DIY Geocaching

"Cache" the Fun with This Outdoor Treasure Hunt

By Kathleen Ganster

One of the fastest growing adventures around, geocaching (pronounced geo-cashing) combines technology – utilizing global positioning system (GPS) units – with hiking to find caches. Caches are containers filled with small prizes – things like key chains, pins, toys and coins – plus log books to record your visit to the cache and what you find.

Geocaching is great because it is fun, easy and relatively inexpensive. To get started, all you need is a hand-held GPS and access to a computer.

Before you take off, a brief history: Geocaching began in 2000 when the federal government lifted its “selective availability” that had prevented civilians from utilizing GPS units. A few days later, somebody decided to hide a cache in Oregon and post the coordinates of the location online. Within a day, another person found the cache and geocaching was started. Little did they know it would become a huge craze. Today there are over 660,000 caches around the world.

Cachers range from families with small children to hardcore cachers not afraid to rappel or scuba dive to find caches to hikers and bikers hoping to spice up their sports. Here’s how to get started:

Get a GPS. In order to geocache, you need a hand-held GPS. A few folks will find caches without one, but you need an excellent description of the location and some luck. Fortunately, there are units for as little as $100, such as the Garmin eTrex H.

Register at www.geocaching.com. Cachers use logging names, nicknames describing personalities or other traits, like Trackin’ Cache or lostwoman. Once you register, you will be able to find caches in your area or places where you are going to visit by simply entering the ZIP code of your starting point. There will then be a listing of geocaches within a 20-mile radius. Print out the sites and online logs of other cachers’ finds. You will take these papers with you while caching to help you find the actual site.

Enter the coordinates into your GPS of the caches you are hoping to find. You will use these coordinates to lead you to the caches.

Stock up on small prizes. Use these for the trades in the caches. You can use something that is your trademark. For example, I am Lady Bug Lady and will leave little lady bug pins or glass lady bugs. Keep in mind most caches are fairly small – usually quart-size waterproof containers – and some are micro-caches that are really tiny.

In addition to the prizes for trades, there are also travel bugs. Travel bugs are engraved dog tags purchased through the geocaching website. When you find a travel bug, record the number engraved on the tag on the website before putting it in the next cache you visit. The number is tracked through the website as the bug moves from cache to cache. It is fun to follow the travel bug via the website as cachers move it around the world.

Cache! Take your prizes and GPS and go do it. Once you get to the site, remember that your coordinates could be several feet off, depending on the satellite readings. You will become more skilled at spotting the caches with experience. Once home, don’t forget to go to the official geocaching website and record your finds.

Kathleen Ganster is outdoors any chance she gets, camping, hiking, biking, geocaching, swimming and snorkling (but only in warmer waters). In her spare time, she is a writer and professor of journalism.