Geocaching

[Vater Araignee]

What is geocaching?

Geocaching is an outdoor treasure-hunting game that uses GPS or other navigational techniques.

A typical geocache is a small waterproof container containing a logbook and "treasure," usually toys or trinkets of little value.

The hunt for a cache can be as simple as a drive by or as difficult as a trek to Antarctica or a scuba dive. It can also be complex like the old school game of letterboxing.

Every geocaching website has it own variation on the basic rules.

BASIC RULES:

• HIDING
  • Find a suitable hiding spot
  • Get a water tight container large enough to place
    • Log book and pencil (we live in Michigan so don't bother with a pen they freeze and are rendered useless) put them in a plastic baggie
    • OPTIONAL add trinkets, business cards or use your imagination.
  • Write on a sheet of paper (or print)
    • The Name Of the cache
    • Your Name or Handle
    • The GPS location
    • You found it whether you where looking or not. If you where you know the rules, if not then Please write your name and possibly your email in the log book. If there is something else in here then feel free to take it as long as you put something else in its place. When you get home google the word "geocache" and start enjoying your new found sport.
    • Oh and please avoid taking any geocoins or geobugs if you are new to the sport, we don't want those getting lost.
• SEEKING
  • Find a cache online that you will be interested in
  • Enter its waypoint into your GPS unit or
    • Or use my "I DON'T HAVE A GPS RECEIVER" method
  • Write down any location information, cache descriptions and hints to the location.
  • Pack snacks and what not
  • Pack your own note book and pencil
  • Pack some trinkets (I like to leave more then I take, sometimes I take nothing and leave something)
  • GO FIND IT!

Them there are the basics.

I'm working on a special project with Troy, so there will be more to come.

In my next post I'll tell you how to use my "I DON'T HAVE A GPS RECEIVER" method it is harder then using a GPS unit but much more rewarding because it give a one up on bragging rights.

[Vater Araignee]

"I DON'T HAVE A GPS RECEIVER" method

1. If you dont have one yet, then go to Google and sign up for an account.
2. Once you have you Google account make sure you are logged in.
3. Click this link.
4. Find and click the button that says "Add it to Maps".
5. Next go to maps.google.com.
6. Click the "My Maps" tab on the left hand side.
7. Scroll down until you find "Get Lat/Long" and click the check box.
8. In another window open a site that has the way point you want and find the waypoint.
   • that site should have a link to a map with the waypoint on it.
9. Find the general location on the google map window you have open.
10. Drop the "Get Lat/Long" marker on the map.
11. Move the marker around until the geocache concordant is correct.
12. Switch to Satellite view and make sure show labels is checked.
13. Zoom in as close as you can get without losing the imagery.
14. Print it.
15. GO FIND IT!

I'm working on a special project with Troy, so there will be more to come.

[sass_in_the_pants]

I do geocahcing. I luvs it!

[hunhee]

I

[Vater Araignee]

Cache Name: Vater & Daughters First

Cache size: Small

Cache Type: Traditional

Placed By: Vater Araignee & Tytianna

Placed Date:7/1/2008

Difficulty Finding: 2.5

Terrain:1

Coordinates: N 42°3 0.385 W 083° 51.153

Details

Our first cache stash. This cache is about 1900 feet from out apartment. So it will be checked very often unless we see you or muggles.

Yes we have a log and pencil. It also contains 3 mini decks (I liberated the joker cards from them) It also contains some of those joker cards with e-mail, id and movement requests on them, We are even letting you decide how one gets moved.

As a bonus I have placed some of my custom glow in the dark trail tacks around them. The first person to tell me how many there are and take a picture of one (must be glowing of course) will be told how to get a pack of 50. So of you don't want to come back to this location to get your glowing prize get your then please don't try to win it.

Hints/Spoiler

A tight ring of seven pointing to the heavens.

[Vater Araignee]

Go ahead and start asking questions about

the great modern day treasure hunt.

[Destroit]

I've always wanted to do this but never FULLY knew how it worked. I would need a GPS thing though most likely...

How far down in the ground are these things hidden? That's pretty much my question. I'd hate to feel like the retard who dug down six feet and found a corpse because I'm over an old cemetary or something. So what...like a foot? You just...show up in that exact spot and start digging?

[pomba gira]

I've always wanted to do this but never FULLY knew how it worked. I would need a GPS thing though most likely...

How far down in the ground are these things hidden? That's pretty much my question. I'd hate to feel like the retard who dug down six feet and found a corpse because I'm over an old cemetary or something. So what...like a foot? You just...show up in that exact spot and start digging?

I've never done it, but as I understand things, the cache doesn't have to actually be buried... could be inside a hollow tree or under a big rock, for example. Or inside an abandoned building.

I had my students bury a "treasure box" on the school grounds last year. Maybe I should make it a geocaching project for my next class. Haha, budget geocaching!

[Vater Araignee]

I've always wanted to do this but never FULLY knew how it worked. I would need a GPS thing though most likely...

How far down in the ground are these things hidden? That's pretty much my question. I'd hate to feel like the retard who dug down six feet and found a corpse because I'm over an old cemetary or something. So what...like a foot? You just...show up in that exact spot and start digging?

Most geocachers hate buried caches, not because we have to dig but because (a) it disturbs nature more then needed (b) a missing patch of grass says "HERE I AM" © caches can be camouflaged so well that we cant even find our own. Burry in a sandy beach would be cool because it is so simple to hide the evidence of digging but really good clues are needed to prevent people from having to dig multiple holes.

I have found geocaches:

Inside of those fake rocks used to hide keys.

Inside a hole in a tree.

Under rocks.

In a cave.

Magnetically stuck to the underside of a bridge.

High up a tree.

6 feet under water.

In a hollow log.

Under a trash bag in a garbage can.

I found a nano cache once only because its fake grass was darker then the surrounding lawn.

One guy put a cache in a dog house in his yard and had a motion detector set off a vicious dog barking.

I missed one cache 8 times before I figured out that it was a fake bush and I had to pull the top off to get to the log book in its trunk.

On time The clue was go to the back door and ring the doorbell, when I found the site and rang the bell a recording told me to look under the steps.

Point is you never know where the next person is going to hide one until it is hidden and found. Some caches are never found because most people don't have the fortitude to try.

My cache got published here better find it fast the race is on.

And don't forget to bring something to trade out!

[Vater Araignee]

Two have already visited the cache and it has not been out 24 hours.

[sass_in_the_pants]

Most geocachers hate buried caches, not because we have to dig but because (a) it disturbs nature more then needed (b) a missing patch of grass says "HERE I AM" © caches can be camouflaged so well that we cant even find our own. Burry in a sandy beach would be cool because it is so simple to hide the evidence of digging but really good clues are needed to prevent people from having to dig multiple holes.

I have found geocaches:

Inside of those fake rocks used to hide keys.

Inside a hole in a tree.

Under rocks.

In a cave.

Magnetically stuck to the underside of a bridge.

High up a tree.

6 feet under water.

In a hollow log.

Under a trash bag in a garbage can.

I found a nano cache once only because its fake grass was darker then the surrounding lawn.

One guy put a cache in a dog house in his yard and had a motion detector set off a vicious dog barking.

I missed one cache 8 times before I figured out that it was a fake bush and I had to pull the top off to get to the log book in its trunk.

On time The clue was go to the back door and ring the doorbell, when I found the site and rang the bell a recording told me to look under the steps.

Point is you never know where the next person is going to hide one until it is hidden and found. Some caches are never found because most people don't have the fortitude to try.

My cache got published here better find it fast the race is on.

And don't forget to bring something to trade out!

I LOVE the doorbell one.

There was one my friend found that is ONLY accessible by SWIMMING to it.

[ManicQueen]

My son's father and I used to do this all the time.. it's pretty fun.

[Raev]

I've never heard of this until now but it does sound fun! This one is already underway but I may join in if it's done again on this board.

[Vater Araignee]

I've never heard of this until now but it does sound fun! This one is already underway but I may join in if it's done again on this board.

You can join in any way, this is not a temporary cache, I plan on maintaining it until it is no longer cast effective (I can walk to it daily) or it gets attacked by a muggle or a geoass.

A geoass is somebody that plays to vandalize caches or loot them.

The people that found my cache where both a TNLN, that means Took Nothing Left Nothing.

Well one of them took one of my trackables but it isn't proper to ask somebody to swap for one.

[sass_in_the_pants]

You can join in any way, this is not a temporary cache, I plan on maintaining it until it is no longer cast effective (I can walk to it daily) or it gets attacked by a muggle or a geoass.

A geoass is somebody that plays to vandalize caches or loot them.

The people that found my cache where both a TNLN, that means Took Nothing Left Nothing.

Well one of them took one of my trackables but it isn't proper to ask somebody to swap for one.

I can't believe anybody would do that - loot a cache like that.

What is wrong with people?

They never contain anything of value, monetarily speaking.

For some reason, this reminds of last year when the Capuchin soup kitchen was vandalized last year - someone stole the copper out of their a/c and refrigerator units and it cost then 20K to fix everything.

Seriously, what is wrong with people?!??!

[Raev]

I may join in then, once I know more about the rules and etiquette then.

[Vater Araignee]

I have been working with the Brighton Recreation Area and local businesses.

It is looking like I am going to be able to place 3 caches on the state property without paying the fee.

(the fee is $35.00 per cache per year)

The caches are going to be 5 gal camouflaged buckets with plastic shopping bags in them. This type of cache is a permanent CITO (cache in trash out)

[Vater Araignee]

I may join in then, once I know more about the rules and etiquette then.

I'll be happy to help you with any questions, except device specific ones.

I only use google to track and place. If I don't print a map then my chances if finding a cache are between 40 and 50% if I do print it goes up around 75%. I bet once I get a receiver I'll hit 95%.