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Mission2go > Geocaching 101
Geocaching History As simple as geocaching sounds, it uses two advanced technologies that only recently made geocaching possible. These two technologies are the internet and the GPS (Global Positioning System). More specifically, the internet allows people all over the world to share the coordinates of their caches. The next person can then program those same coordinates into their GPS and accurately seek and find the hidden treasure. Geocaching became feasible in 1996 when President Bill Clinton signed the executive order to turn off selective availability of the GPS system. Until then, GPS was only accurate to within 1000ft for everyone except the US military. With a flip of the switch, selective availability was turned off and GPS instantly became accurate to within 30ft or less for all GPS users. When this happened, a man named Dave Ulmer realized the potential of this new accuracy for a treasure hunting sport. The next day he hid a five gallon bucket containing several items in the woods near his home and tested his ability to return to it from several directions using his GPS. After convincing himself of the new GPS accuracy, he posted the coordinates of his bucket on an internet USENET group and the sport of geocaching was born. From that point on, geocaching has grown to well over 200,000 caches hidden in 200+ countries, and most likely one or more near you. In addition, there are new variations of the game being started frequently, some combine geocaching with orienteering, or use traditional treasure hunt methods to find the numbers that make up the final geocache coordinates, or.... on and on. Geocache sites vary in difficulty ranging from sites you can reach with your car, to sites that require mountaineering skills. The difficulty of finding the hidden cache is determined by the person placing the geocache. There have been very few official rules established for geocaching but there are some guidelines that the geocaching community hold in high regard. For example, if you take something from the cache you should leave something else in the cache. Some geocaches are themed; coins, yo-yo's, or playing cards for example. Some are just a collection of interesting stuff, and some are simply a logbook where you can enter your name. Another guideline is that you can not damage the environment or force people to violate trespassing laws in order to find the geocache. Many geocachers will bring a trash bag to remove any garbage found during their hunt. So far, the sport has been well policed by it's participants, this is an important part of geocachers ability to keep access to public and private lands. Gear You Need to Get Started Access to the internet and a GPS are the two items essential for geocaching. Additionally, you should still carry a good map and a compass when entering a remote area (you never know when those batteries will die). Finally, if you are heading in to the wilderness to find the geocache, you should equip yourself the same as you would for any other outdoor adventure. As your interest in the sport grows, you can purchase mapping software and upgraded GPS units to better manage data and find new caches. I have been out geocaching with my kids and we have all enjoyed the adventure. One of the great things about geocaching is that it can easily be done by the whole family as well as individually and kids seem motivated to combine high tech toys with outdoor activity. You don't find that combination for your kids with just video games! Resources If you want more information about geocaching, check out www.geocaching.com. There you can learn more about the sport, or just enter your address in the search box to get a list of geocaches in your area. Print out the info page, load the coordinates into your GPS, and head out on your first hunt. Looking for GPS info? The two biggest manufactures of GPS units that work well for geocaching are Garmin and Magellan. |
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