
| country even more exciting. | | | | |
| | | | As a guideline, you should consider |
| So, what is Geocaching? | | | | purchasing a GPS with the following |
| | | | functions:12 parallel channels, external |
| Put simply, Geocaching is a game of treasure | | | | antenna jack, in/out ports, NMEA compatible, |
| hunting or hide and seek. All over the world | | | | at least 8 megabytes of memory, memory card |
| individuals and companies hide caches and | | | | acceptable, adaptable power sources i.e. |
| then share the location on the Internet and | | | | cigarette lighter cable, solar charger, |
| invite other Geocachers to find them using | | | | rocker keypad, large screen and waterproof. |
| GPS devices. | | | | |
| | | | Some GPS units have colour screens and |
| Some caches can be found quite easily, | | | | although these can be useful they are not |
| whereas others require significant hikes and | | | | essential to Geocaching and the colour screen |
| map reading skills. There are puzzle caches | | | | will use up batteries much quicker than a |
| that require you to solve clues in order to | | | | black and white. |
| find the cache and multi-caches, which | | | | |
| involve finding several caches before finding | | | | Getting Started |
| the final location. | | | | |
| | | | So, now we have you interested here is what |
| At the time of publication there were over | | | | you need to do. Go to the Geocaching website |
| 30,000 Geocaches in Canada and these are | | | | at here you can find out all sorts of |
| added to every day. This type of treasure | | | | information about your new hobby including |
| hunting makes it fun to explore your | | | | help and advice, forums etc. |
| surrounding and makes for a great family | | | | |
| trip. | | | | Before you start you should purchase your GPS |
| | | | unit and a map of the area, preferably a |
| What is a cache? | | | | topographical map, which shows land features |
| | | | such as hills and rivers etc., these can be |
| There are many different types of cache to | | | | purchased at camping stores or off the |
| find and the size and contents vary. Smaller | | | | Internet. You might also want a compass and |
| caches can be the size of a 35mm film | | | | of course make sure you are equipped clothing |
| container and contain only a logbook and | | | | wise. You should also have items ready that |
| pencil to register who finds it and when. | | | | you can leave in the cache in place of the |
| Other caches can be the size of large buckets | | | | ones you remove. These can be anything from |
| or plastic containers with several items | | | | key rings, to CD's, jewellery to cameras. |
| inside such as CD's, money, books, maps, | | | | |
| games, in fact anything that is not illegal | | | | On the Geocaching website you can locate one |
| or dangerous. | | | | or several caches in the area you are |
| | | | concentrating on. You can search by postcode, |
| When you find a cache you should enter your | | | | province etc. Study the information given |
| details in the logbook and if items are | | | | carefully and look at the results of other |
| included you should take one and replace it | | | | people who have found the cache. They might |
| with something of equal or greater value. | | | | give you some clues, which will make finding |
| | | | the cache easier. |
| Where are caches usually located? | | | | |
| | | | Next you need to use your GPS and input the |
| The location of the cache is what makes | | | | waypoint and off you go. |
| Geocaching interesting. Some are located in | | | | |
| easily accessible areas such as at the side | | | | Once you find the cache, remember to sign the |
| of a road, in a local park, cemetery or even | | | | logbook and enter any additional information |
| in the middle of a town centre. However the | | | | such as how easy it was to find, what fun it |
| more interesting cashes can be placed in very | | | | was etc. If there are items in the cache take |
| remote locations and may require special | | | | one and replace it with something of equal or |
| equipment in order to find them. Examples | | | | greater value. Never move the cache from its |
| include caches hidden underwater that can | | | | original position and always replace leaves, |
| only be accessed by scuba divers, ones | | | | rocks etc if they were there before. |
| located on rocky cliffs, accessible by rock | | | | |
| climbers etc. do I find the cache? | | | | You can log your find on the Geocaching |
| | | | website and also email the person who hid the |
| When someone sets up a cache they submit the | | | | cache to let them know you found it. |
| location details (waypoint) on the Geocaching | | | | |
| website. They will also give other clues such | | | | Safety First |
| as if it is a box or bag and its size, so you | | | | |
| know roughly what you are looking for. They | | | | Remember to always let someone know where you |
| may also give you practical information like, | | | | are going and if at all possible never travel |
| "you might need Wellingtons" or "it is | | | | alone. Make sure you have adequate clothing, |
| in a very public area". There will also be | | | | food, water etc and that you have spare |
| details regarding the difficulty and terrain, | | | | batteries for your GPS. |
| so you can search only for caches that suit | | | | |
| your ability. | | | | When you leave your vehicle at a cache point |
| | | | it is worth entering the waypoint into your |
| When you decide which cache to search for, | | | | GPS so that you can find your vehicle after |
| you input the co-ordinates (waypoint) in your | | | | you have found your cache. |
| GPS device and away you go.is a GPS Device? | | | | |
| | | | Next? |
| A GPS (Global Positioning System) unit is an | | | | |
| electronic device that can determine your | | | | Once you get into Geocaching you can start to |
| approximate location (within around 6-20 | | | | leave your own caches for others to |
| feet) anywhere on the planet, much like a | | | | find. You can also attend Geocaching |
| satellite navigation system found in many | | | | events and start to extend your search to |
| vehicles. Coordinates are normally | | | | other locations and even other countries. |
| given in Longitude and Latitude. You can use | | | | |
| the unit to navigate from your current | | | | You can purchase trackable items to leave in |
| location to another location. Some units have | | | | caches such as Geocoins and Travel Bugs. As |
| their own maps, built-in electronic | | | | people transfer then from cache to cache you |
| compasses, voice navigation, depending on the | | | | can track them on the Geocaching website so |
| complexity of the device. | | | | you can see how far your item has travelled - |
| | | | you might be surprised. |
| You don't need to know all the technical | | | | |
| details about GPS units to play Geocaching. | | | | There are many different kinds of cache, so |
| All you need to do is be able to enter the | | | | you might want to track certain types such as |
| waypoint where the Geocache is hidden. | | | | puzzle caches where you have to solve clues |
| | | | in order to locate the cache, or you might |
| How do I buy a GPS unit? | | | | want to track only caches that contain Travel |
| | | | Bugs. |
| You can purchase GPS units from many places | | | | |
| on the Internet as well as camping stores and | | | | The scope of Geocaching is endless and new |
| other supply stores. The costs vary depending | | | | variations to the game are always being |
| on the type of device you purchase and where | | | | invented. One thing is for sure, once you get |
| you buy them. Units start at around $100 CAD | | | | the Geocaching bug it will be very had to |
| and can be as much as $1,000. | | | | travel anywhere without first checking to see |
| | | | what caches lie nearby for your to find. |
| The GPS unit you choose should be easy to use | | | | |