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