Does anybody out there GeoCache?

[JunkMan]

No real interesting tales here, but a few unique caches.

I have done caches in 18 or 19 states, Canada and Japan. My finds include the very first geocache site, which is located just outside of Portland, OR, and the first geocache in Canada, which is in Nova Scotia. Also did a "drive thru" cache in Las Vegas, as well as several "virtual" caches on the Strip in Vegas.

Urban caches can be very challenging. I have done several that really took a lot of searching and thought (and there were several that I never was able to find). Most urban caches are micros, and it can take some creativity to hide one in a busy area, keeping it accessible to cachers, and hidden from "muggles" (non-cachers).

[forestfrog]

I'm curious if any of you geocachers have good stories about individual finds.....beautiful places, cool people...etc.

My favorite caches are hydrocaches, ones that require a canoe/kayak to reach the cache site. My first hydrocache was also my first time canoeing Lake Pontchartrain, so it was quite memorable...we ended up at an abandoned lighthouse on an overgrown and otherwise inaccessible little peninsula.





Of course when you get a bunch a cachers together, there's always camping, pig roasts, and crawfish boils (at least in the South, LOL!).

[Turtle49]

Very cool

I'm Jealous

[BrwBier]

We strarted caching a few years ago and while traveling it takes you to some of the most unique places that only locals would know about.
Brwbier

[bg]

Grabbed my first one earlier.

Set off with five in mind, had time for three and only found one.

Still don't think it's too bad for a first-timer.

[Arne]

It may take a while to get in the groove....

I am really good at "looking"... not real great at "seeing"....

After a while, you will start to notice things that 'just don't look right' or 'don't look like they belong'...

One of my toughest ones was hidden in a stone wall with lots of hiding places.

Sometimes you can walk right up and find them, other times I've spent 1/2 hour, which is my limit before I give up.... I'm basically in it for exercise, not frustration.

[kajamelu4]

I've got to agree with everyone else. Buy a cheap unit at first, and get out there! It's loads of fun, and gives you a reason to spend time in the great outdoors.
We haven't found a lot (life seems to get in the way of fun) and we've only hid 3, but we really enjoy it. Your kids will too!

Karol

[Catoosa Grani]

I have some friends in Arizona that take off a month or so in the summer and they geocache state to state. They have as of now covered every state except Hawaii and Alaska. They camp out so their biggest expense is gas and they drive a MINI so that isn't too bad. I get an e-mail every day when they are gone, telling me how many miles they traveled, how many cache's they found, and a little about the interesting places they find while doing this. Like you said, they get exercise, find all kinds of places you wouldn't normally find, get to see the country and have a great time together. We are getting ready to start geocacheing so this an interesting subject to me. Let's hear more!



Betty

[Gerald_G]

Just chiming in to let you know that I cache too. I bought a mapping GPSr when I started, because I intended to use it for other activities that I already do such as hiking and hunting, so Geocaching was just one of the uses I had for purchasing a GPSr.

I enjoy most the finding of cool spots that the locals know about, but don't make the tourist guides.

[George T.]

Greetings from Colorado!

The grandkids and I have been geocaching since 2002. In fact, my 8 year old grandson has helped me teach two geocaching courses for seniors at the local community college.

My personal opinion, purchase a mapping gps unit. The new GPS units are feature packed, but I have a problem with the smaller screens. An alternative is the older Garmin eMap. Serial connection which can be overcome with a serial to USB adapter. Smaller memory which can be enlarged with memory cards. The cards are a little pricey but do-able. The eMap unit can be found fairly inexpensively on eBay, Craigslist, etc.

Ditto what Arne said about finding places that I never would have found before! What a great companion for a teardrop! We look for geocaches before we leave on a trip. Along the route and at our destination. It provides a welcome diversion while traveling.

My grandsons favorite saying related to geocaching: "Sometimes, you can't there from here.". You'll understand once you start geocaching! And remember, look up from your GPS once in a while, you won't fall down as much or walk into things...

George T.

[Mary K]

What the heck are y'all talking about?

I take it somebody hides something and gives the coordinates on some web site and other folks go find it and put it back?? Or do you replace it with something else??

Mk

[Q]

MK,

Go to geocaching.com and find out all about it.

It's really more about finding interesting places than finding the actual cache. Normally you take something from the cache and put something else in it's place.

Q

What the heck are y'all talking about?

I take it somebody hides something and gives the coordinates on some web site and other folks go find it and put it back?? Or do you replace it with something else??

Mk

[fornesto]

My 3 year old son found one in a log totally randomly with no GPS unit while hiking through a local park. He's convinced that there might be one in every hollow log in the park and is pretty determined to check each one.

My wife checked it out and logged in, etc. It sounds like fun.

[savano]

Hi everyone

I overheard people talking about geocaching at Minden so since I've been home I've been doing some reading and research about gps units and have visited the geocaching web site. I ordered a new unit from amazon I think, and now I am planning a weekend of geocaching. There are hundreds around here in central Arizona.

One question for you cache experts - Could we set up a series of caches targeted to the teardrop community? Is that legal? Or I mean would that fit in with rules of geocaching? If other people find them that's fine, but the caches would be teardrop oriented.

Sally

[Arne]

Sure, caches often have a theme to them, at least to start. There are certain rules about geocaching, but nothing that would prevent a teardrop theme... but not sure exactly how it would work...

Some rules are, no new ones are allowed in cemeteries (used to be allowed), none within 100 feet of railroad tracks, etc... oh, and a cache can not be within 1/10th mile of another existing cache...

Caches are rated 1-5 for terrain, 1-5 for difficulty (to find). A terrain of 1 means wheel chair accessible, 5 means could require special equipment like ropes, ladders, etc., and may cause death (no kidding). I've never done a 5, but have done a couple of 3.5's and 4's, and they are usually rough terrain that requires a good pair of hiking boots and a good pair of lungs.