Does anybody out there GeoCache?

[Turtle49]

Does anybody out there GeoCache?

One of my friends does GeoCaching and I was wondering if anybody here does it?

I'm curious about what GPS unit you may use? Is there a low-cost option that works well for Geocaching?
And what you think of Geocaching?

What is Geocaching?
Geocaching is an entertaining adventure game for gps users. Participating in a cache hunt is a good way to take advantage of the wonderful features and capability of a gps unit. The basic idea is to have individuals and organizations set up caches all over the world and share the locations of these caches on the internet. GPS users can then use the location coordinates to find the caches. Once found, a cache may provide the visitor with a wide variety of rewards. All the visitor is asked to do is if they get something they should try to leave something for the cache.

Sounds pretty cool.
Tim

[Nitetimes]

I think you'll find quite a few around here that do. I just never seem to have found the time for it. Too much walking too.

[madjack]

I think you'll find quite a few around here that do. I just never seem to have found the time for it. Too much walking too.

10-4...............................................................

[Turtle49]

The walking would do me good.

And I think my boys would have fun doing it with me....

I just need to find a reasonably priced GPS.

[emiller]

I've never done it but have a friend that does it and has his own around Arizona.

[Q]

Do yourself a favor and get a cheap GPS, under $100 models work fine. Your kids will love it. I used to do it quite a bit with my young daughter and always had a good time.

Q

[JunkMan]

I've been caching for a couple of years. Have found close to 400 caches so far (just did 2 today). A cheap unit will work fine for you, I started with a $15 yard sale special, an old Magellen that didn't have any mapping, and used it for about a year before I got my Lowrance. It's not a bad GPS, I mainly got it because I wanted to be able to buy mapping software for it. It came with a basic map, but I got software that has countour lines and everything.

I've found some of the best hiking trails, discovered unique places, learned a bit of history, and met a lot of great people while Geocaching (not to mention have had a lot of fun).

[kiacker]

I geocache too. I use a cheapy Magellan GPS I got on sale at WalMart. It's a plain jane gps, but enough to do what I need it to do. Also have a computer program to download waypoints & transfer them into my gps. Geocaching is great fun & a wonderful way to discover parks & things you didn't know existed! I have a friend who doesn't have a GPS but would visit the geocache.com website & race me to a geocache. Sometimes she would beat me! I think she used the topo maps to figure out where the cache was. Plus she's extremely lucky! It helps to have the dog along when geocaching in populated areas - you can act like you're picking up poop when in fact you're stashing the cache back! Can't let those Muggles find it!

[Arne]

I have almost 300 finds.. I think like 293 or so... I do it for exercise, and to find new, neat places I never knew existed....

To make up for lack of talent, I got the best I could find, a garmin 76csx, on which I loaded garmin's street maps, so I can use it on my bicycle and motorcycle.... it doesn't give directions, but it tells me where I am..

Geocaching is a fun hobby. I figure I've walked close to 150 miles, give or take, and lost a few pounds in the process.

But, the best part is I usually have the same routine over and over.. when I geocache, as I've mentioned, it gets me out of that routine.. I've found neat little parks, climbed hills with spectacular views, etc...

I've been building a new tear, so have not done too many lately, but will be getting back to it soon...

Oh, another thing, when I go to rallies or just go camping, I download the caches in the area I'm going to, and find some of them.. again getting to new and fun places... one of the last ones was on the Blue Ridge Parkway in VA, at an old gristmill..... you never know where you are going to wind up... and that's part of the fun.

[forestfrog]

Geocaching is one of my favorite pastimes! I hunted my first cache back in 2001...I think there were 4 caches in Louisiana at the time...now there are over 1800! I started out with a cheapy Garmin GPS (which worked just fine), and eventually upgraded slightly to the Vista model with expandable basemaps/topos.

I've met many lifelong friends through Geocaching and found tons of interesting out of the way places I never would have discovered otherwise!

Pick up a cheapy GPS and give it a try, I bet you'll enjoy it!

[bledsoe3]

I think I'll try this with my daughters. I need to find out if/how to enter coordinates in to my GPS. It does come out of its holder so I think it's portable. This is mine.

[Arne]

That is one thing I forgot to add. Kids usually love it. There is the mystery, the search and the thrill of the find.... which often has things like toys...

I think it is one of the best family sports I can think of.... not sure the moms are that hot about it, but all in all, clean family fun. and get them outside, away from video games and TV.

[Turtle49]

Thanks for all your replies!
I'm looking at the Garmin e Trex. It looks like a reasonable one and a relativity inexpensive price.

I really want to try this, and I think my boys will love it. My oldest is a survivalist wannebe and my youngest would just get geeked over looking at the cache.

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

[Jimbo]

We're just getting started ourselves. Hope to find our first cache next weekend at Grayson Lake SP. We have a Garman Etrex Legend with expanded maps and topos also. Seems like it will work pretty well. So far, it has done great for Waypoint navigation which is basically Geocaching except the destination is bigger.

[Arne]

Well, lots, but here are a couple.....

Brattleboro, VT... climbed to the top of a ridge that gave a great view to the west, including the West River down below...

Lake George, NY.... another great view of Lake George from a road that only a local would know about..

Keep in mind, that many times, people who hide caches want you to get a view (literally and figureatively) of their area. So, you often get the best of the best of the area... things you would never find on your own.

This is the view of Lake George.. The VT pic is not digital, but may try to scan it in later...