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Geocaching: A Great Way To Get Outdoors
By: Chuck Fitzgerald
If youíre tired of hiking the same trail or picnicking at the
same park, then Geocaching may be exactly what youíre looking for.
Geocaching, pronounced gee-o-cashing, is the high tech version of a
treasure hunt. Armed with nothing but a handheld GPS unit and a thirst
for excitement, youíre off for new adventures and the likelihood of
finding a hidden cache.
Hereís how it works. Geocachers seek out
hidden treasures utilizing GPS coordinates posted on the Internet by
those hiding the cache. So to geocache, youíll need a handheld GPS
receiver. GPS, which stands for Global Positioning System, is the only
system today able to show you your exact position on the Earth anytime,
in any weather, anywhere. GPS satellites, 24 in all, orbit at over
11,000 miles above the Earth. The satellites transmit signals that can
be detected by anyone with a GPS receiver. Using the receiver, you can
determine your location with great precision. But just as important,
youíll be able to locate other things too, such as a geocache. There
are a variety of GPS receiver models to choose from starting at about
$100.
Once youíve got a GPS unit, youíll need to know where
the caches are hidden (hint: theyíre everywhere). When a cache is
hidden, the cacheís coordinates are submitted to a website for all to
see (www.geocaching.com). Enter the coordinates into your GPS and
youíre ready to go. Did I mention there are more than 100,000 caches in
over 200 countries?
Sounds easy, doesnít it? Armed with a GPS
and the coordinates, how tough can it be? In an urban area, easy access
is typically available in the way of roads and trails. But what about
on a mountain? What if there arenít roads nearby? Itís entirely
possible to be a few hundred feet from something and not be able to
reach it (across a river or two hundred feet below the cliff youíre on
are good examples). After you try to find a few caches, youíll
understand a number of the nuances of actually finding the cache.
Thatís the fun part. Once you find the cache, there are a couple of
simple rules. Sign the logbook and if you take something from the
cache, be sure to leave something.
But what about placing a
cache? Thatís fun too. Just be sure to follow the rules as outlined at
www.geocaching.com. Once youíre a seasoned geocacher, youíll try your
hand at travel bugs, geo-teaming and benchmark hunting.
If you
have only a couple hours to search for a cache, try to find one that is
close by. If you have a couple days, take a family trip and make an
overnight adventure out of it. Using your GPS along with your sense of
adventure, you are bound to spend more time out of doors with people
you enjoy. What could be better? Get Outdoors!
....[MORE]
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